Rough Collie vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison

Rough Collie vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed ComparisonRough Collie is originated from United Kingdom but Austrailian Blue Heeler is originated from Australia. Rough Collie may grow 11 cm / 5 inches higher than Austrailian Blue Heeler. Rough Collie may weigh 14 kg / 31 pounds more than Austrailian Blue Heeler. Both Rough Collie and Austrailian Blue Heeler has almost same life span. Rough Collie may have more litter size than Austrailian Blue Heeler. Rough Collie requires Moderate maintenance. But Austrailian Blue Heeler requires High maintenance

History

rough collie - historyMany people have seen the movie ‘Lassie’, and of course this movie made the Collie popular and famous.

Apart from the Rough Collie, you also get the Smooth Collie. The Rough Collie’s origins start in the 1800’s in Scotland and Wales but unfortunately, the Rough Collie's exact origins are shrouded in lack of information.

These dogs were used as herding dogs in real-life and in movies, and it was in 1879 that the first English Rough Collie was imported to the USA, but it is the UK from whence the dog comes.

austrailian blue heeler - historyIn 1840, George Elliott made a match with Australian Dingo and Collie and got a clever and very active dog breed – Australian Blue Heeler. Soon, he showed his good herding instincts and protective nature and got really popular among the cattlemen and ranchers. Soon, as the USA soldiers arrived in Australia, they decided that it will be a great dog to bring home.

Australian Blue Heeler has short, double coat. The coat is water resistant and helps them when the temperature is too high as well. Their coat is rough to the touch, naturally. They can be found in blue or red coat colour mix. The Blue Heeler isn’t actually blue, but their black coat has a bluish tint. Red Heelers have red fur instead of black. They have long tails, strong legs, Dingo-like heads with pointy ears and muscular necks and balanced and athletic bodies.

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Herding dogs
Origin:
United Kingdom
Australia
Height Male:
51 - 61 cm
20 - 25 inches
45 - 50 cm
17 - 20 inches
Height Female:
51 - 61 cm
20 - 25 inches
43 - 48 cm
16 - 19 inches
Weight Male:
18 - 30 kg
39 - 67 pounds
14 - 16 kg
30 - 36 pounds
Weight Female:
18 - 30 kg
39 - 67 pounds
12 - 14 kg
26 - 31 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
12 - 16 Years
Litter Size:
8 - 10
1 - 7
Size:
Large dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Lassie Collie, Long-Haired Collie
Queensland Heeler
Colors Available:
dark brown and sometime black, Fawn, white
blue, red
Coat:
Long, double-coated, silky
blue speckled or red speckled with dark or cream marks
Shedding:
Moderate
Constant
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Alert, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
High maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

Description

rough collie puppy - descriptionThe Rough Collie or Long-haired Collie is considered to be a medium to large sized dog with a long, double-layer coat.You’ll find the coat mainly as tri-colored – white, fawn and dark brown and black.

The Rough Collie stands at between 51 to 61cm in height and weighs between 18 and 30kg. The long, thin muzzled dog has semi erect, semi-floppy ears, sweet, gentle eyes and a long, plumed tail.

Temperament:

Rough collies are loving, gentle dogs who thrive on spending time with their human families. Their kindly nature makes them good therapy dogs.They don’t do well when left in the back yard on their own day after day. They’re social dogs who love playing with the children in the home and they get on well with other family pets.

The Rough Collie is highly intelligent and he is easy to train. With training and socialization he becomes so well behaved you can take him anywhere.

austrailian blue heeler puppy - descriptionThis breed is somehow designed for an outdoor life and outdoor activity. This implies that Blue Heelers have nature made of the high dose of energy. They are always ready to go anywhere you go, and they will be a loyal friend. They are actually very clever, intelligent and ready to help.

If you are a type of the person who prefers being indoors and having minimal physical activity, Blue heelers are not the type of a furry companion for you. They have a high daily need for the activity, and they love having lots of space to run and explore. Sometimes, you will realize that having a leash is a must because they will get so playful that they will forget about you!

If you start teaching them to be friendly with other dogs while they are still pups, they will accept that kind of lifestyle. But, if your Blue Heeler is raised as the only dog on the ranch, note that they won’t be very friendly toward other dogs.

Since most of the herd dogs usually respond to only one person, most of the Blue Heelers can follow this old instinct. They can be very independent, as well, and they are usually not the type of the dog that will always be around your leg waiting for a cuddle or ear scratch. But, they build the respect towards humans depending on how they treat him so they can be very lovable and friendly pets.

If you are still confused about their name, you must know that the Blue Heelers can actually lightly nip your heel for attention. They are not aggressive, but they tend to be very protective of the family, humans around them and their property.

Characteristics

rough collie dog - characteristicsThe Rough Collie is such an intelligent dog, but he is loving and devoted too. He can slot into life in the city or countryside because all he really wants is to be close to his human family.

Wherever you live with your Rough Collie though, he will need to be well exercised. He is sweet but slightly timid and will want to be with a family that isn't too noisy in terms of lots of shouting.

People who have had Collies say these dogs make he most awesome pets, and in the right environment these wonderful intelligent dogs will make splendidly loyal, loving pets and companions,

Children friendliness

austrailian blue heeler dog - characteristicsThey are generally good with children, but you must be aware of their inherent desire to herd. Always supervise when your Blue Heeler is around small children.

Special Talents

Ball tricks, frisbee fun, running companion, herding cattle.

Adaptability

It is best to buy a puppy. These dogs get attached to one human and to the territory.

Learning ability

They are generally quick learners. If you teach them to be playful, friendly and loving, they will learn it in no time. So be aware of the decisions that can cost you when the dog grows up.

