When Do Rough Collies Stop Growing?

rough collie in the woods

When I was kid, I remembered watching this movie about a dog called ‘Lassie’. Watching how gentle yet protective Lassie was with her family made me yearn for my own dog one day.

It wasn’t long before my family got one all thanks to Lassie. But it was only years later that I spotted another similar-looking dog at the park and was told by the owner that it is called a Rough Collie.

Rought Collies might look rather large but they are considered as medium-sized dogs. When do rough collies stop growing? Rough Collies grow rapidly for the first 6 months and start to slow down as they approach 12 months. Dogs are considered adults when they hit 12 months but Rough Collies are known to grow and fill out their frames with muscle until 24 months of age.

In this article, we will be taking a deeper look at this iconic breed and what you can expect when welcoming a Rough Collie into your family.

What Exactly Is The Rough Collie Breed?

Just hearing the breed name Collie will give you some indication as to what the Rough Collie is like. Even though the Rough Collie comes from the family of Collies, it is still very much a special breed on its own.

You might not be old enough but ask your parents who Lassie is and they will tell you stories of this amazing Rough Collie that loved and protected her young owner, Timmy.

The Rough Collie is a medium-sized long-haired dog that originated in the 19th century. Born and bred as herding dogs in Scotland, they are strong, fast and responsive. They soon started to grow in popularity in UK and USA as well.

The outstanding personality of this dog breed is what makes it one of the most popular dog breeds as stated by the American Kennel Club.

When you get Rough Collie, you are getting a dog that is smart, loyal, and affectionate. These dogs love, love, love people and need constant attention for most parts of the day.

Don’t get a Rough Collie if you can’t commit the necessary time and attention to your dog. Besides needing attention, they need about an hour of exercise a day given their herding background.

Collies make good watchdogs as well as they tend to bark when a stranger is at the door. But don’t expect them to be a proper guard dog like a Rottweiler or German Shepherd.

Best Way To Train A Collie

All types of Collies are very easy to train due to their high intelligence. They are also very adaptable and know how to anticipate your next command.

When training a Collie, always be gentle and patient. They don’t respond well to an authoritative or heavy-handed type of training. They are already smart enough to figure out what you want but just need some time to get it right.

Collies are VERY trainable dogs. They’re versatile, adaptable, and intelligent, but they don’t respond particularly well to heavy-handed training methods, and they really tune in a lot to your mood.

How Big Will My Rough Collie Get?

rough collie in tall grass

The female rough collie stands about 22-24 inches and can weigh in at 65 lbs. The male collies can grow and weigh about 10% more. That would be about 24-26 inches and 60-70 lbs.

Your dog will grow to its fullest height potential during the first year and fill out its frame during the second year.

In the modern Rough Collie breed, most dogs usually grow to be smaller than their expected sizes. This could be due to the breed not being utilized for herding as much as before. Therefore, less muscle mass is required to keep them going throughout the day.

One tip that I can give you is to check the end of your dog’s leg bones or the hock. If they look and feel bumpy, it is a good indicator that your dog still has room to grow. If not, it means that your dog has pretty much reached its full growth potential.

Here’s a rather interesting dog weight calculator that guesstimates how big your puppy will grow to be.

What Age Is A Collie Fully Grown?

Dog owners will Collies can expect their dogs to be fully grown by 2 years of age. You should have a good idea of how big your dog will be after the first year.

Collies are medium-sized dogs so they might still be growing till the tail end of the 2-year mark.

At What Age Do Rough Collies Get Their Full Coat?

A Rough Collie is known for its long and luxurious look. If you have ever seen one running, it looks like a fluffy cloud with paws.

This dog has a double coat with a rougher outer coat protecting the dog against the elements when it is outdoors while a plush inner coat insulates the dog from the cold.

Rough Collies take about 2 years to get their full coat and might need another year or so to develop their 3rd coat. This is where you will see the full volume and glory of your dog’s coat.

The most recognizable color of the Rough Collie was made famous by Lassie which is a mixture of mahogany and white. It also comes in blue merle and tri-colored.

One thing you need to be aware of is that Rough Collies shed a lot of hair as compared to other dog breeds.

My friend who had a Rough that passed away a few years ago, still finds his Rough Collie’s fur in the nooks and crannies of the house.

You need to be prepared to groom your dog regularly to prevent matting. If you prefer a Collie with shorter fur that is easier to maintain, you can go for a Smooth Collie dog breed. It shares the same personality traits as the Rough Collie but has a shorter coat.

Some Smooth Collie owners say that a Smooth Collie is what a Rough Collie would look like under the care of a bad groomer. Ouch!

Are Rough Collies Calm Dogs?

Don’t let the name fool you as Rough Collies are from being ‘rough’. Compared to the rest of the popular herding breeds like the Sheltie, Aussie Shepherd and Border Collie, the Rough Collie is considered to be on the lower end of the energy spectrum.

This doesn’t make them lazy dogs but they are definitely more laid back and calmer in nature. They rather be out on a nice casual hike than chasing tennis balls for 2 hours straight.

That doesn’t mean that you should not walk your dog often. Rough Collies still need about 45-60mins of exercise a day to burn off their excess energy and keep them in shape.

Too little outdoors time and they can start to get destructive at home.

Do Rough Collies Bark A Lot?

Rough Collies are not as vocal as compared to the feisty Chihuahua or the Husky that loves to sing the song of its people.

But don’t expect your Collie to be as silent as a church mouse either.

Rough Collies are. known to be good watchdogs which means that they can get quite barky when a stranger is on your premises. Being bred as herding dogs, these dogs tend to also bark a lot when herding livestock.

You should be prepared to live with some barking but if the barking gets too excessive you will have to train your dog to keep quiet when given the command.

What Are Rough Collie Puppies Like?

rough collie puppies

It can be hard to really tell how any specific Rough Collie puppy will be like. Most Rough Collie puppies will be behaving like any other normal puppy, hungry and getting into trouble.

One thing that you should know about puppies is that they love to chew things, especially when they are teething. So make sure to keep away anything that can be harmful when ingested.

The best indicator of how a puppy would behave is to speak with the breeder that you got your Rough Collie from.

They will have a good idea of what to expect as they are familiar with the puppies’ parents.

Make sure that your get your dog from a reputable and certified breeder. There are many backyard breeders and puppy mills that are trying to pass off as legit Rough Collie breeders.

A good breeder will know how to select the best lines to produce healthy puppies. Collies that are not bred properly are prone to hip dysplasia, bad temperament, thyroid, canine bloat and even seizures.

Conclusion

If you have the time and living space, it is hard to go wrong with a Rough Collie. They make great family dogs that will love you just as much as you love them, maybe even more.

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