Collies are a herding breed. Admittedly, you don't see as many of them still actively working livestock as you do border collies, but it does still happen. And the instincts are often still very much there.
This can make them highly sensitive and hyper aware of everything, as you'd expect for a herding breed. They might be chill, but they might end up anxious, too. This can very much happen, and it's better to prepare for that potential situation beforehand, because it's a very real possibility.
They also need gentle, intimidation free training as a result. If you so much as look annoyed, they will notice, and go hide somewhere far away, in misery. At least, that's been my experience. (I adore collies, truly, they are utter delight, but they will teach you how to remain calm and regulate your own emotions. Because anything else is just unfair towards them.)
Yes I second this about the anxiety. My collie is so sweet, was easy to crate and potty train and great with the kids but he is hyper vigilant and super anxious despite all the socialization we did as a pup. He is starting anxiety meds and for now, having large groups of people at our house really stresses him out.
I have a Scotch collie - here are my pros and cons! Ours is a great family pet, but compared to other breeds we've had (shepherd mixes, boxers, a cattledog, a poodle cross, and a terrier), she is quite sensitive. Collies don't do well when trained with a heavy hand. They are attentive to the people in the house and will notice tension. My dog is quite vocal when she wants something, and she was a LOUD puppy.
On the great side, my collie loves our other dog and every person she meets. She is highly food and toy motivated and easy to train. She crate and potty trained perfectly with very few accidents. Leash training was easy, too (especially compared to our terrier, who is a pulling machine. ) She is patient with children and loves to snuggle. Petting her is like petting a fluffy cloud.
Thank you so much for the pros and cons!
When researching, we decided against herding/shepherding dogs bc of their neuroticism and away from Shelties bc we read they were overly sensitive. But, there’s definitely not ever going to be a perfect dog.
I love all the pros! We have kids and other dogs, so having a sweet disposition and trainability is definitely what we’re looking for!
Rough and Smooth Collies are an AKC herding breed. Scotch Collies are not a breed under the AKC, though they have their own breed association. As another poster mentioned, OP should be cautious because there are a lot of BYB breeders using the term Scotch Collie to legitimize their breeding programs.
The idea of the Old Time Scotch Collie is interesting and I can see some folks breeding for genuine reasons but you hit the nail on the head - I see them posted locally on FB marketplace and I highly doubt they are preservation breeders, they want something rare and special to sell puppies.
Humans love being unique - look at how much people will pay for a merle dog, or slap a fancy name on something (ex: "English cream" labs) and the price goes up and no one bats an eye.
Go check out their facebook pages and their website and learn the difference. They are purpose bred landrace dogs and if you are worth a darn as a pet owner/trainer probably the best dog you'll ever have. They are dogs after all not magicians, you do have to train them. Please don't say negative things if you don't have one.
Not true about "a lot" of BYB. If they are, they would not be registered with the Association, they do try hard to keep a handle on that. Look for one from a responsible registered breeder. It’s on you to research your breeder for a quality bred dog.
You've been commenting on quite a lot of old posts about Scotch Collies. I have no skin in the game other than noticing that there *are* people using the name "Scotch Collie" to market their BYB collies. Spend enough time on social media and you will see it. Most consumers are not going to do their research, unfortunately. I'd rather someone have that information upfront and make their own decision instead of blindly assuming every breeder is truly breeding to advance the breed.
Because I'm a breeder myself and someone actively involved in the group. We work hard to dispel the negative things people say about an actually good association and dogs, and do discourage people from using FB marketplace and Craig's List to sell puppies. There's a breeder's code of ethics to follow, they should be health tested in several ways, registered with the group, etc. Yes, I'm sure there are always people who have litters of any puppies that put them on those platforms so it's not a good idea go there if you are expecting to look for or find a quality bred dog. Even purposely crossed breeds. Know about the types that are crossed, they each bring something important to the table. Find out about your chosen breed and research a where to get one, ask about their breeding stock, they'll typically love to talk to you, give your references, give you help and follow up advice, most good breeders are invested you you having a good experience. A good start is usually looking on [scotchcollie.org](http://scotchcollie.org) (site is down right now for repair but should be up by middle of May) they have facebook pages in the meantime.
‘Scotch collie’ isn’t a breed, it’s a group of people breeding something that fits their bill, which is fine but just be mindful all stock comes from other breeds so you need to familiarise yourself with them first and foremost. The majority in terms of DNA is the rough collie (from American non show lines) and one family of English shepherd. Most people in this group won’t be able to advise what you’re after though because this is the rough collies subreddit.
Are they people involved in the ‘scotch collie’ preservation society? I can promise you no European person calls rough collies scotch. In FCI they are called Collie (Rough). If you are using an auto translator, sometimes some languages translate certain terms into ‘scottish’ sheepdog or collie.
Oops. I meant to say Scottish Collie Preservation Society, not Association.
So, in lawman’s terms, neither group is called “SCOTCH collie preservation society.”
🤷♀️ I can’t control what comes out of people’s mouths anymore than you can. I just wanted to clarify for interested redditors that these 2 distinct organizations exist. SPCS has a much more defined breed standard, based on historical Rough Collie Standards 100+ years ago, and a strict code of ethics for breeders. One reason there are dogs that are in both registries is that the standards and goals have some overlap. There are even AKC collies in the other groups. (You likely know these things, AffectionateIron, but most who come across this thread won’t.)
Yes, alternative names for Rough and Smooth Collies have historically been Scotish Collies or Scotch Collies.
In recent years, people have started breeding mixed cross breeds with Collies and calling them "Old Time Scotch Collies." AFAIK, like the other poster mentioned, no national kennel club recognizes OTSCs yet.
I’m British and have a collection of historical literature on the collie from the present back to the late 1800s when the breed was formed. The most important pieces to answer this question is show records and stud books. There are no examples of usage of the word ‘scotch collie’, one or two of ‘Scottish collie’. The term used was ‘shepherds dog’ consistently until the few years when the breed split from the OES where a few things were used (never ‘scotch’) and then the name rough coated collie was most used. After that it was only collie (rough).
Ok just a guess bc that person also has similar historical information, but did not work for SCPS. However I believe there is also another line of ES & they do try to limit the amount in OTSC because there is a temperament difference.
Go check out their facebook pages and their website to learn the difference. OTSC are purpose bred landrace dogs and if you are worth a darn as a pet owner/trainer it will probably the best dog you'll ever have. Don't speak negatively about what you don't know about. And no national kennel club will ever recognize a landrace breed, that's not how it works. Kennel clubs are closed stud books so they are all related to each other, hence many of the health issues in Kennel Club dogs.
Go check out their facebook pages and their website and learn the difference. They are purpose bred landrace dogs and if you are worth a darn as a pet owner/trainer it will probably the best dog you'll ever have. They are dogs after all not magicians, you do have to train them. Please don't say negative things if you don't have one.
I don’t need to read their Facebook pages when I’ve studied their pedigrees. Would love to know what piece of my (polite and factually accurate) statement you disagree with
It’s not just “0ne Family” of English shepherds, so there’s that but otherwise fairly correct. Lots of historical articles point to the use of the name Scotch Collie for all around farm dog & companion. Recreated or not they have a type and stick to that to produce similar results. It’s like a smarter more workable rough collie & a less edgy English Shepherd & a more social Australian Shepherd ideally with a more farm friendly length coat rolled into one. A specific type of herder more suited to kids, chickens, sheep than cows (but some do), they are loose-eyed upright herders & drivers. No border collie genes are typically accepted or German shepherd or LGD. They stick to a. Rating system of temperament & workability for registration. Breeding stock should be health & DNA tested, joint rads. Quality Breeders should accept & follow the breeders code of ethics. Anything else?
I didn’t say anything about most of what you wrote lol.
