Rough Collie vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Rough Collie vs Cairn Terrier - Breed ComparisonBoth Rough Collie and Cairn Terrier are originated from United Kingdom. Rough Collie may grow 28 cm / 12 inches higher than Cairn Terrier. Rough Collie may weigh 22 kg / 49 pounds more than Cairn Terrier. Both Rough Collie and Cairn Terrier has same life span. Both Rough Collie and Cairn Terrier has same litter size. Rough Collie requires Moderate maintenance. But Cairn Terrier requires Low maintenance

History

rough collie - historyMany people have seen the movie ‘Lassie’, and of course this movie made the Collie popular and famous.

Apart from the Rough Collie, you also get the Smooth Collie. The Rough Collie’s origins start in the 1800’s in Scotland and Wales but unfortunately, the Rough Collie's exact origins are shrouded in lack of information.

These dogs were used as herding dogs in real-life and in movies, and it was in 1879 that the first English Rough Collie was imported to the USA, but it is the UK from whence the dog comes.

cairn terrier - historyThe Cairn Terrier originates in the Scottish Highlands. This feisty little dog was given the name Cairn, as he used to hunt prey between the Scottish cairns. At first the dog was grouped as a ‘Skye Terrier’way back in the 1900s with the Scottish and West Highland White Terrier. Then the different breeds began to be bred separately.

The name Cairn Terrier didn’t appear in print till 1887. It was in 1912 that the Kennel Club of the United Kingdom recognized the Cairn Terrier.

Description

rough collie puppy - descriptionThe Rough Collie or Long-haired Collie is considered to be a medium to large sized dog with a long, double-layer coat.You’ll find the coat mainly as tri-colored – white, fawn and dark brown and black.

The Rough Collie stands at between 51 to 61cm in height and weighs between 18 and 30kg. The long, thin muzzled dog has semi erect, semi-floppy ears, sweet, gentle eyes and a long, plumed tail.

Temperament:

Rough collies are loving, gentle dogs who thrive on spending time with their human families. Their kindly nature makes them good therapy dogs.They don’t do well when left in the back yard on their own day after day. They’re social dogs who love playing with the children in the home and they get on well with other family pets.

The Rough Collie is highly intelligent and he is easy to train. With training and socialization he becomes so well behaved you can take him anywhere.

Temperament:

cairn terrier puppy - descriptionThe small sturdily built working Terrier is intelligent and courageous. Bright-eyed, he is small and active and he just loves to work- and party hard with his human family. You’ll see if you’ve got a ball you want to throw for him, his tail is quivering in anticipation and his ears are erect and alert to any noise. He is smart, independent and courageous.

Coat of Many Colors:

The Cairn Terrier has a tough, weather-resistant coat that can be any color but not white. He has a waterproof double coat – the outer one being wiry while the undercoat is soft. You’ll find the coat in man colours such as grey, black, red and brindle with dark points on the ears and muzzle.

The interesting thing with a Cairn is that when you get a puppy, you can’t be sure what color he will end up being as it changes over the years. The ears are fox-like, small and erect, and the natural medium-to-short tail is held straight out.

Characteristics

rough collie dog - characteristicsThe Rough Collie is such an intelligent dog, but he is loving and devoted too. He can slot into life in the city or countryside because all he really wants is to be close to his human family.

Wherever you live with your Rough Collie though, he will need to be well exercised. He is sweet but slightly timid and will want to be with a family that isn't too noisy in terms of lots of shouting.

People who have had Collies say these dogs make he most awesome pets, and in the right environment these wonderful intelligent dogs will make splendidly loyal, loving pets and companions,

cairn terrier dog - characteristicsThe Cairn Terrier is a fearless, jaunty little dog, known for his courageous spirit and inquisitive nature. He may be small, but he is stubborn. He will respond well to training and socialization which will turn him into the most awesome pet for families. He can make a wonderful friend and playmate for children too. Socialization and training ensures he gets on well with other pets in the household too.

He is small and energetic, and therefore not the kind of dog you can ignore in terms of exercise. He’ll need a good walk every day and he just loves to chase a ball as it takes him back to the days when he was used to chasing- and catching mice.

He isn’t your typical lap-dog at all and with the right care he becomes a devoted, loyal and loving companion.

Health Problems

rough collie puppies - health problemsThe Rough Collie can reach 12 to 14 years of age with good care. There are always some health issues to be aware of such as hereditary eye diseases. Also, as with most larger breeds, hip dysplasia is always a concern.

Other illnesses to look out for include cancer, skin allergies, bloat and Grey Collie Syndrome. As a responsible dog owner, get your pet to the doctor when you notice a change in his behavior – tiredness, vomiting, lethargy, unusual lumps, swelling and a feeling of depression.

Gray Collie Syndrome:

This is a form of canine cyclic neutropenia which affects the Collie breed. There is a low concentration of neutrophils in the blood. It can be hereditary or it can develop because of a side effect of chemotherapy for instance. It is essentially caused by a defect in the bone marrow stem cells. Affected dog will always battle with gastrointestinal problems and infections of the eye.The life expectancy of a Collie with this ailment will be less than 3 years.

cairn terrier puppies - health problemsThe Cairn Terrier is a robust little dog, and with good care can reach 14 years of age and even older. However, with every dog breed there are some health concerns particular to that breed. With your Cairn Terrier look out for a disease known as Globoid cell leukodystrophy (GCL).

