Scotch Collie

Quick Take

• A Scotch Collie once did something so loyal at a Montana train station that the town built a statue in its honor, and the story turns out to be even more remarkable than it sounds. Shep's full story →
• Their fur even has a nickname borrowed from cookware, and it turns the usual grooming assumptions about long-haired dogs completely upside down. Meet the Teflon coat →
• What looks like clinginess in a Scotch Collie is actually something else entirely, and misreading it leads most owners to train them the wrong way. Training the sensitive collie →
• One of history's greatest herding breeds nearly vanished forever in the 1990s, and the reason it almost disappeared is not what you'd expect. Near-extinction explained →

The Scotch Collie is considered one of the best shepherd dogs of all time. Originally a herding dog, the Scotch Collies have been around since the early 1900s in Scotland and has been bred with numerous breeds of show dogs over the years. Despite its wonderfully friendly temperament, the Scotch Collie came near extinction during the 1990s, but dedicated breeders have since helped the breed recover, and its numbers are now stable, though it remains rare. Not only is a Scotch Collie the perfect herding dog, but it is also receptive to kids and people of all age groups — even strangers.

5 Scotch Collie Interesting Facts

• The famous Scotch Collie, Shep, patiently waited for his deceased owner to return to the Montana train station for five and a half years.
• Queen Victoria, the second-longest-reigning monarch of the UK, was an avid fan of Scotch collies.
• Scotch Collies came very close to becoming extinct during the 1990s, but a few dedicated breeders managed to raise their numbers again. While they are no longer at immediate risk of extinction, they remain a rare heritage breed.
• Their fur is often referred to as a “Teflon coat,” meaning that grass burs, mud, and other debris don’t stick to it.
• Scotchies are extremely sensitive to human emotion and often attempt to console their owner if they sense distress, fear, anxiety, etc.

Pros and Cons of Owning a Scotch Collie

Size and Weight

A Scotch Collie can be considered a medium- to large-sized dog. The average male Scotch Collie height is 21 to 24 inches, while the average female height is 19 to 22 inches. An adult Scotch Collie weighs about 40 to 70 lbs on average. The largest Scotch Collie known thus far, living during the 1980s in Scotland, had a height of 26 inches and a weight of 90 lbs.

Common Health Issues

Scotch Collies are one of the healthiest dog breeds with the lowest history of chronic ailments during their lifetime. However, they do have some common health issues that may occur. Hip dysplasia is the most common joint disease in medium or large-sized dogs that affects their hips and legs, restricting their movement. Then comes the Collie Eye Anomaly, a genetic eye disease that causes blurred vision and eye defects in older Scotchies. Other diseases to watch out for are multi-drug resistance gene (MDR1) sensitivity, skin lesions (dermatomycosis), and seizures or epilepsy.

Temperament

Scotch Collies have a very responsive and clever personality. They are incredibly loyal to their owners and sensitive to their emotions. Although their behavior may appear clingy, it usually stems from the shepherd-like traits that drive them to protect their owner.

They have a curious, affectionate, playful, and athletic temperament. These traits make them friendly and adaptable around other dogs and humans. However, they might still struggle to bond with their non-canine friends (cats), which have very different personalities from them. Scotch Collies are generally very docile and do not shy away from strangers.

How to Take Care of Scotch Collies

Scotch Collies can generally be considered a low-maintenance pet. They do not suffer from chronic health issues very often. Like all other dog breeds, a Scotch Collie puppy requires a nutrition-based, protein-rich diet when young. In addition, they need daily vigorous exercise throughout their lives to prevent them from becoming overweight. Overall, as long as you engage and socialize with your dog, you should not have to worry much.

The Best Dog Food

Since Scotch Collies were originally herding dogs that looked after sheep for their shepherds, their diet requires a good balance of calories and protein. An adult Scotch Collie should be fed a diet consisting of at least 25% protein, 20% fat, and about 7,500 kJ/lb.

It must be noted that Scotch Collies are very prone to bloating and obesity. Thus, their food should be given to them in small portions throughout the day, with exercise in between to improve digestion and metabolic activity.

Maintenance and Grooming 

A Scotch Collie’s fur coat is made up of two layers with varying lengths: the outer and the undercoat. The outer coat is straight and Teflon-like, while the inner coat is soft and velvety. The Teflon-like outer coat prevents mud, grass, or other objects from sticking to it. Thus, the outer coat of the Scotch Collie is often easy to maintain. The inner coat needs to be brushed as often as four times a week with a pin brush to prevent the formation of tangled hairballs. It is best to use a sturdy comb to clean the outer coat. Scotch Collies usually shed only as much as an average dog. However, it is recommended that their coat not be shaved unless absolutely necessary. 

Training 

Scotch Collies are very human-oriented dogs and people-pleasers. The more you bond with your Scotchie, the easier it will be to train it. Since the dog is smart, it probably will not take more than a few tries for them to learn a task. Nevertheless, their herding instincts might often come into play, resulting in them performing certain tasks they were never trained for. This goes to say that Scotch Collies require a certain degree of independence regarding their basic obedience training. Overall, the most effective collie training techniques would be consistent positive reinforcement and your presence as a leader in their daily lives.

Exercise 

Since Scotch Collies were originally bred for herding purposes, they require fairly high amounts of physical activity and exertion. You should spend at least an hour a day with the dog doing moderate to vigorous exercise. You can also play mentally stimulating games such as Frisbee, fetch, or flyball with your dog and take them out on a walk or a light jog at least once daily. Scotch Collies often require a lot of open space to thrive. Thus, it is recommended that you only take up a Scotch Collie if you have a physically active lifestyle and/or a large backyard.

Puppies 

Scotch Collies usually have a litter size of 2 to 8 puppies, with an average of 5 puppies. Since this dog breed is very clever and friendly, you can start training them when they’re still puppies, at a puppy kindergarten, perhaps. You could also begin with basic obedience training through a few basic commands, such as sit, stay, come, stop, wait, etc. A Scotch Collie puppy must be fed high-quality large-breed puppy formula to provide all the necessary nutrients and avoid health problems. Also, it is recommended that you find a reputable breeder or vet to get your collie’s health checked regularly.

Scotch Collie and Children

Scotch Collies are incredibly loyal and family-friendly pets. Although reserved with strangers, they are very playful with children, especially in open spaces such as a backyard or a lawn. They were originally bred as herding dogs, so they may exhibit a herding instinct towards kids if they don’t stay where the collie wants them to be. Thus, it’s best to monitor the interactions of a child and the dog, and instruct your kid never to disturb the dog when it’s asleep or eating.

Famous Scotch Collies

• Shep was a Scotch Collie who waited for his dead owner at the train station every day for five and a half years. The local community has even erected a statue in Shep’s honor in Montana.
• Queen Victoria bred many Scotch Collies during her 63-year reign.

Dogs Similar to Scotch Collies

The Scotch Collie is a herding dog that has some other popular relatives, including the Border Collie, the English Shepherd, and the Shetland Sheepdog.

• Border Collie: They are very intelligent dogs that are super popular for dog owners who want an energetic but trainable dog.
• English Shepherd: These are extremely loyal herding dogs that make amazing guard animals. This breed will stay by its owner’s side at all costs.
• Shetland Sheepdog: They are long-haired sheepdogs that are high-energy and extremely loyal. They bark more than most sheepdogs but are just as intelligent.