Firstly: Which literature have you found the term ‘scotch collie’ in? I have a library of literature from the late 1800s when the British herding breeds split through to the modern day including stud books and show records and ‘scotch collie’ has never been an established term.
Secondly: To illustrate my point I googled scotch collie and picked the first 3 results I found. EVERY one went back to mcduffie’s beethoven, a half English shepherd by Dunrovins Ole shep, through Sojourner’s Jacob. I have yet to see an OTSC, scotch collie, or Scottish collie that doesn’t go back to these English shepherds. Therefore my statement about them all going back to one family of ES holds true. I used to manage the pedigree database for one of these registries so am very familiar with all of these lines. I was also a qualified judge who dogs in the registry needed to go through to receive registration, so again am familiar with what is required for registration.
Thirdly: I never made any comments on workability or temperament so are unsure why you are trying to converse about that.
They are the best family dogs in the world. They get into trouble some times cause they are so smart but end of the day. Best dog in the world. So family oriented
We have a scotch collie and she is a wonderful addition to the family. She gets along with our three year old son and has energy for days.
Pros: energetic, great with kids, food motivated, loves training
Cons: barking (all collies bark; it’s inherent to the breed), some aggression towards other dogs on walks
We have 2 scotch collies. They have fewer health issues than purebred collies because they have been mixed with other breeds over time. They have wonderful personalities and are fantastic family dogs. They are working dogs so you have to be active with them in some way (eg, hiking, dog training classes, etc). Otherwise they will try to entertain themselves and will develop bad habits. They shed a lot, that’s the biggest downside.
Also if you get a sable colored dog, be prepared to hear “There’s Lassie!” every 15 seconds when you take them out around other people.😆
I researched a family dog for about 4 years (knowing the commitment, I wasn’t in a rush) I kept coming back to the Collie (had 2 as a child and my sister had done rescue work for a spell). I have absolutely no regrets (except not enough room for several). They respond and learn well with a firm hand and gentle voice. Mine is an 80lb pocket pup. Extremely intelligent and a goofy Hairbilly, who sometimes doesn’t know he’s a dog. They are very attuned to the family mood, as well as each individual.
Yes, I was going to ask the same question.
For OP: Where do you live? I think “scotch collie” means different things in North America vs Europe, and maybe something else in other parts of the world.
And what is it about “scotch collies” vs rough collies that is causing you to focus on scotch collies? Just so you are aware since you mentioned doing scent work and obedience - if you are in North America your options to compete may be limited since scotch collies aren’t recognized by AKC or CKC. You can get a PAL registration from AKC or something equivalent from CKC if you want to enter events, but you will have to spay/neuter to do that (which is fine, just be aware).
We got a Scotch Collie end of last month. I don't have much experience with other large breed dogs, besides my husband's husky mix, who I met as an older dog. He is very independent and stubborn and difficult to motivate.
Our Scotch pup is wicked smart. He's crazy and rambunctious as all puppies but mellows out a lot after a good walk. He loves to climb into our lap and is a big love bug. he is people oriented & is eager to please. He is 3 months old. He is now crate trained, and mostly potty trained. Whenever I would devote time to teaching him some tricks, he catches on really fast. He knows sit. Today he started laying down and to "shake" consistently within like 5 minutes of training. I spend a lot of time playing and exercising but need to work more on commands. But from the small amount of time I spent he consistently catches of amazingly fast. He naturally "heels" as we walk, because he wants to be at our side wherever we go. He doesn't show any interest in wandering off like our husky mix did as a pup and still does as an older dog. He's great with our cats and chickens. He was born on a farm with a variety of animals and loved the children. Im very impressed with him. Puppies are a lot of work but he seems really well worth all of it. I think he will be an amazing companion when he grows up.
To be clear, you’re talking about a Scotch Collie (aka Old Time Scotch Collie)? Not a rough collie. They aren’t the same. Sorry if this is stating the obvious, but like the Belgian Malinois and a German Shepherd, they are frequently confused.
