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Rough Collies, or Long-Haired Collies,
comprise a breed of medium- to large-sized
herding dogs. The breed originated in
the Scottish Highlands in the 1800s, and
is believed to have come into its modern
form through breeding with sheepdogs from
England and, as many believe, Borzois.
Rough Collies were originally used to
herd, but, as legend has it, became fashionable
as pets once Queen Victoria expressed
admiration for the breed and brought a
Rough Collie into her possession.
By American standards, Rough Collies
weigh 50-65 pounds and measure 22-26 inches
in height. They have relatively long,
muscular bodies; moderately long, feathered
tails; deep, fairly wide chests; long
necks; heads that are light relative to
their bodies, are wedge-shaped, and taper
smoothly to a narrow and blunt, but not
square, point at their noses; semi-prick
ears; and medium-sized, almond-shaped
eyes.
Rough Collies' double coats are profuse,
well-fitting manes of long hair that are
normally straight and rough in texture.
Their fur covers their entire bodies with
the exception of their heads and legs.
In color and pattern, Rough Collies are
either predominantly sable, or fawn, with
white markings; predominantly black with
white and sable markings; blue merle;
or predominantly white with markings seen
in any of the other coat colors.
Though they are known to be fairly vocal
dogs, Rough Collies have very calm dispositions
and fairly low energy levels. They are
very loyal, and are often "one-family"
dogs. However, although they may be shy
in the company of people other than their
humans, tend to be friendly towards most
children. Despite their great loyalty,
Rough Collies are not aggressive or overprotective.
Rough Collies may be shy if improperly
socialized.
Rough Collies' coats require regular
maintenance to prevent matting and remove
any burrs or irritants that it may have
picked up. Rough Collies should not be
shaven. Other than their grooming needs,
Rough Collies are low-maintenance dogs,
and well-suited to life in a small apartment
due to their relaxed temperament. However,
Rough Collies still value human companionship,
and, like all dogs, require attention
from and quality time with their humans.
Like most somewhat large dogs, Rough
Collies are prone to hip dysplasia. Rough
Collies are also susceptible to Collie
Eye Anomaly, which stunts eye development
and may cause blindness. Canine cyclic
neutropenia, a blood disorder that can
cause immune disorders, afflicts some
Collies; affected puppies are light grey,
pinkish, or beige in color, and rarely
survive into adulthood.
Rough Collies are generally resilient
and healthy dogs. The average lifespan
of a Rough Collie is 12-15 years, though
Rough Collies may live to older ages.
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