The Advantages of Having a Rough Coated Dog

Significance

• A rough coat is defined as "a usually medium to long coarse overcoat," according to Legacy of the Dog by Yamazaki Kojima. The most common reference is the rough coated collie as opposed to the smooth coated collie. Border collies also have either a rough or smooth coat. In addition to herding dogs, many working dogs (such as Newfoundlands) and sporting dogs (such as golden retrievers), have rough coats. The coats appear on breeds who originated in colder regions and on breeds who were bred to herd. Therefore, you can conclude that nature designed this coat to keep the dog comfortable in inclement weather and to keep the dog safe in the line of duty.

Geography

• If you live in a region that experiences very cold or wet weather, one advantage of having a rough coated dog is that his coat will keep him warm and dry. While giving a rough coated dog bath you can witness the effectiveness of his coat. No matter how much water you put on the outer coat, the undercoat resists your efforts. A rough-coated dog can jump in the water and come back out, shake off, and you will see that the rough outer coat, working with the undercoat, kept your dog's skin relatively dry. Similarly, the cold weather has to work to get through the coat of a rough coated dog. They are often quite content to play with you in the cold and snow and may even prefer it to being indoors.

Function

• Many herd dogs have rough coats. The herd dog's coat keeps her safe should she have to defend her herd from predators. The teeth of a wolf, coyote or wildcat cannot easily penetrate the rough coat of the herd dog.

Benefits

• The fur of a rough coated dog is easier to clean up than the fur of a short or smooth haired dog. The texture is such that you can roll the fur into a ball by brushing your hand or a lint brush along your furniture. Short dog hairs have a tendency to stick into fabrics, refusing to come loose, but the long, rough hairs are easy to pick up.

  You can make fabric from the fur of a rough coated dog. This age old trend of people spinning dog hair into yarn and making clothes from them has had a new surge of popularity with access to the Internet. If you don't want to do the spinning yourself, you can comb out your dog and send his fur to a place such as Woofspun's (see Resources).

Warning

• Choosing a dog with a rough coat as a pet insures that you will be spending a lot of time bonding with your dog while grooming her. She will need both her undercoat and outer coat thoroughly brushed. The Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds by D. Caroline Coile, Ph.D, recommends a daily brushing for the rough coated collie. If you do not brush and comb her regularly, she will get knots in her fur that may have to be cut out. She will not need to be bathed anymore than any other dog, but baths will take some time and energy due to her dense coat.

Misconceptions

• Regardless of the advantages of your dog's rough coat, the length of her coat will not effect her personality. "It should be noted that, regardless of the coat on the outside, they are all Border Collies on the inside," says the website for the Darnfar Ranch. When adopting a companion dog, it is more important to pay attention to the personality of your dog than to look for a certain appearance in your dog. While you do want to consider whether you have the time and energy to keep up with the grooming required of a rough coat, you should not judge a dog by his cover.