Rough Collie

Lifestyle needs

Rough Collie

The ancestors of the Rough Collie were Scottish working sheep dogs and although the modern version is very much a glamorous show dog, he retains his instinct to herd.  With this drive he makes a good obedience or agility dog.  The Rough Collie’s glamorous, thick coat makes grooming hard work and he should be groomed every day.  He needs plenty of exercise every day as well as some mental challenges.

Inbreeding coefficient – COI

(should be as low as possible)

The breed average COI is 12.3%

See A Beginners Guide to COI.

Health and welfare problems due to conformation

(body shape and physical characteristics)

• The Rough Collie’s longish, thick coat means that he will be susceptible to the heat and uncomfortable in hot weather.

BVA/KC Health Schemes  http://www.bva.co.uk/chs

• Hip dysplasia (malformation of the hip joints causinf pain and disability):  breed mean score 9.2 (parents should be lower)
• Elbow dysplasia (malformation of the elbow joint causing pain andn disability):  score ideally O:O
• Eye Disease: Multifocal retinal dysplasia (MRD) (severe MRD will cause visual impairment); Collie eye anomaly (CEA) (a lesion or pale patch on the eye); Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) (leads to blindness)
• Retinal pigment epithelial dystrophy (causes visual impairment)

DNA tests available

Parents should be tested for:

• Collie eye anomaly/Choroidal hypoplasia (CEA/CH)
• Ivermectin sensitivity (MDR1)
• Generalised progressive retinal atrophy (GPRA) (rcd2)
• Multi drug resistance (MDRI)
• Canine cyclic neutropenia (Grey Collie syndrome) (stem cell disorder – very serious disease with multiple symptoms and death at a very young age)
• Merle gene

Unofficial (breed club) schemes

          None known

Ask the breeder to show you the certificates for the above tests/screening for both parents (or check the KC’s health test results finder). If any of the above tests have not been considered necessary by the breeder (and there may be good reasons), ask her to explain why.

Other diseases

(for which there are currently no genetic or screening tests for sire or dam)

• Dermatitis (various forms)
• Drug reactions (Ivermectin)
• Pancreatitis (abdominal tenderness/pain)
• Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (chronic inadequate digestion, inflammation of the pancreas)
• Haemophilia A (bleeding disorder)
• Carpal hyperextension syndrome (malfunction of ligaments in wrist – causes pain and lameness)
• Cancer (Skin, Stomach)
• Idiopathic Epilepsy (fear and discomfort before and after a seizure)
• Corneal dystrophy (displacement of the cornea)
• Entropion (inward turning of eyelids)
• Renal Amyloidosis (kidney disease)
• Pyometra (serious womb infection in older entire females)
• Cutaneous lupus erythematosis (autoimmune disease,causing inflammation and scaling on dog’s face, loss of nose pigment)

Ask the breeder about the medical history of the parents, grandparents and great grandparents.  Consider carefully whether to purchase a puppy if some of these or other diseases are in the family line.

Ask about the breeder’s policy in cases of serious genetic diseases occurring to your puppy in later life.  Good breeders will request to be informed of such events in order to improve future breeding decisions.  Some breeders will also agree to contribute towards medical costs or refund purchase price.

You are strongly advised to buy from a breeder who uses (or is prepared to use) the RSPCA / BVA AWF Puppy Contract and Puppy Information Pack (PIP):  www.puppycontract.org.uk

You are also advised to buy from a breeder who follows the Dog Advisory Council’s Standard for Breeders: http://www.dogbreedhealth.com/dac-breeding-standard/

List of Dog Breeds