View source for Rough Collie

{{short description|Dog breed}}

{{Use British English|date=October 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2025}}

{{infobox dog breed
| name           = Rough Collie
| image          = Rough-Collie-japan08 (cropped).jpg
| image_alt      = 
| image_caption  = Sable and white
| image2         = 
| image_alt2     = 
| image_caption2 = 
| altname        = {{ubl|Collie|Long-Haired Collie}}
| stock          = 
| country        = United Kingdom
| distribution   = 
| height         = 
| maleheight     = {{cvt|56|–|61|cm}}
| femaleheight   = {{cvt|51|–|56|cm}}
| weight         = 
| maleweight     = 
| femaleweight   = 
| coat           = long double coat
| colour         = {{ubl|colour-headed white|blue merle, sable merle, double merle|sable, mahogany sable, shaded sable|tri-coloured}}
| kc_name        = [[The Kennel Club]]
| kc_std         = https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/breed-standards/pastoral/collie-rough/
| kc2_name       = 
| kc2_std        = 
| fcistd         = http://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/156g01-en.pdf
| notrecognised  = 
| extinct        = 
| note           = 
}}

The '''Rough Collie''' or '''Long-Haired Collie''' is a British [[list of dog breeds|breed]] of long-coated [[herding dog]] of medium to large size. It is identical to the [[Smooth Collie]] in all respects but the length of the coat. Dogs of both breeds were bred for [[herding dog|herding sheep]] in Scotland. In the twenty-first century the Rough Collie is commonly kept as a [[companion dog]], or may be bred for [[dog show|showing]]. The recognised coat colours are sable or [[merle (dog coat)|merle]] in various shades, tri-coloured or colour-headed white.

The Rough Collie is similar in appearance to the smaller [[Shetland Sheepdog]], but a [[genetic inheritance|genetic link]] between the two breeds is not established.{{cn|date=October 2025}}

==History==

[[File:Collie (rough) from 1915.JPG|thumb|Rough Collie, circa 1915|alt=]]
Both the Rough and the [[Smooth Collie]] descend from a localised variety of [[herding dog]] originating in Scotland and Wales.<ref name="Wharton" /> The Scottish variety was a large, strong, aggressive dog, bred to herd highland sheep. The Welsh variety was small and nimble, domesticated and friendly, and also herded goats. When the English saw these dogs at the [[Birmingham]] market, they interbred them with their own variety of sheepdogs, producing a mixture of short- and long-haired varieties. After the [[Industrial Revolution]], dog ownership became fashionable, and these early collies were believed to have been crossed with the [[Borzoi]] (Russian Wolfhound) to get a more "noble" head (longer muzzle), which is today one of the true characteristics of the Rough Collie.<ref name="IED">{{cite book |editor=Clark, Anne Rogers |editor2=Brace, Andrew H. |title=The International Encyclopedia of Dogs |edition=1st (American) |date=October 1995 |publisher=[[Howell Book House]] |location=New York, New York |isbn=978-0-87605-624-0 |oclc=32697706 |pages=188–190 |chapter=The Breeds: Collies - Rough Collie }}</ref> It is not known conclusively if the Borzoi cross made it into the mainstream of the breed.

When [[Queen Victoria]] acquired a Rough Collie, after seeing one at [[Balmoral Castle]], they were transformed into something of a fashion item.<ref name="Wharton" /> Continued breeding for show purposes drastically changed the appearance of the dogs; in the 1960s, it was a much taller dog than it is today (in the UK; in the US, the size standard has not been revised downward and dogs have remained between 24 and 26"). Earlier dogs were also more sturdy in build and reportedly capable of covering up to 100 miles in one day. In the UK the Rough Collie is no longer used for serious herding, having been replaced by the [[Border Collie]], though in the United States and a number of European countries, there has been a resurgence in the use of the Collie as a working and performance dog.<ref>{{cite book|author=Dorsten, Cindy M.|title=A Celebration of the Working Collie|edition=first|year=2002|publisher=Alpine Publications, [[Loveland, Colorado]]|isbn=1-57779-001-4}}</ref>

The Collie Club of America is one of the oldest breed-specific clubs in existence in the United States (founded in 1886). The Collie Club in England dates from 1881.<ref name="Wharton" />

==Appearance==
[[File:1Dog-rough-collie-portrait.jpg|thumb|Sable]]
Recognized colours include:

* Sable and white, where the "sable" ranges from pale tan to a mahogany
* Tricolour, which is primarily black edged in tan
* Merle, Blue or Sable [[Merle (dog coat)|merle]], which is mottled. 
* Colour-headed white, which is a mainly all-white coat, except for the head, which could be tri-, sable or blue.

