Raising dogs, in particular providing care for the rough collie, is a specialty of humans across the world. Some zoologists believe dogs were first domesticated sometime between twelve thousand and 25,000 years ago—and that all canines evolved from the wolf. Since then, we have selectively bred more than four hundred different breeds, which vary in size from 4-pound teacup poodles to Irish wolfhounds, who have earned the distinction of tallest canine. But the most popular canines are non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mixed-breeds. The rough collie is another favorite pick among canine owners. Many owners are oblivious, however, of some common rough collie care tips.
Health care cost for your rough collie
The annual budget for taking care of the rough collie—to include everything from nutrition, veterinary care, toys and license—could range between four hundred twenty and $780. This does not even include capital expenses for spay/neuter operations, a collar and leash, carrier and a dog crate. Tip: Be positive you have all the necessary items before bringing your rough collie home for the 1st time.
Basic rough collie Care
rough collie Feeding Outline
- rough collie puppies between eight and 12 weeks need four bowls of food daily.
- Feed rough collie pups three to 6 months old three meals every 24 hour period.
- Feed pups six months to 1 year 2 times each day.
- When your rough collie makes her first birthday, one meal in a twenty-four hour period is typically sufficient.
- Some rough collies, however, eat 2 smaller meals. It’s your job to learn your rough collie’s eating habits.
Premium-quality dry dog food ensures a well-rounded diet for adult rough collies and may be mixed with broth, canned food, or water. Your rough collie may also love cooked eggs, fruits and vegetables, and cottage cheese, but these foods shouldn’t add up to more than 10 percent of her daily food. rough collie puppies ought to be given premium-quality, name brand puppy food. Please limit “table food”, however, since it can result in vitamin and mineral imbalances, bone and teeth concerns, and may cause very finicky food choices and obesity. Give fresh, clean water always, and be certain to clean water and food dishes daily.
rough collie Care Tips: Make sure your rough collie does some daily exercise
rough collies must have exercise to burn calories, stimulate their brains, and maintain their health. Physical activity also tends to help rough collies avoid boredom, which often leads to difficult behavior. Exercise can cure many of your rough collie’s desires to dig, chase, herd, chew and retrieve. Individual exercise needs are dependent on your rough collie’s level of health and his or her age—but a couple of walks around the block every day and ten minutes outside probably will not be sufficient. If your rough collie is a 6 to 18 month adolescent, his requirements will be relatively higher.
rough collie Grooming
Frequent brushing will help keep your rough collie clean and reduce shedding. Inspect for ticks and fleas every day during the summer or other warm weather. Many rough collies don’t need a bath more than a few times a year. Prior to the bath, cut out or comb any and all mats from the rough collie’s coat. Rinse all soap from the coat, or dirt will stick to the soap residue.
How to Handle Your rough collie
Pups, as opposed to adults, are clearly easier to handle. To carry the rough collie pup, take 1 of your hands and place it under your dog’s chest, with either your forearm or your other hand supporting his or her back legs and rump. Never try to lift or grab your puppy by his or her forelegs, back of the neck or tail. When you must pick up a bigger, full-grown rough collie, lift from underneath, supporting his or her chest with one of your arms and rump with the other arm.
rough collie housing
Your rough collie needs a comfy peaceful spot to be able to relax apart from all drafts and off the ground or floor. You may want to think about purchasing a dog bed, or think about making one from a wooden box. Place a clean comforter, blanket, sheet, or pillow in the bed as cushion. Wash your rough collie’s bed covering often. If your rough collie will be spending a lot of time outdoors, make sure he has access to shade and plenty of cool water in the summer, and a warm, dry, covered area in winter.
rough collie Licensing
Be sure you follow the city’s licensing regulations. You should connect the license to your rough collie’s collar. The license, together with an identification tattoo, can help secure your rough collie’s return should he become lost.
rough collie Temperament Information
Training Your rough collie
Well-behaved, companion rough collies are a blessing to have. But left untrained, your rough collie can be trouble. Teaching your rough collie the fundamentals—”Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, “Stay”, “Come”, “Down”, and “Leave it”—improves the relationship with both your rough collie as well as the company. If you own a puppy, start training her on the right behavior as soon as possible! Meals should be utilized as incentive and a reward. Puppies should begin obedience courses when they have been adequately immunized. Contact your local SPCA or humane society for details about training school recommendations. It is best to keep your rough collie on a leash in public, even as a puppy. Be positive your rough collie will come to you when you tell her to. An aggressive or disobedient rough collie cannot play with others.
The Health of Your rough collie
Your rough collie should see the vet for a full assessment, immunizations and a heartworm blood examination annualy, and immediately if she is ill or hurt.
