Collie (Smooth)

The Smooth Collie is in effect, a Rough Collie without that heavy and protective long coat. Bred to work the sheep of the Scottish Lowlands, the Smooth Collie had no need of a heavy coat, as the weather is milder and the ground less exposed than in the Highlands.   

Sheepdogs of this type have existed in Scotland for almost as long as man has kept sheep, but as these dogs were bred according to their working talent and not their looks, appearances varied a great deal through the years and in different areas. The Smooth Collie as a recognisable breed has however existed for over 200 years, and they have been refined by outcrossing to Greyhounds and back to Rough Collies during that time.  

The breed owes much to Queen Victoria who noticed these dogs during her visits to Balmoral in the early 1860’s. So impressed by them, she took some back to Windsor and this dramatically increased their popularity as a pet and show dog. However the breed remains rare, having lost out in popularity as a show dog to the more glamorous - and film star - Rough Collie. 

If you like the idea of the Rough Collie but don’t love grooming, this is the option for you. Potentially slightly sharper and quicker to react than the Rough Collie, the Smooth Collie loves long walks, training for obedience and fun-tricks, and needs to live at least semi-rurally. Better with older children or a child-free family as they do have some working tendencies which can including herding and nipping small children. 

A Smooth Collie is an active dog needing two hours of exercise or more per day, and taking in a variety of walking routes as well as training, games and play. This is not a breed to leave mentally under-exercised, so is better suited to those who enjoy canine sports and activities and training as a hobby in its own right. Very responsive to thoughtful and kind training methods using positive reinforcement, and able to compete to a high level in almost any dog sport you can think of. 

Although a relatively large dog in height, the Smooth Collie won’t take up too much space. Better suited to country or rural suburban living, the Smooth Collie will find towns and cities overwhelming and stressful, and lacking in the variety of countryside walks they really require. 

An average sized home but with a decent sized and well fenced garden for this potential escapologist will meet their needs well. 

Large breed dogs, as well as having large appetites, benefit from a different balance of nutrients, including minerals and vitamins, compared to smaller-breed dogs. 

A low-maintenance breed, the Smooth Collie dog has a thick undercoat and a short, flat top coat that should be brushed through once a week. Check paws and ears for foreign bodies regularly. 

With kind, patient methods you can train a Smooth Collie to do pretty much anything a dog can physically do. They thrive on mental as well as physical exercise so consider some kind of dog activity or sport such as agility, Rally, Hoopers, heelwork to music, as well as long and varied walks. 

The Smooth Collie is better suited to an adult only home or those with older children who want to actively participate in exercise and training. This breed requires a lot of exercise and a lot of mental stimulation and may find that homes with very small children or rowdy children with many visiting friends stressful and overstimulating. 

While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.