Rough collies are an affectionate breed that develops deep bonds over time. However, they are herding dogs at heart.
This means a rough collie puppy is likely to be found bouncing around with limitless energy, nipping at heels, and herding humans. Thankfully, they can be nurtured into calm and affectionate dogs as they age.
When do rough collies calm down?
These dogs are an energetic and active breed known for their herding capabilities. However, as they age they will learn through time and experience what an acceptable level of energy is for their household. You can expect your rough collie to calm down around 6 to 9 months of age.
An overactive rough collie may need extra training and patience to smooth out its behavior. Thankfully, collies are quick to learn and pick up new skills. This means that you can teach your rough collie when it is and isn’t acceptable to be playful and energetic and make a huge difference in their behavior.
Professional obedience training can be used as a next step to give your rough collie the structure and skills needed to release all their energy when appropriate.
With enough patience and proper teaching, even the collie pup with limitless energy can learn how to settle down when needed. The sooner you start setting expectations for your rough collie’s behavior, the quicker they will learn how to calm down.
How and When Do Rough Collies Calm Down?
Rough collies are known for being extremely energetic as puppies. Their natural herding instincts are strong and can result in nipping at heels and other herding behavior. This, combined with their size and playful nature, can be a concern for households with small children, pets, or elderly family members.
Like all puppies, rough collies will naturally age out of their seemingly limitless energy. While every dog is different, the majority of puppies will begin to calm down after they are trained and given a healthy routine. Collies especially need extra exercise including long walks and playtime.
Collies are extremely intelligent dogs. They thrive in conditions where both the muscles of their mind and body can be used. If you have a rough collie that needs to calm down, consider adding more interactive play into their day, using ideas such as:
- Food-based puzzle toys
- “Find the treat” play mats
- Fetch (with a human or an interactive machine)
- Long-lasting rawhides and chew toys
These can help you tame an overenergetic rough collie while you clean, make dinner, or enjoy time with your family.
Toys and games that allow your dog to entertain themselves help build independence as well. If your dog is especially energetic when you come home, nurturing independence can help alleviate this.
Early socialization and training are also keys to calming down a rough collie. It is in your best interest to start training with your collie as soon as possible. Once you’ve gotten your dog vaccinations, you may even consider expert training. An expert behavior training program will teach your dog obedience and give them structure.
See Also:
Are Rough Collies Calm Dogs?
To a rough collie, anything that moves is fair game to their herding instincts. That means everything from fellow dogs to owners can find themselves being herded when a rough collie is energized. Thankfully, with daily exercise and careful training, these personality traits can be worked into your family’s life.
Overall, however, collies are naturally calm and comforting dogs. It is in their nature to comfort people. Because of this, rough collies and other types of collies make excellent therapy or service dogs. They are fond of cuddling with people they have bonded with, are very attentive, and love to be pet.
Take note that due to their intelligence and personality, collies can quickly become bored with the same routine and activities. They need constant stimulation and exposure to new places, people, and games in order to keep themselves from getting bored.
A bored dog is one that is more likely to find its own fun, even if that means getting into the trash can to do it.
How to Calm Down a Rough Collie
There are several approaches to take when handling a rough collie with too much energy. Depending on how old your collie is, frequent walks and a bit of reconditioning training may be all that’s needed. Younger rough collies will need extra time and patience from their master in order to see results.
To start, make sure your rough collie is well-trained. This means the basic commands such as sit, lie down, come, and stay. These commands are especially useful in setting boundaries and expectations for your dog.
Boundaries and expectations for your rough collie will help them calm down. What boundaries you set will depend on you, your family, and your dog.
For example, if you know that your rough collie will bounce around the house for two hours after getting table scraps, set a ‘no table scraps’ rule. This only works, however, if everyone stops giving table scraps. Otherwise, the only thing to come out of this boundary will be your rough collie having designated scrap-givers.
Make sure you get the entire family to stick to the boundaries and expectations you set. This helps keep your rough collie from getting confused. Behavioral training with an expert is a good way to help your dog understand their expectations for behavior.
A common example of expectations you can set for your dog is the basic ‘no jumping on the living room furniture’ rule. Not only does this keep your furniture relatively dog hair-free, but it also builds your relationship dynamic with your dog.
If your rough collie knows that you are in charge, it makes them feel safe and secure. This is one of the best ways to reduce bad behavior over a long period of time.
Are Rough Collies High Maintenance?
Because of their need for frequent exercise and grooming, rough collies can be considerably high maintenance.
However, their intelligence means that they can often be trained for life early on in their puppy years. This means that you can reinforce training at home throughout the years rather than needing to take them to a trainer again as they grow older.
Fortunately, rough collies need less grooming than most people believe. Brushing your dog’s hair from the skin to the end of their long coat will become part of your routine.
Frequent brushing helps your rough collie keep its natural clean smell and avoid tangled or matted fur. Most rough collies only need to be brushed once or twice a week. An ill-groomed collie is more likely to display bad behavior due to its discomfort, especially in warmer months.
Exercise-wise, many would consider collies high maintenance. These dogs are best for families with a large backyard or a serious walking habit.
Their powerful bodies were designed to herd sheep and other animals all day, meaning days of lounging in the house watching television will bore them and leave them with pent-up energy. Frequent walks and visits to the dog park will help your collie release some of this energy and calm down.
Are Rough Collies Easy to House Train?
Rough collies are extremely intelligent, and house training is easy with time and patience. The best way to house train your rough collie is by starting as soon as you get them.
And most importantly, never give your Rough Collie a chance to use the bathroom inside. You can do this by taking them outside frequently. The key is to get them in the habit of using the bathroom outside and never giving them the opportunity to use it inside.
Every time you take them out of their kennel, take them outside and encourage them to “do their business” or “go potty.” You should also take them outside after playing, feeding, or a long period of cuddles or napping.
A good way to avoid accidents is to place down puppy pads in key areas of your home. Keeping an eye on your rough collie is essential – if you believe they are about to use the restroom, scoop them up as quickly as you can to take them outside. Praise them for using the restroom outside afterward!
Above all, avoid using negative techniques such as rubbing your dog’s nose in an accident. Your puppy will not make the connection that using the restroom inside is bad by force. Rather, repeated encouragement and practice is the easiest way to house train a rough collie.
How Long Can Rough Collies Be Left Alone?
Like all dogs, rough collies have their own unique personalities and temperaments beyond the breed standard. Collies are independent and strong-willed dogs, however, making them a good candidate for the family who has to work long hours or shifted schedules. With proper training and risk management, you can leave your rough collie at home for several hours a day.
Ideally, you do not want to leave your rough collie at home alone until they have been house trained. If you must leave them for a few hours before this, using a kennel will prevent your dog from having an accident elsewhere in the house.
It also helps reinforce the idea of their kennel being a safe place where they can rest without being bothered or harmed.
When leaving your rough collie at home, you need to think about risk management for both your dog and your belongings.
If your collie is not well-trained, you may want to consider keeping them inside a kennel for shorter durations where you will not be home. This ensures that your dog cannot get itself into trouble while you’re not around. Other precautions include moving breakable objects to higher shelves, organizing your cables so they are out of the way, and setting up baby or dog gates to limit your collie to a safe area.
The key to determining how long your rough collie can be left alone is by gradually testing and increasing the length of time.
If you go from two-hour trips outside the house to three hours and come home to a dog-destroyed house, you have a new baseline to work from.
Use patience and encouragement to keep your collie interested in learning more about the wonders of having the house to themselves!
Is It Better to Have A Male or Female Collie?
Despite common misconception, there is a little distinction that gender will have an effect on a dog’s temperament.
Both male and female collies are energetic and curious. These intelligent dogs will find a way to entertain themselves no matter what gender they are. This could mean the downfall of your favorite pair of slippers if you do not properly train your collie.
Ultimately, the choice between male and female collie comes down to preference. Many families prefer female dogs due to their bathroom habits and the variety of popular female dog names.
Other families opt to get male dogs due to the idea of male dogs making good watchdogs and home protectors.
However, both genders can fill this role and neither is more ‘loyal’ or ‘fierce’ than the other.
Do Rough Collies Like to Cuddle?
Regardless of gender, a well-exercised collie will love cuddling with its family. During the late afternoon and after dinner, collies will look for comfy spots to rest after a long day of herding their humans and fellow pets. If your family is respectful of your collie’s boundaries and space, cuddles and naps together are a real possibility.
Of course, no two collies are the same and your dog may prefer to sleep or rest alone. This is perfectly fine! Keep an eye on your collie for signs of distress or displeasure when you attempt to cuddle them: bearing their teeth, growls, whimpers, and movement to get away are all signs that you need to give your collie space.
As naturally independent dogs, rough collies have a tendency to need downtime by themselves occasionally.
The Final Word
Overall, rough collies calm down with age and experience. During their puppy years, they will have boundless energy that can require more walks than your schedule has the time for.
Investing in interactive toys and games can help keep your collie’s behavior in check. Another great way to calm down your rough collie is through professional obedience training. This will teach your collie what type of behavior is and isn’t acceptable, making them much easier to handle at home.
References
“Owning a Collie Things to Know.” Pet Place, www.petplace.com/article/dogs/breeds/dog-breeds/owning-a-collie-things-to-know.
Wall, Janet. “All About Rough Collies: Breed Information, Traits, Temperament & More.” LoveYourDog, 24 Mar. 2020, www.loveyourdog.com/rough-collies/#:%7E:text=If%20not%20spayed%2C%20females%20shed,and%20need%20more%20brushing%20then.