Your rough collie’s Oral Health
While many of us may object to our rough collie’s foul breath, it’s important to be aware of what it might be a symptom of. Bad breath usually means that your rough collie should get a dental examination. Dental plaque brought on by germs causes a bad stench that can only be eliminated by the help of a professional. Once you have given your rough collie a professional oral cleaning, her mouth may be maintained in a healthy state by eliminating table food, feeding a special diet focused on maintaining dental health, and brushing regularly. The vet can give you other information for minimizing periodontal disease and bad breath. You should clean the rough collie’s teeth with a doggie paste or a homemade baking soda and water paste twice weekly. Use a child’s soft toothbrush, a gauze pad or a piece of nylon stocking stretched over your finger. Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, often affects rough collies. Often, loss of teeth happens as a result of gum infection. Diseases will sometimes also spread to other areas of your rough collie’s body. The vet can brush your dog’s teeth as a regular part of your rough collie’s health checkup.
rough collie Bad Breath
While oral disease in and of itself is not a serious issue if it is detected early, bad breath may indicate serious, chronic problems. Intestinal or liver diseases can also cause stinky breath, and a pleasant, even fruity smell can be a sign of diabetes. If your rough collie’s breath smells like urine or ammonia, kidney disease is a possible cause. Set an appointment with a veterinarian whenever your rough collie has halitosis along with other signs of disease like excessive urinating or drinking, depression or lethargy, weight loss, nausea, or decreased appetite.
rough collie Tick and Flea Issues
Regular, daily inspections of your rough collie for fleas and ticks in the summer are crucial. Use a flea comb to find fleas. There are many new methods of tick management. Get advice from your vet about his options.
Heartworm problems in rough collies
The heartworm is a parasite that resides in the heart and is passed from a contaminated dog to your rough collie by mosquitoes. Many rough collies die yearly as a result of heartworms. It’s extremely critical that you make sure your rough collie submits to a blood screening for heartworms every spring. A once-a-month tablet taken throughout the warm, wet time of the year will protect your rough collie. If you ever vacation in warmer regions with your rough collie in the winter, he ought to be on the preventive medicine during the trip. There are some regions, usually the areas with milder climates, where vets advise heartworm medication be consumed all the time.
Toxins and Medications
If you’re considering giving your rough collie tablets that was not prescribed for her by his doctor, forget it. One little ibuprofen tablet can initiate stomach ulcers in rough collies. Keep rat poison and other rodenticides away from your rough collie. Be sure to contact your dog’s veterinarian when you have cause to think your rough collie has been exposed to poison. You may also immediately call the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for twenty-four hour help.
rough collies: Neutering and Spaying
It is recommended that female rough collies be spayed—which is the extraction of the ovaries and uterus—and males neutered—extraction of the testes—by six months of age. Spaying before maturity greatly reduces the breast cancer risk, a common and usually deadly health problem of older females. Spaying also eliminates the possibility of an infected uterus, a traumatic problem in more mature females that necessitates intensive medical care. Testicular cancer, prostate diseases, some hernias and certain types of aggressions are all preventable by neutering male rough collies.
rough collie Innoculating
- The combination vaccine (also called the “5-in-1 shot”) needs to be given to your rough collie at two, 3, and 4 months of age and again once each year. This innoculation protects your puppy from distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza. The rough collie must be innoculated for at least the first four months of his life.
- If your rough collie has not been innoculated and is older than four months, he will need 2 innoculations promptly, 2 to 3 weeks apart. Then you must innoculate yearly.
- rough collie puppy vaccination and socialization should go together. Most veterinarians advise that new owners take their rough collie pups to socialization classes, beginning at 8 to 9 weeks old. They should have already received their first vaccinations by this age.
Rules vary so much around the country, that it’s best to contact your local veterinarian for rabies immunization information. As an example, NYC statutes state that pets older than 3 months must be innoculated for rabies. After the initial immunization, she must get a second innoculation the following year, and then every three years. There are several innoculations, many of which are right for your rough collie. Others, however, are not. Your veterinarian can give you his advice. Note, if your rough collie happens to get sick because she is not immunized, the shot ought to be given once your companion animal recovers.
Hookworms in rough collies
rough collies are often exposed to worms—in all areas, both rural and urban. Tiny eggs created by roundworms and hookworms are transmitted through an infected rough collie’s stool. Most puppies, even from healthy mothers in good homes, carry hookworms or roundworms. The key to effective treatment is early detection. This will make certain that the medicine is successful against the parasite your rough collie has. A dewormer that eliminates roundworms, for example, will not kill tapeworms. Your veterinarian can best identify the culprit—and decide the effective treatment.
rough collie: Miscellaneous Care Tips
rough collie Supply Checklist
- Top-quality dog food and treats designed for rough collies and similarly-sized dogs
- Food bowl
- Water bowl
- Toys, toys and more toys, including safe chew toys
- Comb and brush for grooming, including a flea comb
- Collar with license and identification tag
- Leash
- Dog carrier (for puppies)
- Training crate
- Dog bed or box with blanket or towel
- Child’s toothbrush
The no-no list
Never, ever feed your rough collie the following:
- Alcohol, beer, wine or liquor
- Caffeinated foods, like coffee, tea or chocolate
- Grapes and raisins
- Spoiled or moldy food
- Onions, garlic and chives
- Bones of chicken, turkey, or any other animal (choking hazard)
- Salt & salty foods
- Tomato leaves, stems or unripe fruit
- Yeast dough
The scoop on poop
Unless you are at home, or in a fenced-in, secured space, always keep your rough collie on a leash. If your rough collie goes number two on a neighbor’s yard, on the sidewalk or any other public place, please clean it up! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about rough collies
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