Globoid cell leukodystrophy (GCL)

Known also as Krabbe Disease, Globoid cell leukodystrophy (GLD) is a rare but fatal disease. It is caused by a mutation on the dog’s DNA. There is abnormal processing of an enzyme needed for the production of myelin, a substance that protects the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. The dog is weak, it has tremors and isn’t co-ordinated. The Cairn Terrier is a breed of dog more susceptible to GCL.

Bone and joint diseases

Your Cairn Terrier may well suffer with joint diseases. These diseases, such as luxating patella which is about loose knee joints, and hip dysplasia which is a degenerative hip disease, can cause plenty of pain and discomfort for your pet.

Eye Diseases

Glaucoma is an eye disease where there is pressure on the eye, causing inadequate fluid drainage. Without treatment, there can be damage to the optic nerve which can lead to blindness.

Caring The Pet

rough collie dogs - caringYour Rough Collie does shed so he will require a good brush twice a week. The long silky hair can matt so this grooming session will be important.

Exercise:

Your film-star collie is an active, athletic dog. He has always been used to herding sheep, and instinctively he wants to be active. His bright eyes are always alert to some action, and his exercise needs go beyond just allowing him to run around in your back yard.

He is the kind of dog that wants something more energetic such as going on hikes or long walks and running after sticks or balls on the beach.

Diet:

A Collie is an energetic dog and will require the best dog food there is. If you give him commercially manufactured food make sure it is the right food for his size, his breed and his energy levels.

To add some variety, feed him some home-made food occasionally which can be added to his dry kibble twice a week. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are a healthy choice for your pet. Try and feed him some raw meat occasionally. Ensure there is always a bowl of fresh, cool water for him.

Grooming:

cairn terrier dogs - caringThe Cairn Terrier sheds very little and the coat is easy to groom. Give him a thorough brushing twice a week to rid him of loose hairs. Some trimming will be needed as the coat can become shaggy and unruly.

Brush his teeth at least 2 or 3 times a week to prevent tartar build up that can lead to bacteria, gum disease and possible tooth loss.

Diet:

The Cairn Terrier is small but he is an active dog and therefore needs to be on a high-quality dog food. If you feed him a commercially manufactured food, make sure its appropriate to his age, size and activity levels.

He is a small dog so you want to be careful about not letting him become overweight. Try and alternate his commercially manufactured food with some home-made rice, vegetables and meat and also include some raw meat in from time to time. This is of particular importance as chronic skin allergies are common in all terrier breeds. Make sure that there is always a clean bowl of fresh water available to him day and night.

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Terrier dog
Origin:
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Height Male:
51 - 61 cm
20 - 25 inches
25 - 33 cm
9 - 13 inches
Height Female:
51 - 61 cm
20 - 25 inches
23 - 33 cm
9 - 13 inches
Weight Male:
18 - 30 kg
39 - 67 pounds
5 - 8 kg
11 - 18 pounds
Weight Female:
18 - 30 kg
39 - 67 pounds
5 - 8 kg
11 - 18 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
8 - 10
2 - 10
Size:
Large dog
Small dog
Other Names:
Lassie Collie, Long-Haired Collie
Cairn, Toto Dog
Colors Available:
dark brown and sometime black, Fawn, white
Black, Brindle, Cream, Wheaten, Red, Grey
Coat:
Long, double-coated, silky
Medium length and wiry
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
Yes
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Rough Collie vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  2. Rough Collie vs Old English Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  3. Rough Collie vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  4. Rough Collie vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  5. Rough Collie vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  6. Rough Collie vs Bouvier des Flandres - Breed Comparison
  7. Rough Collie vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  8. Rough Collie vs Estrela Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  9. Rough Collie vs Huntaway - Breed Comparison
  10. Rough Collie vs Czechoslovakian Wolfdog - Breed Comparison
  11. Rough Collie vs Perro de Pastor Mallorquin - Breed Comparison
  12. Rough Collie vs Mioritic Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  13. Saarlooswolfhond vs Rough Collie - Breed Comparison
  14. South Russian Ovcharka vs Rough Collie - Breed Comparison
  15. Samoyed vs Rough Collie - Breed Comparison
  16. Saluki vs Rough Collie - Breed Comparison
  17. Rough Collie vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  18. Rough Collie vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  19. Rough Collie vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  20. Rough Collie vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  21. Rough Collie vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  22. Rough Collie vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Rough Collie vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  24. Rough Collie vs Labradoodle - Breed Comparison
  25. Jack Russell Terrier vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Miniature Schnauzer vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  27. Cairn Terrier vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison
  28. Cairn Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  29. Cairn Terrier vs Border Terrier - Breed Comparison
  30. Cairn Terrier vs Australian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Cairn Terrier vs American Hairless Terrier - Breed Comparison
  32. Cairn Terrier vs Bull Terrier Miniature - Breed Comparison
  33. Cairn Terrier vs Black and Tan Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Cairn Terrier vs Cairland Terrier - Breed Comparison
  35. Rat Terrier vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  36. Scottish Terrier vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  37. Patterdale Terrier vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  38. Norwich Terrier vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  39. Norfolk Terrier vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  40. English White Terrier vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  41. Parson Russell Terrier vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  42. Russell Terrier vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  43. Feist vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  44. Manchester Terrier vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  45. Dandie Dinmont Terrier vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Miniature Fox Terrier vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  47. Cesky Terrier vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  48. Glen of Imaal Terrier vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  49. Schnorkie vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds