Descended from shepherds’ dogs that have been around for centuries, the rough collie hails from the Scottish Highlands where it was valued for its strength, hearing and keen eye-sight as it guarded stock in pasture, its heavy weather-resistant coat withstanding all manner of climates. It wasn’t until dog shows gained prominence in the latter half of the 19th century that much attention was paid to its looks — over time, it became more likely to see a rough collie in the show ring than out working.
Full of energy and ready for action, the rough collie.
However, when the Beast from the East hit in early 2018, Wiltshire shepherd Jess King found sheep buried in snow and others tangled in brambles on a steep bank she couldn’t reach. Her rough collie, Tully, stepped in: ‘Without any instruction, he climbed up and pulled each sheep free,’ she recalls. ‘He did it for hours — he’s saved the day more times than I can count.’
Now 10, Tully still works sheep and cattle a few times a week. ‘He’d work all day if he could,’ says Ms King. ‘Not all rough collies have the working instinct any more, but some traditional lines remain. They don’t like much schooling — Tully questions me more than a border collie, but he’s always right.’
Their style is similar to a Welsh sheepdog: loose-eyed, upright and vocal — ‘I’ve moved 4,000 sheep on my own with Tully.’
Six facts about Rough Collies
- The rough collie shares its ancestry with the smooth collie, a listed vulnerable breed that had only 44 registrations last year
- Rough collies have a double coat: a dense, soft undercoat and a long, rough outer coat
- The three recognised colours of the breed are sable and white, tricolour and blue merle
- After falling for their charms during a visit to Scotland, Queen Victoria kept rough and smooth collies in her kennels, popularising the breed
- Despite being a female character, all nine dogs that played Lassie throughout the MGM films and television series were male. Lassie secured a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was the only animal to feature on Variety’s ‘100 Icons of the Century’ in 2005
- Celebrity fans of the breed have included Elvis Presley and Miley Cyrus
In 1943, Lassie Come Home, the film adaptation of Eric Knight’s novel about a devoted rough collie that faces great dangers to return to its family, was a box-office hit, sparking spin-off movies and a television show that ran until 1973. The breed reaped the rewards of heroic Lassie’s phenomenal success — its Hollywood-worthy beauty and exceptionally faithful character was advertised on a global scale.
However, fashion is fickle and, despite its exalted status as the ‘Lassie dog’, it has seen a worrying decline, with fewer than 500 registrations in 2022. For the dog once considered the ultimate family companion, these low numbers are both puzzling and heartbreaking. As with other native breeds, the rough collie is likely overlooked due to misconceptions about the breed or simply a lack of airtime — but there can be no doubt that this majestic dog deserves to be back in the spotlight.
For keen hill walker Stacy Steven, nothing beats a rough collie for Munro bagging — tackling Scotland’s 3,000ft peaks. Her three dogs, Brodie, Bella and Brooke, have already completed 83, 72 and 52 Munros respectively.
‘You have to trust the dogs you walk with — some ridges are narrow and exposed,’ she says. ‘Rough collies are hardy, clever and agile. They think before they act, stay on the path and don’t rush into danger. They’re obedient, confident and patient — I always trust them to listen.’
Rough collie registrations are down. Time to start demanding repeats of old episodes of Lassie?
Stacey says climbing with her dogs is pure joy: ‘As they look out over the hills or lochs, you can feel how much they relish that freedom — and I’m just as grateful to have them with me. It’s enriching for all of us. Plus, they love reaching the summit… they know there’s a sandwich waiting.’
She stresses that rough collies are made for the outdoors: rivers, mud, ponds — none of it fazes them. ‘People assume the coat is hard work, but it isn’t. I brush them once a week and they’re fine.’
If it’s loyalty you want, look no further, says Midland Collie Club secretary Hannah Walder: ‘They’ll go anywhere with you. They’re perceptive, gentle with children and grandparents, and enthusiastic when you want them to be.’ Living with seven rough collies means she’s used to attention: ‘We can’t go anywhere without being stopped — people want hugs, photos, sometimes they even cry. Usually they grew up with a rough collie or their grandparents had one.’
Hannah Walder's rough collies are happy in any weather.
Lassie’s gentle, protective nature is no myth, says Mrs Walder. One of her collies, Florence, once gently carried a fallen baby robin to her — completely unharmed — so it could be returned to its nest. ‘When I broke my leg, she never left my side,’ she recalls. ‘She slept with her chin on my cast and refused to eat in another room. She knew I needed looking after.’
That devotion extends to every member of the family, as Jim and Morag McCarte know well. ‘Our collie Becky used to sneak into bed with our son, Christopher,’ says Mrs McCarte. ‘If he wandered too far, she’d round him up and bring him home.’ Their eagerness to please makes them excel in obedience and agility: ‘They have dignity, beauty, and a touch of aloofness — rough collies are good for the soul,’ adds Mr McCarte.
Veterinary surgeon Irene de Best, who owns six, notes how naturally they take to country life: ‘Ours are out in all weathers, even with the racehorses. They’re gentle, intelligent and active when you need them, then calm at home. They always make me smile.’
It was their sweet nature that persuaded pet portrait artist Kaye Cardell-Oliver to choose one for her family. Now the proud owner of Dolly — named after Dolly Parton — she couldn’t be happier. ‘She’s friendly, chilled, brilliant with our two cats and wonderful with children,’ she says. ‘On walks, she won’t let anyone get left behind — she’s always right there, guiding the stragglers.’