Health Problems

rough collie puppies - health problemsThe Rough Collie can reach 12 to 14 years of age with good care. There are always some health issues to be aware of such as hereditary eye diseases. Also, as with most larger breeds, hip dysplasia is always a concern.

Other illnesses to look out for include cancer, skin allergies, bloat and Grey Collie Syndrome. As a responsible dog owner, get your pet to the doctor when you notice a change in his behavior – tiredness, vomiting, lethargy, unusual lumps, swelling and a feeling of depression.

Gray Collie Syndrome:

This is a form of canine cyclic neutropenia which affects the Collie breed. There is a low concentration of neutrophils in the blood. It can be hereditary or it can develop because of a side effect of chemotherapy for instance. It is essentially caused by a defect in the bone marrow stem cells. Affected dog will always battle with gastrointestinal problems and infections of the eye.The life expectancy of a Collie with this ailment will be less than 3 years.

Eye problems

austrailian blue heeler puppies - health problemsProgressive Retinal Atrophy usually causes slow and painless loss of sight. This process takes years, but there are cases where this disease took only months before the dog ended up completely blind. It is advisable to take your Blue Heeler to the vet for a test that can tell you if your dog is carrying the gene for this disease.

Lens luxation is a disease where the lens of dog’s eye separates partially or completely. Good news is that this disease can be treated.

Joint diseases

Most common is the hip or elbow dysplasia. This is the disease where hip joints do not develop properly and begin to grind. This condition can sometimes be treated with physiotherapy, but there is a chance that your Blue Heeler will need a surgery. If you have a habit of regular vet checks and keeping your dog slim and fed with quality food, you can a make a big difference.

Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD) causes the dog to have excess cartilage and deficient bone, where cartilage does not get replaced by bone during fetal development. This disease usually requires surgery and prescribed medicines.

Deafness

Congenital hereditary sensorineural deafness – CHSD is a common form of deafness.

Bilateral deafness can be identified when the dog is still a puppy, more-less at six weeks of age. A puppy with deafness in only one ear is harder to identify, but it can happen.

Portosystemic shunt means that the blood flow is getting back into the bloodstream instead of passing through the liver. That means that liver can’t clear out the toxins, and the organ itself fails to grow properly. This inherited type of shunt can be treated with surgery if the diagnose is set on time.

Caring The Pet

rough collie dogs - caringYour Rough Collie does shed so he will require a good brush twice a week. The long silky hair can matt so this grooming session will be important.

Exercise:

Your film-star collie is an active, athletic dog. He has always been used to herding sheep, and instinctively he wants to be active. His bright eyes are always alert to some action, and his exercise needs go beyond just allowing him to run around in your back yard.

He is the kind of dog that wants something more energetic such as going on hikes or long walks and running after sticks or balls on the beach.

Diet:

A Collie is an energetic dog and will require the best dog food there is. If you give him commercially manufactured food make sure it is the right food for his size, his breed and his energy levels.

To add some variety, feed him some home-made food occasionally which can be added to his dry kibble twice a week. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are a healthy choice for your pet. Try and feed him some raw meat occasionally. Ensure there is always a bowl of fresh, cool water for him.

Feeding the puppy

austrailian blue heeler dogs - caringChoose a dog food that will provide nutrients that will help in the bone developing. Since they are more likely to suffer from joint diseases, you must take this advice seriously. It would be great if you speak about this with your vet before you choose food on your own.

Feeding the adult

The best food for Blue Heeler is a high-quality food which supplies them with premium nutrition to fuel their activity.

They also drink a lot of water, so be sure that they always have a fresh water available.

Points for Good Health

Lots and lots of the outdoor activity and a quality food. You must be very cautious because this kind of dogs gets overweight easily because they just love the treats and extra food portion.

Games and Exercises

Any outdoor activity that is mentally challenging and interesting enough to keep them from running in the field trying to catch anything that moves.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Rough Collie vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  2. Rough Collie vs Old English Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  3. Rough Collie vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  4. Rough Collie vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  5. Rough Collie vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  6. Rough Collie vs Bouvier des Flandres - Breed Comparison
  7. Rough Collie vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  8. Rough Collie vs Estrela Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  9. Rough Collie vs Huntaway - Breed Comparison
  10. Rough Collie vs Czechoslovakian Wolfdog - Breed Comparison
  11. Rough Collie vs Perro de Pastor Mallorquin - Breed Comparison
  12. Rough Collie vs Mioritic Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  13. Saarlooswolfhond vs Rough Collie - Breed Comparison
  14. South Russian Ovcharka vs Rough Collie - Breed Comparison
  15. Samoyed vs Rough Collie - Breed Comparison
  16. Saluki vs Rough Collie - Breed Comparison
  17. Rough Collie vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  18. Rough Collie vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  19. Rough Collie vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  20. Rough Collie vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  21. Rough Collie vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  22. Rough Collie vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Rough Collie vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  24. Rough Collie vs Labradoodle - Breed Comparison
  25. Pembroke Welsh Corgi vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  26. Australian Shepherd vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  27. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  28. Australian Cattle Dog vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  29. Bearded Collie vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  30. Collie vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  31. Dutch Shepherd vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  32. Blue Healer vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  33. English Shepherd vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  34. Australian Collie vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  35. Catahoula Cur vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  36. Australian Red Heeler vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  37. Catalan Sheepdog vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  38. Pyrenean Shepherd vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  39. Bergamasco vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  40. Berger Picard vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  41. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  42. Queensland Heeler vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  43. German Coolie vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  44. Bohemian Shepherd vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  45. Croatian Sheepdog vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  46. Red Heeler vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  47. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervuren) vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  48. Blue Lacy vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  49. New Zealand Huntaway vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds