Photo by Tsuacctnt

As a whole, the Rough & Smooth Collie is a hardy, healthy breed.   There traits are some of the most desired in the world among dog owners – they’re beautiful, intelligent, sensitive, easy to train, loyal, friendly, and very loving.  Unlike the chow, the collie is not known for being a “one person” dog.  They consider every one their friend and love all members of the family.  Due to their sincere desire to please their master, they are one of the easiest breeds to housebreak and obedience train, making them great candidates for obedience competitions, working sports, and agility.  They are very clean dogs, and, if given regular brushing, do not smell.

Under proper conditions, this breed is the ideal family pet.  Train a collie, treat him with respect, and love him, and you will have a wonderful dog on your hands.  Because of their love of familiy, it is never wise to keep collies as outdoor-only pets.  They were bred for companionship and hard work, not for a sedentary, lonely life by themselves out back.  These dogs are notorious people dogs – under no circumstance should you ever chain a collie up or deprive him of human companionship.  They are very sensitive and any mistreatment from their beloved human companion can completely break their spirit.  It has been known for collies to become sad and depressed because of one simple harsh word spoken to them by someone they loved!  Because of their breed’s history as a working / herding dog, they become easily bored and lonely – another reason why they should not be kept permanantly outdoors.  If left alone for too long, the collie will find other ways of “working”, whether it be digging up things, herding squirrels, or barking at falling leaves (to the annoyance of your neighbors!).  As a rule, they are not known for being destructive.  If you know of one that is destructive, it means he is bored with his life and he needs more intellectual stimulation and work.  Find him a job such as obedience class, trick training, and agility trials.

While collies do have a reputation of being barkers and “mouthy” (nipping at moving objects – or moving feet! – due to their herding instinct), they are not known for attacking or biting.  A mean attitude and agression is more often than not a sign of being poorly bred.  Care should be taken when researching collie puppies to buy that the breeder focuses on keeping the collie’s loving, gentle traits.  In the olden days, when collies were first being bred to herd and work in the fields, an agressive collie could easily kill the livestock.  That was not what they were wanting with the collie!  Now, while collies do not officially attack, they are known as excellent protectors and will alert you of signs of danger.  If it is an attack guard dog that you are wanting, you’ll need to find another breed. 

The rough & smooth collie also does well with obedience training as long as it isn’t stuffed with boring routines.  Their sharp mind was bred to think for themselves on the sheep fields – they were given one command or a specific job, and they had to figure out the best course of action to take to get it done.  The routine of sitting one way, every time, might be too much for your excited collie…not that he doesn’t know how, it’s just that there’s only one way to sit, and that’s boring!

Finally, a Collie should never be skittish, nervous or people shy. Some may be reserved, but they should never be outright fearful. Collies love to play, retrieve, and herd moving objects (such as your children!). They also love going for long walks. In essence, they make great companions for young or old.

Related posts:

1. The Rough Vs. Smooth Coat Collie
2. Are rough and smooth collies judged differently in the show ring?? Do they have a different standard?
3. Border Collie vs. Rough / Smooth Collie
4. Intro to Collie Origins
5. How To Train Your Collie Puppy Properly