Scotch Collie

Characteristics

Health & Longevity

Average Life Span: 12-16 years
The Scotch Collie is considered a healthy breed of dog and there are very few inherited major illnesses. It is important though that you keep your eye out for some secondary conditions that can occur in this breed.

Some of these secondary conditions include Collie eye anomaly, gastric torsion, hip dysplasia, and progressive retinal atrophy.

Collie eye anomaly or CEA is an inherited condition that affects the eyes in the Scotch Collie and can lead to blindness over time. In some instances, the condition can be mild, and your dog will not lose his or her vision.

Gastric torsion, also called bloat, is a serious condition that can occur and is fatal if left untreated. Bloat is caused when too much gas gets into the stomach causing the stomach to swell and place unnecessary pressure on the organs around it. It is thought that this condition occurs when a dog eats or drinks too quickly, swallows too much air, or plays too soon after eating.

Hip dysplasia is not a condition that you need to worry about too much, but it is important to know what it is because it can happen to your Scotch Collie. Hip dysplasia occurs when the hip joint is not formed correctly or it does not fit into the socket correctly. This can cause the cartilage on the hip joint to wear down quickly and cause unnecessary pressure and pain.

Lastly, your Scotch Collie may inherit a disease known as progressive retinal atrophy, which causes blindness in dogs.

The life expectancy of the Scotch Collie is 12 to 16 years.

Temperament & Train-ability

The Scotch Collie is a wonderful family dog and some of the terms used to describe this breed include loving, affectionate, protective, and playful. This breed of dog was once used to herd animals and your puppy may sometimes exhibit its herding side.

The Scotch Collie makes a great dog for children as it is gentle with them and quite tolerant of little hands that may pull or tug. This breed has a great personality that is met with an active lifestyle. Your puppy and children will keep each other busy throughout the day.

The Scotch Collie can be kind to strangers, or he or she may be timid and cautious around them. This breed requires mental and physical stimulation to wear them out by the end of the day. You should walk your puppy twice a day or allow them to get sufficient exercise in a large fenced in area.

The Scotch Collie is considered easy to train and is very obedient once trained. You will find that your puppy responds much better when you are nice, yet consistent and firm when you give direction.

Grooming

The Scotch Collie requires some grooming, especially since this breed has a double coat. You should expect heavy shedding when the breed loses this double coat after the winter, usually before the summer heat hits.

The double coat of the Scotch Collie can get mats in it and if you are not careful, the mats can get uncontrollable and require cutting out. You should brush your puppy’s coat every other day.

You do not have to bathe your Scotch Collie on any special schedule and should only bathe them when it is required. You will need to check their ears regularly for infection and buildup of dirt. If you notice any dirt buildup, you can use ear solutions for dogs and a damp cotton ball to clean out their ears.

Your Scotch Collie’s nails will grow long unless you trim them and this should be done monthly or more frequently if you feel necessary. You do not want to let your dog’s nails get too long as this can lead to splitting and breaking of nails.

Diet

The Scotch Collie requires a diet that is high in nutrients and one that can keep up with your dog’s active lifestyle. It is important that you feed your puppy based on his or her age.

When choosing a dry kibble for your Scotch Collie, look for ingredients such as chicken, red meat, rice, gravy, and vegetables. You want to avoid foods with chemicals or by-products.

You can feed your pup wet food as a treat, but do not rely on it as it does not have enough nutrients and can lead to obesity.
 

Find A Scotch Collie Breeder

Scotch Collie Puppies For Sale

Adopt A Scotch Collie

Cost

The cost of a Scotch Collie puppy is anywhere between $600 and $1,500. You can expect to pay more or less depending on the breeder you choose and the sex of the puppy. Often times, female puppies cost more than males.

The cost of your puppy does not stop with just the purchase price and you need to factor in the cost of annual vet checkups and vaccines, which can run you as much as $600 annually.

In addition to that, you should set aside additional money to pay for heartworm treatment, food, pet supplies, and more.

You may be able to find this breed in your local shelter, but it is not common. Alternatively, there are rescues for Scotch Collies, and you may be able to locate one in your area and adopt this breed from there. When adopting, you can expect to pay $300 or more for your puppy. Often, when you choose to adopt, you will need to meet other requirements that will ensure your puppy has a happy life.

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 Scotch Collie is a great breed to own and will become a lifelong companion for you and your family. Training your pup is easy and you can expect your Scotch Collie to be excellent with your children. This breed ranks a 1.5.

 

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