Rough Collie
The "Lassie" Collie. Gentle, devoted, brilliant family dog.
Photo: Tomasz Lemańczyk / Pexels
The Rough Collie was made famous worldwide by Eric Knight's novel and the resulting "Lassie" films and TV series. The breed was developed as a Scottish sheep-herder. Today's Rough Collie is one of the most family-friendly herding breeds.
Temperament
Gentle, devoted, sensitive, easily trainable. Excellent with children and other pets.
Exercise needs
60–90 minutes daily.
Grooming
Long double coat. Brush 3× weekly, daily during seasonal moults.
Common health issues
Collie eye anomaly (DNA test). MDR1 drug sensitivity (DNA test). Dermatomyositis. Bloat / GDV.
👍 Best for
Families with children, multi-pet homes, first-time owners.
👎 Not best for
Apartments without grooming commitment.
Buying guides for Rough Collie owners
Recommended for Rough Collie owners
Buying guides for Rough Collie owners
Compare Rough Collie with…
Similar breeds
Shetland Sheepdog
Smaller cousin of the Rough Collie. Bright, sensitive, brilliant at agility.
Border Collie
Widely considered the most intelligent dog breed. Needs a working life or sport.
Australian Shepherd
Striking, intelligent working dog. Needs serious exercise and a job. Ideal sport partner.
Golden Retriever
The classic golden family dog — sweet-natured, loyal, easy to train and devoted to…