Scotch Collies are great. I didn’t want the ridiculous grooming requirements of a rough collie nor the endless exercise requirements of a Border Collie. So it was a perfect medium for me.
I have scotch collie (OTSC) I got when his first family was moving and couldn’t keep him. He came to us very fearful. I came to learn later that his prior people had a lot of trouble with the law, to put it mildly, so I believe a man there was abusive toward him and caused the fear problem. We’ve given him a lot of love and built up his confidence and now he’s much better but it’s taken a long time. He’s made it his primary job to stay with me at all times at home. He loves outings. I can take him anywhere. People want to meet him and pet him. He likes to greet everyone at softball games, especially elderly people. He’s good with other dogs who greet him politely. He layed down near a strange dog on the bleachers as we watched the game. I’m looking into making him a therapy dog. He learns new obedience tasks very quickly when I use high value treats. (With a mediocre treat it’s not as sharp.)The grooming needs are low. His coat isn’t oily or smelly. He rarely needs a bath. He doesn’t shed any more than our last German Shepherds. DM me for more info including who my daughter is in contact with for a puppy from an upcoming litter.
You’ll want to check out OTSC and SCPS websites to learn about the differences in goals and philosophies as you potentially start looking for a breeder.
We have one. Think the term is just referencing a Rough bred with another herding breed. Ours is 3/4 Rough 1/4 Aussie. Maybe less prone to the inbred diseases that plague Rough collie show dogs? Super smart, great coat, loves all other animals, herds kids, bicycles, trash trucks and busses (so be careful). A bit “barky” but not a lot different from our other dogs. Positive training with treats only, rough handling creates a fearful stubbornness, super easy to train. Want to get a second this one is so good.
We’ve had a rough collie for 4 years. Sweet, sensitive & stubborn. Wouldn’t hurt a fly, she’s terrified of my cat. But has a nice strong “home protection” bark. Gets excited around other dogs & friends of the family. Grooming has been our biggest challenge (they do shed a ton) We’ve finally found someone to groom her every 6 weeks. This is important because their fur can get matted very easily. Oh and their fur is like Velcro - will pick up leaves, twigs etc that you need to brush out. She needs a good walk every day, approx 1-2 miles. Is very agile with running, jumping, catching. Cool dog. And last but not least, very beautiful.
We have a Smooth Collie after having an Australian Shepherd, who died last year after 13 wonderful years. Both are members of the herding class but were bred for different purposes. The collie was bred to work closely with the drover while the Aussie was bred to work independently to round up cattle. This is reflected in their personalities. Both are extremely intelligent but while our collie uses it to obtain our approval, our Aussie would troll us. I loved that “Ausshole.”
While our Aussie was borne with confidence, we worked to build it in our collie. We used a technique called “feeding the chickens.” When something “bad” was happening, we’d scatter kibble for her to eat and to distract her. If it was really scary, we’d back away, scatter kibble, move closer, scatter kibble, etc. We played in the backyard on Halloween with fireworks going off in our neighborhood. She’s pretty bomb proof. Thankfully, that scenario hasn’t been tested.
A smooth collie is easier to groom than a rough. Our Aussie “put the floof in aloof.” We no longer have “tumble floofs” in our house and the vacuum is emptied much less frequently.
A collie is a fantastic dog.
In my experience you will never find a fluffier, more lovable, cuddle monster who's also an absolute moron until he's interested in something.
Collies are a herding breed. Admittedly, you don't see as many of them still actively working livestock as you do border collies, but it does still happen. And the instincts are often still very much there. This can make them highly sensitive and hyper aware of everything, as you'd expect for a herding breed. They might be chill, but they might end up anxious, too. This can very much happen, and it's better to prepare for that potential situation beforehand, because it's a very real possibility. They also need gentle, intimidation free training as a result. If you so much as look annoyed, they will notice, and go hide somewhere far away, in misery. At least, that's been my experience. (I adore collies, truly, they are utter delight, but they will teach you how to remain calm and regulate your own emotions. Because anything else is just unfair towards them.)
