Do Collies Make Good City Dogs?
Back in the 1950s the adventures of Lassie and Timmy on TV propelled this breed to superstardom. What made the duo famous was Lassie’s uncanny ability to know when something was wrong. (Did Timmy fall down the well again?)
According to Collie owners and the American Kennel Club, these heroics are not far from the truth. They both agree that Collies are extremely intelligent and are well-tuned to their owners.
Over the decades after the show’s cancellation, Collies have fallen out of favor and it’s a breed we do not see too often now. However, the film production company DreamWorks purchased the rights to Lassie, you can read all about her come back in the New York Times. And the famous Collie made an appearance in the 2018 film Show Dogs.
There are two types of Collies, the rough coat (what Lassie is) and the smooth and they come in four colors. They range in size from 22 to 26 inches at the shoulder and weigh up to 75 pounds.
Do Collies Bark a Lot? Are They Easily Trained?
Collies make wonderful family pets and with care, attention, and exercise, good Urban Dogs. Don’t let that long coat scare you! The rough coat requires brushing once a week. They are also known for being “clean” dogs and have very little doggie odor.
Training for city dogs is super important. You want your pooch to obey you when you tell her to behave in your building’s public areas. Collies are not only great working dogs, they are very intelligent too. They score “Excellent” when it comes to understanding new commands. They obey first commands about 85% of the time or better according to Stanley Coren, a professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia who studies dog behavior. That means it takes only five to 15 repetitions for them to learn new commands.
Collies are not big barkers. UC Davis researchers Benjamin and Lynette Hart devised a chart ranking dogs by the likelihood of barking at inappropriate times. On a scale of one to ten — with one being the least offensive barkers and ten the most excessive barkers — they get a three rating. Click here for more on Urban Dog’s take on barking.
As always, seek out a reputable breeder when searching for your new puppy.
For tips on how to find a pet-friendly apartment in New York and other cities read Urban Dog’s guide. Big dogs pose a particular challenge, but don’t worry, you can find places that accept large breed dogs.
Here’s the American Kennel Club’s profile of the Collie.
We’ll leave you with another look at Classic Lassie.
