The Rough
Collie (also known as the 'Long-Haired Collie') is a long coated breed of
medium to large size dog that in its original form was a type of collie used
and bred for herding in Scotland. Originating in the 1800s, it is now well
known through the works of author Albert Payson Terhune, and through the Lassie
novel, movies, and television shows. There is also a smooth-coated variety;
some breed organisations, including both the American and the Canadian Kennel
Clubs, consider the smooth-coat and rough-coat dogs to be variations of the
same breed. Rough Collies generally come in shades of sable, merles, and
tri-coloured. This breed is very similar to the smaller Shetland Sheepdog which
is partly descended from the Rough Collie.
Three coat
colours are recognised for Rough Collies: sable and white, where the
"sable" ranges from pale tan to a mahogany; tricolour, which is
primarily black edged in tan; blue merle, which is mottled gray. All have white
coat areas, in the collar, parts of the leg, and usually the tail tip. Some may
have white blazes on their faces. In addition, the American Kennel Club accepts
white, where the dog is predominantly white with coloured markings of sable,
tricolour, or blue merle on the head and sometimes body patches. Rough Collies
have a blunter face than the smaller, but otherwise very similar Shetland Sheepdog,
which is partly descended from the Rough Collie. The planes of the muzzle and
the top of the skull should be parallel in collies, with a slight but distinct
stop. (In shelties, the planes are not parallel.) The downy undercoat is
covered by a long, dense, coarse outer coat with a notable ruff around the
neck, feathers about the legs, a petticoat on the abdomen, and a frill on the
hindquarters.The desired
size and weight varies among breed standards; male collies can stand 55.8 to 66
cm (22 to 26 in) at the shoulder; the female averages 5 cm (2 in) shorter. The
males are usually in the weight range (55 - 105 lbs) and the females are
usually 5 to 10 lbs less. Collies in the US are sometimes reported to be over a
hundred pounds. - a large collie typically weighs no more than 85 pounds. USA
and UK standards may differ. The UK standard calls for dogs to be significantly
smaller than those under the American Kennel Club.
One of the
characteristic features of the Rough Collie is its head. This is light in
relation to the rest of the body, and resembles a blunted wedge tapering
smoothly from ears to black nose, with a distinct stop and parallel head
planes. The muzzle is well rounded, and never square. There is considerable
variation in the colour of the head, however. The eyes are medium sized and
almond shaped. The ears are supposed to be semi-prick, with the upper third
folded over. Ears which do not 'tip' properly are fairly common, and many
collies have their ears taped as puppies (using medical adhesive or paper tape)
to encourage them to lay properly- no cutting or surgery is involved. They are
similar to a Shetland Sheepdog's, but larger.Once seen, the
contrast between the Rough Collie head and that of a Border Collie is
immediately apparent, the latter having a considerably shorter muzzle and a
more distinct stop between muzzle and forehead. The ruff is also distinctive in
distinguishing the two breeds.
Rough collies should show no nervousness or aggression,
and are generally good with children and other animals. However, they must be
well socialised to prevent shyness. They are medium to large sized dogs, but
can be well suited to live in small apartments because of their calm
disposition. Like many herding dogs, collies can be fairly vocal, and some are
difficult to train not to bark. The amount of herding instinct varies, with
some dogs being quite drivey and others calmer. Rough Collies are very loyal
and may be one-family dogs (although most make exceptions for children), but
are very rarely aggressive or protective beyond barking and providing a visual
deterrent. They are typically excellent with children as long as they have been
well-socialised and trained. They are eager to learn and respond best to a
gentle hand. They relish human company and generally fare poorly as outdoor
dogs.
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