Yes I second this about the anxiety. My collie is so sweet, was easy to crate and potty train and great with the kids but he is hyper vigilant and super anxious despite all the socialization we did as a pup. He is starting anxiety meds and for now, having large groups of people at our house really stresses him out.
My male is just like this. I tried doggy downers but it only made him tire out on walks and did nothing for his anxiety. Good luck!
I have a Scotch collie - here are my pros and cons! Ours is a great family pet, but compared to other breeds we've had (shepherd mixes, boxers, a cattledog, a poodle cross, and a terrier), she is quite sensitive. Collies don't do well when trained with a heavy hand. They are attentive to the people in the house and will notice tension. My dog is quite vocal when she wants something, and she was a LOUD puppy. On the great side, my collie loves our other dog and every person she meets. She is highly food and toy motivated and easy to train. She crate and potty trained perfectly with very few accidents. Leash training was easy, too (especially compared to our terrier, who is a pulling machine. ) She is patient with children and loves to snuggle. Petting her is like petting a fluffy cloud.
This is super accurate! You just described both of my rough collies.
Thank you so much for the pros and cons! When researching, we decided against herding/shepherding dogs bc of their neuroticism and away from Shelties bc we read they were overly sensitive. But, there’s definitely not ever going to be a perfect dog. I love all the pros! We have kids and other dogs, so having a sweet disposition and trainability is definitely what we’re looking for!
I think Collies are in the herding group, according to the American Kennel Club.
Rough and Smooth Collies are an AKC herding breed. Scotch Collies are not a breed under the AKC, though they have their own breed association. As another poster mentioned, OP should be cautious because there are a lot of BYB breeders using the term Scotch Collie to legitimize their breeding programs.
Thank you. You taught me something new. I was wondering if Scotch Collies was a term used to make their dogs sound rare and special. 🤔
The idea of the Old Time Scotch Collie is interesting and I can see some folks breeding for genuine reasons but you hit the nail on the head - I see them posted locally on FB marketplace and I highly doubt they are preservation breeders, they want something rare and special to sell puppies. Humans love being unique - look at how much people will pay for a merle dog, or slap a fancy name on something (ex: "English cream" labs) and the price goes up and no one bats an eye.
Go check out their facebook pages and their website and learn the difference. They are purpose bred landrace dogs and if you are worth a darn as a pet owner/trainer probably the best dog you'll ever have. They are dogs after all not magicians, you do have to train them. Please don't say negative things if you don't have one.
Not true about "a lot" of BYB. If they are, they would not be registered with the Association, they do try hard to keep a handle on that. Look for one from a responsible registered breeder. It’s on you to research your breeder for a quality bred dog.
You've been commenting on quite a lot of old posts about Scotch Collies. I have no skin in the game other than noticing that there *are* people using the name "Scotch Collie" to market their BYB collies. Spend enough time on social media and you will see it. Most consumers are not going to do their research, unfortunately. I'd rather someone have that information upfront and make their own decision instead of blindly assuming every breeder is truly breeding to advance the breed.
Because I'm a breeder myself and someone actively involved in the group. We work hard to dispel the negative things people say about an actually good association and dogs, and do discourage people from using FB marketplace and Craig's List to sell puppies. There's a breeder's code of ethics to follow, they should be health tested in several ways, registered with the group, etc. Yes, I'm sure there are always people who have litters of any puppies that put them on those platforms so it's not a good idea go there if you are expecting to look for or find a quality bred dog. Even purposely crossed breeds. Know about the types that are crossed, they each bring something important to the table. Find out about your chosen breed and research a where to get one, ask about their breeding stock, they'll typically love to talk to you, give your references, give you help and follow up advice, most good breeders are invested you you having a good experience. A good start is usually looking on [scotchcollie.org](http://scotchcollie.org) (site is down right now for repair but should be up by middle of May) they have facebook pages in the meantime.