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. Note that the American Kennel Club accepts ''colour-headed white'', where the dog is predominantly white with coloured markings of sable, tricolour, or blue merle on the head and sometimes body patches.<ref>{{cite web|title=Collie Colours|url=http://pages.videojug.com/pages/353-Collie-Colours-the-whole-story|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715083315/http://pages.videojug.com/pages/353-Collie-Colours-the-whole-story|archive-date=15 July 2012}}</ref> 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.<ref name="AKCStandard" /><ref name="UKStandard" />
One of the characteristic features of the Rough Collie is its head.<ref name="Wharton">{{cite book | title=Collies | first=Alice | last=Wharton | year=1998 | publisher=T.F.H. Publications | isbn=0-7938-2800-7 | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/newownersguideto0000whar }}</ref><ref name="UKStandard" /> 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'', or ''tipped'', with the upper third folded over. Ears which do not "tip" properly, however, are common, and many collies have their ears ''taped'' as puppies (using medical adhesive or paper tape) to encourage them to lie properly – no cutting or surgery is involved.

Rough Collies have a more blunt, gradually tapering, 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 ears of a Rough Collie are similar to a Shetland Sheepdog's, but larger. Furthermore, 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.

The size and weight varies among breed standards; male collies can stand 55.8 to 66&nbsp;cm (22 to 26 in) at the shoulder; the female averages 5&nbsp;cm (2&nbsp;in) shorter. The males are usually in the weight range (50–70 lbs), and the females are usually 5 to 10&nbsp;lbs less. Collies in the US are sometimes reported to be over one hundred pounds, but a large collie typically weighs no more than 70 pounds. US and UK standards may differ. The UK standard calls for dogs to be significantly smaller than those under the American Kennel Club.<ref name="AKCStandard">{{cite web |url=http://www.akc.org/breeds/collie/index.cfm |publisher=American Kennel Club |title=Collie Breed Standard |date=10 May 1977 |access-date=8 February 2008 }}</ref><ref name="UKStandard">{{cite web |url=http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/132 |publisher=The Kennel Club |title=Collie (Rough) Breed Standard |date=12 May 2006 |access-date=8 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080212031034/http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/132 |archive-date=12 February 2008 }}</ref>

==Health==
[[File:Blue Merle Rough Collie.jpg|thumb|Blue merle]]
[[File:AmericanCollie3.jpg|thumb|Colour-headed white|alt=]]
While Rough Collies are generally resilient and healthy, there are some health problems that can affect the breed.

[[Collie eye anomaly]] (CEA), a [[genetic disease]] which causes improper development of the eye and possible blindness, is a common ailment in the breed.<ref>{{cite web | title=Inherited Retinopathies | work=The Merck Veterinary Manual | year=2006 | url=http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/30114.htm | access-date=14 February 2008 }}</ref> More rarely, Rough Collies can be affected by [[progressive retinal atrophy]] (PRA), another genetic disease in which bilateral degeneration of the [[retina]] results in progressive vision loss culminating in blindness.<ref name=Gelatt_1999>{{cite book|editor-last=Gelatt |editor-first=Kirk N. |title=Veterinary Ophthalmology|edition=3rd|publisher=Lippincott Williams & Wilkins|year=1999|isbn=0-683-30076-8}}</ref> Through [[genetic testing]] and careful screening program it would be theoretically possible to eradicate both of these problems in purebred lines, however, certainly in the UK, the Kennel Club does not require these tests to be done either for registration or showing. CEA is so prevalent that elimination of affected dogs except through very slow and careful breeding decisions to avoid shrinking the gene pool more than absolutely necessary. Rough Collie puppies should be screened at an early age (6–8 weeks) by a certified [[veterinary]] [[ophthalmologist]] to check for CEA. PRA has a later onset and can be detected by DNA test, but is much less widespread (in the US) than CEA. (In the UK, PRA is more common.)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.colliehealth.org/eyes.html |publisher=Collie Health Foundation |title=Eye Disease in Collies |access-date=14 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012002624/http://www.colliehealth.org/eyes.html |archive-date=12 October 2007 }}</ref> Note, the UK Kennel Club "Accredited Breeder Scheme" requires eye tests and ''recommends'' the genetic test for this class of members.<ref name="UK Kennel club">{{cite web |url=http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/download/1100/abshealthreqs.pdf |publisher=UK Kennel club |title=Accredited Breeder Recommendationas and Requirements |access-date=28 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130811091533/http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/download/1100/abshealthreqs.pdf |archive-date=11 August 2013 }}</ref>

