Gollie

Characteristics

Health & Longevity

Average Life Span: 12-15 years
The Gollie is a hybrid breed of the Golden Retriever and the Collie. This breed is considered to be relatively healthy, but does have some major and secondary health concerns that you need to know about. Some of these problems include bloat, Von Willebrand’s Disease, cancer, allergies, hypothyroidism, eye problems, collie nose, and joint dysplasia.

Bloat is a serious condition that can occur and it is fatal when it is not treated in a timely manner. Bloat occurs when the stomach of your pup is filled with air or gas that cannot escape. The stomach expands to accommodate the air, but this places pressure on the other organs and can lead to poor circulation and other complications.

Von Willebrand’s Disease is an inherited disease that affects the blood. The blood does not contain the right amount of proteins needed for the platelets to clot.

Cancer is another concern and can be present in many different breeds of dogs. Cancer can occur anywhere in your Gollie’s body, so it is important to have the proper screenings performed annually to catch any cancerous cells early on.

If you have ever experienced an allergy, then you know how common they are. Your Gollie can have allergies as well and when he or she does, it will often lead to a rash, sneezing, irritation, or any other number of symptoms.

Hypothyroidism occurs when your Gollie’s thyroid does not function properly. The result of this is that your pup will either become obese or will have trouble gaining weight. Typically, this condition is managed with medication and an adjustment in your pup’s diet.

Eye problems are something else that you need to watch out for. They can range from an eye infection to another more serious condition such as retinal atrophy. If you notice any changes in your pup’s eyes, you should let your veterinarian know right away.

Collie nose is often seen most in Collies and since your Gollie is a hybrid breed of this breed, it is important to know about it. Collie nose is an auto-immune disease and it often involves the face and nose in your pup. The condition causes lesions to appear on your pup’s face.

Lastly, your Gollie may have joint dysplasia. This can occur in either the hip or the elbow and will cause lameness in the affected limbs.

The life expectancy of the Gollie is 12 to 15 years.

Temperament & Train-ability

The Gollie is considered to be a pup that is fantastic with people, smart, and affectionate. You will find that this breed loves attention from you and will squeeze his or her way into your lap if it is possible.

This breed makes a good watchdog and will alert you to anyone who he or she does not believe should be in your home. Your Gollie can be wary of strangers, so a proper introduction is always needed.

The Gollie is energetic and playful, which means your pup will need proper stimulation to ensure he or she burns off all of the energy. You will find that your new dog likes to play outside and is perfect for kids.

The Gollie should not be left at home for a long period of time as he or she may become destructive and suffer from separation anxiety.

You will need to walk your pup at least twice per day for about 30 minutes each time. This breed is not well-suited for an apartment and would do better in a home that has a yard.

The Gollie is easy to train, so you should not have many problems. This breed is known to enjoy training and responds well to commands that are given. Proper socialization is essential and you will find that positive reinforcement works wonders when it comes to training.

Grooming

The Gollie does have some moderate grooming requirements. This breed is known to shed and you will need to brush your pup’s coat once per day to remove loose hairs and prevent tangles. As spring and fall come around, you will notice that shedding picks up and you will need to brush a couple of times per day.

Your Gollie does not need a regular bath and should only be bathed when needed, but will need to have his or her ears cleaned once per week to remove dirt and earwax buildup.

You also need to make sure that you trim your pup’s nails to prevent overgrowth. Nails that are too long can split, break, and snag on carpet, which is painful for your Gollie.

Diet

Your Gollie will eat anywhere between 2 1/2 cups and 3 cups of food per day. You should feed him or her a high-quality brand of dog food that contains natural and wholesome ingredients as opposed to fillers and chemicals.

If you are unsure of what type of dog food to choose for your pup, make sure that you talk to your veterinarian and ask for some recommendations. Since this breed is energetic, you will need to think about a brand that meets his or her nutritional needs.
 

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Gollie Puppies For Sale

Adopt A Gollie

Cost

A Gollie puppy will cost you anywhere from $400 to $800 depending on the breeder and the demand for the pup at the time you go to purchase one. In addition to the cost of the puppy, you want to take into consideration costs to maintain your pup’s health, feed him or her, and buy other supplies.

Paws ‘N’ Pups Ranking

Paws ‘N’ Pups ranks every breed out of 4 with 1 being easiest to integrate into your life and 4 being the toughest – The lower the ranking the better.

Ranking takes into account a few basic factors including cost, skill level needed, high vs low maintenance and how critical regular training is to success. The Gollie is great with children and has a lot of energy, so it will need owners that can provide him or her room to play and the stimulation required to wear the pup down. This breed trains easily and makes a good watchdog for your home. This breed ranks a 2.

 

Golden Retriever

Collie

Border Collie

Labrador Retriever