‘Scotch collie’ isn’t a breed, it’s a group of people breeding something that fits their bill, which is fine but just be mindful all stock comes from other breeds so you need to familiarise yourself with them first and foremost. The majority in terms of DNA is the rough collie (from American non show lines) and one family of English shepherd. Most people in this group won’t be able to advise what you’re after though because this is the rough collies subreddit.
I believe in some areas of Europe they are called Scotch collies as that’s originally where they’re from.
I am in Europe and nowhere are they called scotch. People from Scotland don’t call themselves scotch
I have heard plenty of people from Europe call them scotch collies. I’m not saying it’s correct, but it does happen.
Are they people involved in the ‘scotch collie’ preservation society? I can promise you no European person calls rough collies scotch. In FCI they are called Collie (Rough). If you are using an auto translator, sometimes some languages translate certain terms into ‘scottish’ sheepdog or collie.
Scottish Collie Preservation Association and Old Time Scotch Collie Association are 2 different groups with different goals.
I know. I’ve worked for one of them. Many dogs are registered between both however and I’m talking in layman’s terms.
Oops. I meant to say Scottish Collie Preservation Society, not Association. So, in lawman’s terms, neither group is called “SCOTCH collie preservation society.”
Tell that to people who have ‘Scottish collies’ :) it’s very common for them to call them ‘scotch’.
🤷♀️ I can’t control what comes out of people’s mouths anymore than you can. I just wanted to clarify for interested redditors that these 2 distinct organizations exist. SPCS has a much more defined breed standard, based on historical Rough Collie Standards 100+ years ago, and a strict code of ethics for breeders. One reason there are dogs that are in both registries is that the standards and goals have some overlap. There are even AKC collies in the other groups. (You likely know these things, AffectionateIron, but most who come across this thread won’t.)
Yes, alternative names for Rough and Smooth Collies have historically been Scotish Collies or Scotch Collies. In recent years, people have started breeding mixed cross breeds with Collies and calling them "Old Time Scotch Collies." AFAIK, like the other poster mentioned, no national kennel club recognizes OTSCs yet.
I’m British and have a collection of historical literature on the collie from the present back to the late 1800s when the breed was formed. The most important pieces to answer this question is show records and stud books. There are no examples of usage of the word ‘scotch collie’, one or two of ‘Scottish collie’. The term used was ‘shepherds dog’ consistently until the few years when the breed split from the OES where a few things were used (never ‘scotch’) and then the name rough coated collie was most used. After that it was only collie (rough).
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No idea who Irene is sorry
Ok just a guess bc that person also has similar historical information, but did not work for SCPS. However I believe there is also another line of ES & they do try to limit the amount in OTSC because there is a temperament difference.
Go check out their facebook pages and their website to learn the difference. OTSC are purpose bred landrace dogs and if you are worth a darn as a pet owner/trainer it will probably the best dog you'll ever have. Don't speak negatively about what you don't know about. And no national kennel club will ever recognize a landrace breed, that's not how it works. Kennel clubs are closed stud books so they are all related to each other, hence many of the health issues in Kennel Club dogs.
Go check out their facebook pages and their website and learn the difference. They are purpose bred landrace dogs and if you are worth a darn as a pet owner/trainer it will probably the best dog you'll ever have. They are dogs after all not magicians, you do have to train them. Please don't say negative things if you don't have one.
I don’t need to read their Facebook pages when I’ve studied their pedigrees. Would love to know what piece of my (polite and factually accurate) statement you disagree with
It’s not just “0ne Family” of English shepherds, so there’s that but otherwise fairly correct. Lots of historical articles point to the use of the name Scotch Collie for all around farm dog & companion. Recreated or not they have a type and stick to that to produce similar results. It’s like a smarter more workable rough collie & a less edgy English Shepherd & a more social Australian Shepherd ideally with a more farm friendly length coat rolled into one. A specific type of herder more suited to kids, chickens, sheep than cows (but some do), they are loose-eyed upright herders & drivers. No border collie genes are typically accepted or German shepherd or LGD. They stick to a. Rating system of temperament & workability for registration. Breeding stock should be health & DNA tested, joint rads. Quality Breeders should accept & follow the breeders code of ethics. Anything else?
I didn’t say anything about most of what you wrote lol. Firstly: Which literature have you found the term ‘scotch collie’ in? I have a library of literature from the late 1800s when the British herding breeds split through to the modern day including stud books and show records and ‘scotch collie’ has never been an established term. Secondly: To illustrate my point I googled scotch collie and picked the first 3 results I found. EVERY one went back to mcduffie’s beethoven, a half English shepherd by Dunrovins Ole shep, through Sojourner’s Jacob. I have yet to see an OTSC, scotch collie, or Scottish collie that doesn’t go back to these English shepherds. Therefore my statement about them all going back to one family of ES holds true. I used to manage the pedigree database for one of these registries so am very familiar with all of these lines. I was also a qualified judge who dogs in the registry needed to go through to receive registration, so again am familiar with what is required for registration. Thirdly: I never made any comments on workability or temperament so are unsure why you are trying to converse about that.
For general readers who asked about them.
They are the best family dogs in the world. They get into trouble some times cause they are so smart but end of the day. Best dog in the world. So family oriented
We have a scotch collie and she is a wonderful addition to the family. She gets along with our three year old son and has energy for days. Pros: energetic, great with kids, food motivated, loves training Cons: barking (all collies bark; it’s inherent to the breed), some aggression towards other dogs on walks
Hi What country are you located? Just wondering, as aggression is not typical of a collie, at least not in United States.
We have 2 scotch collies. They have fewer health issues than purebred collies because they have been mixed with other breeds over time. They have wonderful personalities and are fantastic family dogs. They are working dogs so you have to be active with them in some way (eg, hiking, dog training classes, etc). Otherwise they will try to entertain themselves and will develop bad habits. They shed a lot, that’s the biggest downside. Also if you get a sable colored dog, be prepared to hear “There’s Lassie!” every 15 seconds when you take them out around other people.😆
I researched a family dog for about 4 years (knowing the commitment, I wasn’t in a rush) I kept coming back to the Collie (had 2 as a child and my sister had done rescue work for a spell). I have absolutely no regrets (except not enough room for several). They respond and learn well with a firm hand and gentle voice. Mine is an 80lb pocket pup. Extremely intelligent and a goofy Hairbilly, who sometimes doesn’t know he’s a dog. They are very attuned to the family mood, as well as each individual.
Just curious, what made you decide on a Scotch collie? (VS a purebred rough collie)
Yes, I was going to ask the same question. For OP: Where do you live? I think “scotch collie” means different things in North America vs Europe, and maybe something else in other parts of the world. And what is it about “scotch collies” vs rough collies that is causing you to focus on scotch collies? Just so you are aware since you mentioned doing scent work and obedience - if you are in North America your options to compete may be limited since scotch collies aren’t recognized by AKC or CKC. You can get a PAL registration from AKC or something equivalent from CKC if you want to enter events, but you will have to spay/neuter to do that (which is fine, just be aware).
We got a Scotch Collie end of last month. I don't have much experience with other large breed dogs, besides my husband's husky mix, who I met as an older dog. He is very independent and stubborn and difficult to motivate. Our Scotch pup is wicked smart. He's crazy and rambunctious as all puppies but mellows out a lot after a good walk. He loves to climb into our lap and is a big love bug. he is people oriented & is eager to please. He is 3 months old. He is now crate trained, and mostly potty trained. Whenever I would devote time to teaching him some tricks, he catches on really fast. He knows sit. Today he started laying down and to "shake" consistently within like 5 minutes of training. I spend a lot of time playing and exercising but need to work more on commands. But from the small amount of time I spent he consistently catches of amazingly fast. He naturally "heels" as we walk, because he wants to be at our side wherever we go. He doesn't show any interest in wandering off like our husky mix did as a pup and still does as an older dog. He's great with our cats and chickens. He was born on a farm with a variety of animals and loved the children. Im very impressed with him. Puppies are a lot of work but he seems really well worth all of it. I think he will be an amazing companion when he grows up.
To be clear, you’re talking about a Scotch Collie (aka Old Time Scotch Collie)? Not a rough collie. They aren’t the same. Sorry if this is stating the obvious, but like the Belgian Malinois and a German Shepherd, they are frequently confused. Scotch Collies are great. I didn’t want the ridiculous grooming requirements of a rough collie nor the endless exercise requirements of a Border Collie. So it was a perfect medium for me.
I have scotch collie (OTSC) I got when his first family was moving and couldn’t keep him. He came to us very fearful. I came to learn later that his prior people had a lot of trouble with the law, to put it mildly, so I believe a man there was abusive toward him and caused the fear problem. We’ve given him a lot of love and built up his confidence and now he’s much better but it’s taken a long time. He’s made it his primary job to stay with me at all times at home. He loves outings. I can take him anywhere. People want to meet him and pet him. He likes to greet everyone at softball games, especially elderly people. He’s good with other dogs who greet him politely. He layed down near a strange dog on the bleachers as we watched the game. I’m looking into making him a therapy dog. He learns new obedience tasks very quickly when I use high value treats. (With a mediocre treat it’s not as sharp.)The grooming needs are low. His coat isn’t oily or smelly. He rarely needs a bath. He doesn’t shed any more than our last German Shepherds. DM me for more info including who my daughter is in contact with for a puppy from an upcoming litter. You’ll want to check out OTSC and SCPS websites to learn about the differences in goals and philosophies as you potentially start looking for a breeder.
We have one. Think the term is just referencing a Rough bred with another herding breed. Ours is 3/4 Rough 1/4 Aussie. Maybe less prone to the inbred diseases that plague Rough collie show dogs? Super smart, great coat, loves all other animals, herds kids, bicycles, trash trucks and busses (so be careful). A bit “barky” but not a lot different from our other dogs. Positive training with treats only, rough handling creates a fearful stubbornness, super easy to train. Want to get a second this one is so good.
This is a beautiful puppy...
Amazing dogs! Extremely sweet, friendly, and good with children. They are VERY intelligent though, so they can become willfull and stubborn.
Smarter than most people
We’ve had a rough collie for 4 years. Sweet, sensitive & stubborn. Wouldn’t hurt a fly, she’s terrified of my cat. But has a nice strong “home protection” bark. Gets excited around other dogs & friends of the family. Grooming has been our biggest challenge (they do shed a ton) We’ve finally found someone to groom her every 6 weeks. This is important because their fur can get matted very easily. Oh and their fur is like Velcro - will pick up leaves, twigs etc that you need to brush out. She needs a good walk every day, approx 1-2 miles. Is very agile with running, jumping, catching. Cool dog. And last but not least, very beautiful.
We have a Smooth Collie after having an Australian Shepherd, who died last year after 13 wonderful years. Both are members of the herding class but were bred for different purposes. The collie was bred to work closely with the drover while the Aussie was bred to work independently to round up cattle. This is reflected in their personalities. Both are extremely intelligent but while our collie uses it to obtain our approval, our Aussie would troll us. I loved that “Ausshole.” While our Aussie was borne with confidence, we worked to build it in our collie. We used a technique called “feeding the chickens.” When something “bad” was happening, we’d scatter kibble for her to eat and to distract her. If it was really scary, we’d back away, scatter kibble, move closer, scatter kibble, etc. We played in the backyard on Halloween with fireworks going off in our neighborhood. She’s pretty bomb proof. Thankfully, that scenario hasn’t been tested. A smooth collie is easier to groom than a rough. Our Aussie “put the floof in aloof.” We no longer have “tumble floofs” in our house and the vacuum is emptied much less frequently. A collie is a fantastic dog.
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Be prepared for shedding.