The Rough Collie AKA The Lassie Dog: everything you need to know

The Rough Collie (or Ruff Collies!) is most famously recognized as the Lassie Dog. For those of you who may not know, Lassie was a popular TV series in the 1940s and 1950s which then led to a string of films throughout the 20th Century. Since then, they have been known to be the beautiful companions and family dogs Lassie was depicted as on the silver screen.

Although Lassie may not be as popular as Real Housewives these days, the Rough Collie breed is still widely loved and admired across the US. Loyal, gentle, and active, these balls of fluff are happiest when around their humans. To appreciate the fine floofs, we’ve done some digging to sniff out some facts about this magnificent breed of dog.

So, without further ado, here are some fur favorite lessons on the Rough Collie.

Rough Collie characteristics

Origin

The Rough Collie hails from the Scottish Highlands where they were bred to be cattle herding dogs. Brilliant, speedy, and social, these fluffballs have a strong instinct to herd and work.

Size

In the US, a male Rough Collie can be expected to reach 24-26 inches to the shoulder, whilst females are a little shorter at around 22-24 inches to the shoulder. Weight-wise, a healthy male should be between 60-70 lbs., and females about 50-65 lbs. Although active like most collie dog breeds, the long-haired Rough Collie’s extra floof means it can be tricky to track their weight by looks alone. Always consult your vet if you have any concerns about your collie’s weight and exercise routine.

Character

The American Kennel Club considers the Rough Collie to be one of the US’s most beloved dog breeds. Why? Well, they’re amazing all-round family dogs. Playful and active, yet cuddly and patient, the Rough Coat Collie is adaptable to their family’s needs and lifestyle. 

Grooming

For the Smooth Collie, minimal grooming is required for these pups - regular brushing and monthly baths will be enough to keep these Collies clean. For the long-haired, double-coated snuffles, weekly brushing, monthly grooming, and an annual coat blowout are required.

Health needs

There are two major health issues found in Rough Collies - hip dysplasia and progressive retinal atrophy (also known as the Collie eye anomaly). Hip dysplasia can occur as the dog ages and their hips become more worn. Collie eye anomaly is a genetic condition that can develop from age 2 and over. Sadly, the latter can cause blindness from a young age, so be sure to check in with your vet about this regularly.

Energy levels

Typically, Rough Collies are considered active dogs. They’ll need at least an hour of walking every day and will never complain if offered extended outdoor time. But, as family dogs, they are also very happy to spend an evening with their family members, so long as at least one person is paying them attention.

Training

These pups have a high intelligence without a stubborn nature, meaning they are easy to train. However, they are rather sensitive snuffles, so a gentle hand is needed for the best training results. Keeping them mentally stimulated with a variety of toys and tasks, as well as a focus on learning the silent command, is crucial.

Intelligence

The Rough Collie has a high intelligence on the doggo smart scale. As a breed of collie, they require regular exercise and mental stimulation to keep them happy. Their purpose as herding dogs makes them very active and highly attuned to problem-solving. The Rough Collie will also tune into its human family members’ personality traits - they behave differently from each of their humans.

Lifespan

Like most herding dogs and other collie breeds, the Rough Collie can live to about 12 to 14 years old. For large dogs, this is a pretty good age too! Of course, this will be dependent on the dog and how active its lifestyle is.

Noise levels

If a Rough Collie is kept mentally stimulated and active, it's likely you won’t hear much ruff from them. However, if they become bored or impatient, the Rough Collie will certainly make their humans aware of this. They tend to have a sharp, loud bark which is ideal for grabbing attention. Although this is great for farming, in a family home it may be best to work on training this out of them.

Although not aggressive dogs, they do have a habit of barking at strangers. Again, this can be something to work on during their training sessions.

The Lassie Dog's look and appearance

The most famous Rough Collie appearance is as the long-haired lion-maned dog - just like the Lassie Dog from Hollywood depictions. However, did you know Rough Collies also come in short hair? They’re called Smooth Collies and are often confused with Australian Cattle Dogs.

Our long-haired Rough Collie dogs have a distinctive plumage of fluff covering their lean, athletic bodies. Color-wise, they can come in four varieties - blue merle, sable, white (or mostly white with sable or merle patches), and tri-color (mostly black with sable and white splodges).

Alongside their magnificent hairdos, the Rough Collie is also recognized for its angular, pointed snout, triangular ears, and almond-shaped eyes. There’s a reason these pooches are often pup prize winners.

Rough Collie personality

Rough Collies can sometimes be mistaken for Border Collies meaning they can often be mistaken for being rather serious snuffles. However, the Rough Coat Collie can be a playful member of the family who will love long walks as much as coach cuddle time. They form strong bonds with their family members and, although they do require daily exercise, they are most happy when they are around their humans.

The dogs are amazing with young children and hone an instinct to protect and watch over their tiny humans. A Rough Collie with a group of walking toddlers can sometimes appear to be herding them whilst acting as a nanny!

As one of the smartest dog breeds, they love being assigned a job to help out around the home. Their high intelligence means they easily become bored of repetition, so make sure you have a few daily activities ready for them. Boredom can lead to barking and occasional ankle nipping if they feel they’re being ignored.

What’s the ideal home for Rough Collies?

Rough Collies can be kept as city dogs, however, they still need to be walked for at least an hour every day. A home that can provide this amount of daily exercise, or one with a big back yard is ideal for these long-haired beauties.

Our Rough Collie friends also thrive in human company, so are best not left alone for long periods. They bond well with other animals, but they will often seek out the company of people over other pups or pets.

What’s the ideal human for Rough Collies?

An active human who loves a cuddle is paw-fect for the Rough Collie. If you’re someone who has a busy lifestyle that causes you to often be away from home, these pups may not be for you. Similarly, a pet parent who is committed to regular training and entertaining their Rough Collie would also be a great fit.

How much exercise do Rough Collies need?

Like other Collies, Rough Collies need at least an hour of walking each day. They’re active dogs who love spending time outdoors exploring and wandering through places with lots of smells. A lack of exercise can lead to health issues as well as excessive barking.

Rough Collie history

Originally from Scotland and the North of England, the Rough Collie was bred as a herding dog for cooler climates. How they came to roam the fields of the northern UK is unknown, but they share a lot of their temperament with other livestock herders.

Although they have been around for about 300 years (at least), it was England’s Queen Victoria who brought this dog breed into the limelight. As a Rough Collie fan, her love for these Collies made them one of the UK’s most sought-after dog breeds in the late 19th Century. Since then - and after being named the Lassie Dog after their period of fame in Hollywood - these fluffs are one of the most distinctive breeds in the world. 

Because of their high intelligence, athletic nature, and herding instincts, the Rough Collie is often used as a top-performing show dog in almost all show categories. Because of this, there is often a high price to pay for a purebred puppy from a reputable breeder.

Adopting or buying a Rough Collie

As mentioned above, Rough Collies are a popular choice for professional show dogs. This means that it’s rare to find a Rough Collie in a shelter, particularly Rough Collie puppies. However, we always advise checking with your local shelter first just in case.

Otherwise, if there are no Rough Collies available for adoption (and you have your heart set on one), be sure to do extensive research to find a reputable breeder. Make sure thorough health checks are done with the pups and their parents to make sure your puppy has the best quality of life possible.