Canine cyclic neutropenia is a cyclic blood disorder that is usually fatal to affected puppies. The disease is also referred to as "gray collie syndrome", due to affected puppies having a pale grey, pinkish/gray or beige colouring, none of which are normal Rough Collie colours. Puppies that survive through adulthood are plagued with [[immune disorders]] throughout their lives and rarely live more than three years. [[DNA testing]] can help detect carriers of the recessive gene that causes the disease.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.colliehealth.org/gray.html |publisher=Collie Health Foundation |title=Canine Cyclic Neutropenia |access-date=14 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514152012/http://www.colliehealth.org/gray.html |archive-date=14 May 2008 }}</ref>

[[Hip dysplasia (canine)|Hip dysplasia]]: As with most of the larger breeds, hip dysplasia is a potential concern for Rough Collies. Although this disease appears to be "multigene", careful selection by many breeders is reducing this problem. The UK Kennel Club "Accredited Breeder Scheme" requires hip-scores this class of members,<ref name="UK Kennel club"/> however, a very small proportion of UK registered puppies are bred under this scheme. Hip dysplasia is rare in collies compared to their closest relatives and other breeds of the same size.[[File:AmericanCollie.jpg|thumb|Mahogany sable Rough Collie]]Rough Collies may carry a mutant [[Mdr1]] gene that results in a sensitivity to [[Ivermectin]] and related drugs. A screening test is used to determine if alternative medications are required. Overdoses from the proscribed medications can result in neurological impairment or even death, but preventative doses are usually safe. This faulty gene is present in several breeds, but is well known among collies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.colliehealth.org/ivermectin.html |publisher=Collie Health Foundation |title=The Ivermectin Story |access-date=10 April 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514151355/http://www.colliehealth.org/ivermectin.html |archive-date=14 May 2008 }}</ref>

In addition to these problems, all of which can be tested for, there are a number of problems which are thought to be genetic but for which no screening test exists. These include epilepsy, bloat, a tendency towards allergies, and thyroid disorders (primarily hypothyroidism.). Because no DNA tests exist for these disorders (and all can have causes other than genetic origins), breeders can only do their best to avoid producing them by removing affected dogs from the gene pool.

Ulcerative dermatosis of Shetland sheepdog and rough collie (UDSSC) is a disease that is believed to be a [[Vesicle (dermatology)|vesicular]] variant of [[discoid lupus erythematosus]]. It is an ulcerative dermatosis that affects the thigh, groin, axillae, and ventral abdomen.<ref>{{cite book | last=Rhodes | first=Karen Helton | last2=Werner | first2=Alexander H. | title=Blackwell's Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion | publisher=Wiley-Blackwell | publication-place=Ames, Iowa | date=25 January 2011 | isbn=978-0-8138-1596-1 | page=181}}</ref>

==Working life==

===Herding===
[[File:Rough collie Panaca.JPG|thumbnail|In the 18th century, the Collie's natural home was in the [[highlands of Scotland]]]]
In the 18th century, the Collie's natural home was in the highlands of Scotland, where it had been used for centuries as a sheepdog. The dogs were bred with great care in order to assist their masters in the herding and guarding of their flock.

Collies are capable of being keen herders while remaining sensible, flexible family companions, whether as working dogs on a ranch or farm or helping out a suburban owner who keeps a few sheep, goats, or ducks as a hobby. Participation in herding helps preserve the special heritage of the Collie and opens up new opportunities for owner and dog. The qualities that make a good herding dog – trainability, adaptability, loyalty, soundness of body and character, agility, grace – are important in many areas, and contribute so much toward making the dog an outstanding companion as well.

