FAQ « Collie Rescue of the Carolinas

FAQ

What kind of families are good for collies?

Collies can fit well in a family of any size and are good with children, adults, and most other typical pets. The makeup of a collie's family isn't as important as the the amount and quality of the time the dog will spend with its family. Collies need to feel like they are an important part of the family and have a valuable role to play in family life.
Do collies make good outdoor pets?

The question isn't "do collies make good outdoor pets," but rather, do you make good outdoor people? Do you enjoy the outdoors and plan to spend alot of time enjoying it? Then your collie will enjoy it too. Collies prefer to be with their families and can become noisy or bark excessively if left alone for long periods of time.
How long do collies live?

The average collie's lifespan is between twelve and fourteen years. A good diet, proper dental and veterinary care, and a loving, comfortable home will give your collie the best chance for a long and satisfying life.
Where do the dogs at Collie Rescue come from?

Dogs are placed in rescue for a number of reasons. Kind citizens that find a stray collie may surrender it to CRC rather than a shelter to ensure that the animal is not euthanized. Owners who are no longer able to keep their pets may choose to place them in rescue if they are unable to find an adopter on their own. Of course, we accept collies from public shelters across North and South Carolina. We're happy to be able to serve as a resource for these caring professionals and as an alternative to euthanasia due to overcrowding.
How big are collies?

Collies are a medium-sized dog. Females tend to be from twenty-two to twenty-four inches tall at maturity, and males twenty-four to twenty-six inches. Most collies will weigh between fifty and eighty pounds fully-grown.
Do collies require a lot of grooming?

First, there are two kinds of collies, rough- and smooth-coated. Smooth-coated collies require slightly less brushing and grooming than an average labrador retriever. Rough-coated collies have more extensive grooming requirements, but those requirements vary greatly between dogs. Depending on the coat of your dog, it may need to be brushed once a week or every day. The amount of time you intend to spend on grooming tasks should be taken into consideration when choosing the collie that is right for you. Bear in mind that collies lose their coats once a year in a process known as "blowing coat". Plan on extra brushing during this period or you may find yourself the proud owner of new dust-puppies.
How much exercise do collies require?

To be entirely honest, this is a question you will have to ask your dog. Most collies are fairly energetic. They make good jogging partners and enjoy playing enthusiastically with their families. Older dogs, however, tend to have less energy than younger ones, and, like people, there are lazy collies.
Are collies prone to hip dysplasia?

Collies are relatively free of this problem, although it can occur. Any large breed dog (any dog that can reach over fifty pounds at maturity) can suffer from hip dysplasia.
Are there any diseases that are breed-specific to collies?

Collies can inherit a genetic defect called "Collie Eye Disease", however, this condition can be screened for. If your dog does not have it, it will not develop it later in life.
Does CRC test for collie eye disease?

It is prohibitively expensive to test every dog that comes through CRC. However, testing is carried out in cases where a dog demonstrates visual impairment.