The Rough Collie is a medium to large-sized, long-coated breed of dog originating in Scotland in the 19th century. Originally bred for herding sheep, the breed has since become known for show dogs and companions. They are identifiable by their distinctive long, narrow snouts and semi-pricked ears that may need to be taped when young. The breed comes in colors of sable and white, blue merle, tri-colored and color-headed white. It is closely related to the smaller Shetland Sheepdog, or Sheltie, though the two breeds are not exclusively linked. The Rough Collie is perhaps most famous for the character of Lassie, featured in stories by Albert Payson Terhune and Eric Knight, as well as movies, books, and television shows. The American and Canadian Kennel Clubs recognize the Smooth Collie, which is a smooth-coated variety of the same breed.
History
raveling from Scotland and Wales to the Birmingham market, the Rough and Smooth Collie were descended from a regional variety of herding dogs. While the Scottish variety was a large, powerful, and assertive dog, bred to herd highland sheep, the Welsh variety was small, gentle, and accustomed to herding goats. When the English saw these dogs at the Birmingham market, they decided to interbreed them with their own type of sheepdogs, creating a blend of short- and long-haired varieties. With the industrial revolution, owning a dog became increasingly popular and it is thought that the Rough Collie was crossed with the Russian Wolfhound, the Borzoi, to acquire a more “noble” head shape, with a longer muzzle – a feature that remains a trademark of the Rough Collie today. The extent to which the Borzoi cross impacted the current breed is not definite.
The Borzoi is a stunning breed of dog that closely resembles the Rough Collie in many ways. With a long, silky coat and a regal bearing, it is a majestic sight to behold. The Borzoi also shares the same intelligence and loyalty of the Rough Collie, making it a wonderful companion. Its long, graceful legs and strong muscles make it an excellent runner, while its large head and almond-shaped eyes give it an unique, almost regal look. The Borzoi is an independent and dignified breed, and with its athleticism and grace, it’s sure to make an impressive impression.
Queen Victoria’s contribution to the Rough Collie breed was groundbreaking. After catching sight of the breed at Balmoral Castle, she decided to bring one home with her, causing the breed to become something of a fashionable item. This newfound popularity led to a drastic change in the appearance of the dogs. By the 1960s, the Collie was a much taller dog, although in the US, the size standard has not been revised downward. Additionally, these earlier dogs were much sturdier in build, and could cover up to 100 miles in a single day. Since then, the Rough Collie has been largely replaced by the Border Collie in the UK for herding purposes, however, in the US and a few other European countries, there has been a resurgence in using the Collie as a working and performance dog. The Collie Club in the UK was founded in 1881, while the Collie Club of America was founded in 1886, making it one of the oldest breed-specific clubs in the States. Queen Victoria’s influence on the Rough Collie breed remains legendary, and her decision to bring a Collie home with her was a key factor in the breed’s transformation into one of the most popular and fashionable dogs of its time.
Appearance
Recognized colours include:
- Sable and white, where the “sable” ranges from pale tan to a mahogany
- Tricolor, which is primarily black edged in tan
- Merle, Blue or Sable merle, which is mottled.
- Color-headed white, which is a mainly all-white coat, except for the head, which could be tri-, sable or blue.
The coat of a Rough Collie is double, with a short, dense undercoat and a long, straight outer coat, with fur on the neck and shoulders being particularly long. Common colours include sable and white, tricolour (predominantly black and white with tan markings over the eyes, on the cheeks, inside the legs and on the underside of the tail), blue merle, and white. Some may have white blazes on their faces, white in the collar, parts of the leg, and usually the tail tip. The American Kennel Club accepts color-headed white, where the dog is predominantly white with coloured markings of sable, tricolor, or blue merle on the head and sometimes body patches. Rough Collies have a light head in relation to their body, with a blunted wedge shape tapering smoothly from their ears to black nose, and a distinct stop between the muzzle and forehead. Their eyes are medium-sized and almond-shaped, and their ears are semi-prick or tipped, with the upper third folded over. They stand 55.8 to 66 cm (22 to 26 in) at the shoulder for males, and 5 cm (2 in) shorter for females. Weight varies between 50–70 lbs for males and 5 to 10 lbs less for females. They have a double coat, with a short, dense undercoat and a long, straight outer coat, with fur on the neck and shoulders being particularly long. Common colors include sable and white, tricolor, blue merle, and white.