Throughout the country there are local herding clubs that provide clinics, work days, trials and tests. Several organisations provide herding title programs in which Collies regularly participate. A Herding Instinct Test introduces Collies and their handlers to herding at the basic level. It is designed to show whether or not a Collie, who may have never had any exposure to livestock, still has the natural instinct to perform the function for which the breed was initially created. It is a non-competitive introduction to carefully selected and easily handled livestock under favourably controlled conditions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collieclubofamerica.org/herding.html |title=Herding |publisher=Collie Club Of America |access-date=16 October 2015 |archive-date=26 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151026042339/http://www.collieclubofamerica.org/herding.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Activities===
Rough Collies can compete in [[dog agility]] trials, [[obedience training|obedience]], [[Dog showmanship|conformation]], [[flyball]], [[tracking (dog)|tracking]], and [[herding]] events. [[Herding]] instincts and trainability can be measured at noncompetitive herding tests. Rough Collies exhibiting basic herding instincts can be trained to compete in herding trials.<ref name="Hartnagle-Taylor and Ty Taylor">{{cite book|first1 = Jeanne Joy | last1 = Hartnagle-Taylor | first2 = Ty | last2 = Taylor |year = 2010|title=Stockdog Savvy|publisher=Alpine Publications|isbn=978-1-57779-106-5}}</ref> The breed has also been known to work as search and rescue dogs, therapy dogs and guide dogs for the blind.<ref name=Mitchell>{{cite web|last=Mitchell|first=P.|title=Rough Collie|url=http://www.canadasguidetodogs.com/collierough.htm|publisher=Canada's Guide to Dogs|access-date=18 May 2011}}</ref>

==Notable Rough Collies==
{{more citations needed section|date=November 2013}}
[[File:Lassie.jpg|thumb|upright|175px|[[Lassie (1954 TV series)|''Lassie'' TV series]] (1954–1973), filming on location in Florida (1965)]]
* [[Lassie]], a line of Rough Collies originally owned by [[Rudd Weatherwax]] that have starred in numerous films, multiple television series, a [[Lassie (radio program)|radio program]], and has been the subject of various novels and non-fiction works. One of the few animal actors to have a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]].
* [[Reveille (dog)|Reveille]] is the name of the current mascot of [[Texas A&M University]]. Since Reveille III became the mascot in 1966, each dog to bear that name has been a Rough Collie; the current mascot is Reveille X. She assumed her duties in 2021, and she was donated by Rough Collie breeders Julie Hinrichsen and Russell Dyke of Juell Collies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://today.tamu.edu/2021/04/30/reveille-x-takes-over-helm-as-texas-ams-next-mascot/|title=Reveille X Takes Over Helm As Texas A&M's Next Mascot|date=30 April 2021|work=Texas A&M Today|access-date=27 January 2023}}</ref>
* [[Dylan (dog)|Dylan]], [[President of Argentina|Argentine president]] [[Alberto Fernández]]'s pet dog.
* [[Lad, A Dog|Lad]], the main hero of [[Albert Payson Terhune]]'s early 20th-century novels about his Sunnybank Rough Collies.
* '''Wolf''', the main hero of [[Albert Payson Terhune]]'s early 20th-century novels about his Sunnybank Rough Collies.
* '''Gray Dawn''', another of [[Albert Payson Terhune]]'s early 20th-century novels about his Sunnybank Rough Collies.
* [[Pal (dog)|Pal]], the first Rough Collie to portray Lassie.
* [[John Wayne]]'s character Jacob McCandles in the 1971 movie [[Big Jake]] has a Rough Collie named "Dog" who obeyed varied commands by simply hearing his name spoken.
* Ch. Laund Loyalty of Bellhaven, a nine-month-old Rough Collie who is the youngest dog to ever win the [[Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/history/biswinners.html |publisher=Westminster Kennel Club |title=WKC Dog Show - Past Winners of Best in Show |access-date=15 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071225033923/http://westminsterkennelclub.org/history/biswinners.html |archive-date=25 December 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/history/bisrecords.html |publisher=Westminster Kennel Club |title=WKC Dog Show - Best in Show Records |access-date=15 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100317135346/http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/history/bisrecords.html |archive-date=17 March 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==References==
{{commonscat}}
{{reflist}}

{{Pastoral dogs}}
{{Scottish dogs}}
{{Scottish animal breeds}}

[[Category:FCI breeds]]
[[Category:Herding dogs]]
[[Category:Dog breeds originating in Scotland]]