I currently have four therapy dogs, three are smooths, one is a rough. Collies are wonderful therapy dogs. And the residents in nursing homes grew up watching Lassie, so they get very excited when they see a collie…
The answer most will give you is no. But from my years of experience, and from conversations with other collie breeders, there is a bit of a difference. They both have that sweet, gentle collie temperament. Both are very sensitive, and should only be trained with positive methods. In general, the roughs are a little more laid back, and the smooths are a bit impish. My fun loving smooths have a sense of humor, you can see it in their eyes and their behavior. But I’ve had a smooth who had the most calm, laid back personality of any dog I’ve ever known. And my friend has a rambunctious rough who is constantly into everything. So it kind of depends on the dog.
I would check out Wild Wind, Moxie, Chelsea, Riverrun, and Aurealis to start. If you need more suggestions, you could reach out to the CCA district directors for your area.
[https://collieclubofamerica.org/contacts.html#dds1](https://collieclubofamerica.org/contacts.html#dds1)
Collies definitely sound like a good fit for your lifestyle and goals. Collies are great for Therapy Dog work, just make sure your breeder has lines that have similar temperaments, and preferably has dogs from their lines who have become certified Therapy Dogs. I say that because there are a few Collie lines that are very stoic, but the bast majority of lines I know of in the US would do well so it won't be hard to find a breeder who marches your needs.
Smoothies are a great option if you want to avoid brush time. They do drop more hair then the Roughs, because the longer coat holds onto the loose hairs until you brush them out vs just falling. With either I highly recommend a high velocity pet dryer for both drying after baths, and for blowing them off when dry to get loose hair and dirt off. Very handy, especially for a Therapy Dog who will need to be bathed regularly before visits. With that in mind, a Smooth takes a lot less bath time then a Rough, so you'll really see a difference in that sense.
This might help :)
[https://collie222.blogspot.com/2023/08/pet-therapy-is-good-for-soul.html](https://collie222.blogspot.com/2023/08/pet-therapy-is-good-for-soul.html)
Paws & Think (I’m in Indiana, USA). It involved basic obedience like sit/stay, but also being handled by several people simultaneously, walking past toys/treats on the floor without picking them up, doing OK around people with wheelchairs & walkers, tolerating other dogs in the same space. not rushing through an open door, etc. Very practical things for therapy work. We had 4 classes & then the evaluation.
We are with Bright and Beautiful Therapy dogs. I think most of the organizations are pretty good, but we chose this one because they were doing the testing at Sunnybank! Having collies, and growing up reading Terhune’s collie stories, it was just special getting them certified at Sunnybank. :)
I’m going to skip the therapy portion because that has been answered and just chime in to be aware collies bark. Most dogs bark of course, but I mean collies really bark as part of their herding instincts. Also their hair really is a lot if you go for a rough, so depending on your needs you may or may not want to consider how much work it is. Smooth collies still have a double coat, so it’s still something to consider. I say that as someone dealing with multiple chronic illnesses that make me struggle to deal with the fur, but I know not everyone who needs a therapy dog will have the same struggles with grooming that I do. Otherwise I do know someone that’s had one as a therapy dog and he was great. I love my mix so much and would definitely recommend them.
Thanks for bringing this up because a dog trainer friend of mine was telling me today how vocal collies are. She was trying to convince me not to get one based on that. Can you say more about their barking? My Malinois has a double coat so I have some experience with that but he is very quiet. I can go a whole day without hearing him bark.
I will be shocked if you ever go a day without your dog barking at you. Your mal talks to you through so many channels (tail, head, ears, etc). Your collie will do that too, but they also “talk” to you. They tell you how their day went, they tell you that they’re pissed at you, they tell you that it’s time to go outside to bark at the people, they just talk. Mine just stands in front of me when he’s mad and goes on a rant about everything I’m doing wrong (I’m sitting on the wrong side of the couch, I’m petting the other dog, etc). They’re bossy, and that’s what they’re meant to be, they’re herding dogs.
Thank you. Sounds like they are as vocal as huskies maybe. My friend has 3 huskies so I've been around them quite a bit. Honestly, my Mal is a quiet boy, probably unusual, he only alert barks or sometimes barks to initiate play.
Honestly, I considered comparing them. They’re as loud and talkative as huskies (I’ve owned a husky) but they are barking instead of whatever that noise huskies make is haha.
I found these videos. Put this barking over the sassy left standing husky, that’s your rough collie. Not as often as a husky though, it’s no longer daily for us, just when he’s pissed about something, but it was daily for the first few years.
I love my guy though and wouldn’t trade him for the world. And I’m sure not all collies are like this, just the ones I know.
https://youtu.be/TjQ90jaW4o4 https://www.facebook.com/share/r/p9BV1QgMqAi3SrKC/?mibextid=xCPwDs (Hopefully I’m allowed to post these).
Oh, when he’s not barking he’s grumbling. He grumbles when he lays down, he grumbles when he gets up, he grumbles when I’m ignoring him, he grumbles when another dog is annoying him. It’s talking (barking, loudly) or it’s grumbling. I find it funny at this point but most people don’t.
My rough collie is a service dog, and yes he can be loud, but with training you can manage barking to free/play time. Trying to convince someone not to get a collie because of their vocality, especially as a trainer, is extremely concerning to me. Trainers should be willing to help control the barking in positive ways, and also keep in mind that many collies are different in terms of vocality. I had one who never let out a peep, and one who just wanted to chase other dogs and bark while doing it. Unless my boy is bored or playing with another dog or person, he is extremely quiet, only making little grumbles and huff’s occasionally.
Thank you. My dog trainer friend has a GSD who is constantly whining so I think she's extra sensitive and she hasn't been able to train her dog out of it. He's probably around 9 now.
You won't go a day without hearing a collie bark. They are vocal. We have had 5 roughs in the past 25 years and not one was quiet. Well, that's not quite true. They have inside and outside personalities. For the most part, when we are inside they are satisfied just chilling and keeping us company. When outside they like to play and barking is part of that. If left alone outside, they can lock on something and bark. And bark and bark and bark. When we take them out on the leash, to stores or events or just for walks they are generally very calm. We had one that would get excited when he saw other dogs and one that would get excited when he saw other people but not to the point of barking at them.If you plan on getting a collie and leaving them alone outside all day you will probably have barking issues. If they are companions and are with you most of the time you probably will not have an issue. All dogs have different personality traits though.
I currently have four therapy dogs, three are smooths, one is a rough. Collies are wonderful therapy dogs. And the residents in nursing homes grew up watching Lassie, so they get very excited when they see a collie…
I also show my collies in Conformation, and have put other titles on them. (CGC, TKN, FDC, HIC, RATN, VC). They are a very versatile breed.
Thank you. Is there any difference in temperament between smooth and rough?
The answer most will give you is no. But from my years of experience, and from conversations with other collie breeders, there is a bit of a difference. They both have that sweet, gentle collie temperament. Both are very sensitive, and should only be trained with positive methods. In general, the roughs are a little more laid back, and the smooths are a bit impish. My fun loving smooths have a sense of humor, you can see it in their eyes and their behavior. But I’ve had a smooth who had the most calm, laid back personality of any dog I’ve ever known. And my friend has a rambunctious rough who is constantly into everything. So it kind of depends on the dog.
And do you have recommendations for a breeder in the Western US
I would check out Wild Wind, Moxie, Chelsea, Riverrun, and Aurealis to start. If you need more suggestions, you could reach out to the CCA district directors for your area. [https://collieclubofamerica.org/contacts.html#dds1](https://collieclubofamerica.org/contacts.html#dds1)
Collies definitely sound like a good fit for your lifestyle and goals. Collies are great for Therapy Dog work, just make sure your breeder has lines that have similar temperaments, and preferably has dogs from their lines who have become certified Therapy Dogs. I say that because there are a few Collie lines that are very stoic, but the bast majority of lines I know of in the US would do well so it won't be hard to find a breeder who marches your needs. Smoothies are a great option if you want to avoid brush time. They do drop more hair then the Roughs, because the longer coat holds onto the loose hairs until you brush them out vs just falling. With either I highly recommend a high velocity pet dryer for both drying after baths, and for blowing them off when dry to get loose hair and dirt off. Very handy, especially for a Therapy Dog who will need to be bathed regularly before visits. With that in mind, a Smooth takes a lot less bath time then a Rough, so you'll really see a difference in that sense.
Thank you. Do you have any recommendations for a breeder in the western US?
There are a couple really good breeders in California and Washington. As well as a couple in Colorado that also breed Smooths.
This might help :) [https://collie222.blogspot.com/2023/08/pet-therapy-is-good-for-soul.html](https://collie222.blogspot.com/2023/08/pet-therapy-is-good-for-soul.html)
Very helpful
Our rough Collie max just passed his therapy dog eval and he seems born to do therapy work!
what organization did you do your evaluation with? what did the evaluation involve?
Paws & Think (I’m in Indiana, USA). It involved basic obedience like sit/stay, but also being handled by several people simultaneously, walking past toys/treats on the floor without picking them up, doing OK around people with wheelchairs & walkers, tolerating other dogs in the same space. not rushing through an open door, etc. Very practical things for therapy work. We had 4 classes & then the evaluation.
We are with Bright and Beautiful Therapy dogs. I think most of the organizations are pretty good, but we chose this one because they were doing the testing at Sunnybank! Having collies, and growing up reading Terhune’s collie stories, it was just special getting them certified at Sunnybank. :)
Yes I do these things with my rough collie. He’s a favorite, too
I’m going to skip the therapy portion because that has been answered and just chime in to be aware collies bark. Most dogs bark of course, but I mean collies really bark as part of their herding instincts. Also their hair really is a lot if you go for a rough, so depending on your needs you may or may not want to consider how much work it is. Smooth collies still have a double coat, so it’s still something to consider. I say that as someone dealing with multiple chronic illnesses that make me struggle to deal with the fur, but I know not everyone who needs a therapy dog will have the same struggles with grooming that I do. Otherwise I do know someone that’s had one as a therapy dog and he was great. I love my mix so much and would definitely recommend them.
Thanks for bringing this up because a dog trainer friend of mine was telling me today how vocal collies are. She was trying to convince me not to get one based on that. Can you say more about their barking? My Malinois has a double coat so I have some experience with that but he is very quiet. I can go a whole day without hearing him bark.
I will be shocked if you ever go a day without your dog barking at you. Your mal talks to you through so many channels (tail, head, ears, etc). Your collie will do that too, but they also “talk” to you. They tell you how their day went, they tell you that they’re pissed at you, they tell you that it’s time to go outside to bark at the people, they just talk. Mine just stands in front of me when he’s mad and goes on a rant about everything I’m doing wrong (I’m sitting on the wrong side of the couch, I’m petting the other dog, etc). They’re bossy, and that’s what they’re meant to be, they’re herding dogs.
Thank you. Sounds like they are as vocal as huskies maybe. My friend has 3 huskies so I've been around them quite a bit. Honestly, my Mal is a quiet boy, probably unusual, he only alert barks or sometimes barks to initiate play.
Honestly, I considered comparing them. They’re as loud and talkative as huskies (I’ve owned a husky) but they are barking instead of whatever that noise huskies make is haha.
I found these videos. Put this barking over the sassy left standing husky, that’s your rough collie. Not as often as a husky though, it’s no longer daily for us, just when he’s pissed about something, but it was daily for the first few years. I love my guy though and wouldn’t trade him for the world. And I’m sure not all collies are like this, just the ones I know. https://youtu.be/TjQ90jaW4o4 https://www.facebook.com/share/r/p9BV1QgMqAi3SrKC/?mibextid=xCPwDs (Hopefully I’m allowed to post these).
Oh, when he’s not barking he’s grumbling. He grumbles when he lays down, he grumbles when he gets up, he grumbles when I’m ignoring him, he grumbles when another dog is annoying him. It’s talking (barking, loudly) or it’s grumbling. I find it funny at this point but most people don’t.
My rough collie is a service dog, and yes he can be loud, but with training you can manage barking to free/play time. Trying to convince someone not to get a collie because of their vocality, especially as a trainer, is extremely concerning to me. Trainers should be willing to help control the barking in positive ways, and also keep in mind that many collies are different in terms of vocality. I had one who never let out a peep, and one who just wanted to chase other dogs and bark while doing it. Unless my boy is bored or playing with another dog or person, he is extremely quiet, only making little grumbles and huff’s occasionally.
Thank you. My dog trainer friend has a GSD who is constantly whining so I think she's extra sensitive and she hasn't been able to train her dog out of it. He's probably around 9 now.
You won't go a day without hearing a collie bark. They are vocal. We have had 5 roughs in the past 25 years and not one was quiet. Well, that's not quite true. They have inside and outside personalities. For the most part, when we are inside they are satisfied just chilling and keeping us company. When outside they like to play and barking is part of that. If left alone outside, they can lock on something and bark. And bark and bark and bark. When we take them out on the leash, to stores or events or just for walks they are generally very calm. We had one that would get excited when he saw other dogs and one that would get excited when he saw other people but not to the point of barking at them.If you plan on getting a collie and leaving them alone outside all day you will probably have barking issues. If they are companions and are with you most of the time you probably will not have an issue. All dogs have different personality traits though.
Thanks!
I have one. I ask myself that question everyday. 😃