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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Rough collie, Cavalier or French Bulldog?

28 replies

SconeInSixtySeconds · 07/06/2013 22:15

Help settle our family debate please!

We currently have two 10.5 yr old Labradors (litter brother and sister) one of whom is getting old very quickly. We also have guinea pigs and chickens oh and two dc aged nearly 10 and 8. We have been talking about our next dog, when our darling SconeDog passes on as SmallerSconeDog will I expect pine terribly.

I like the idea of the cav, I understand that they have a fairly laid back temperament and I like the idea of a dog that doesn't take up an entire sofa Grin

Ds loved the French bulldog we met at crufts, but I know nothing about the breed.

Dd wants a rough collie, and I know there is a rescue v.close to where we live. But are they all collie? By which I mean will I be rounded up while hanging the washing out? :)

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 07/06/2013 22:33

Rough collies don't have the same temperament as border collies - they're much more laidback.

Cavs are nice, if you like small, but you need to be really careful if you're looking at breeders as they have a lot of health issues and they're one of the breeds popular with puppy farmers.

I don't really know anything about French bulldogs.

mrslaughan · 07/06/2013 22:36

I love frenchbulldogs - never had one, but knew lots in new York, only thing I know about them is their reputation for farting.......

mrslaughan · 07/06/2013 22:37

Oh and I think Martha Stewart has 2.....

MrsVamosRAFA · 07/06/2013 22:41

I'd say Rough Collie, but then I'm biased. I have one.

From what I have been told, as tabulahrasa says they are much more laid back than Borders. Lots of people I have spoken to say it's the Borders who are much more 'manic' than the Roughs.

Our girl is very chilled, she occasionally gives us all a bit of a nudge around the house, or in the garden , or while we are out.

She did go for feet a bit when she was a pup, but we resolved that by ignoring the behaviour, and if she tries it now with me I tell her that I'm OK and know where I'm going and she seems to understand !

She has a lovely nature, and is very gentle. Likes the sound of her own voice, but I've come across nothing that isn't resolved with a bit of good training.

Excellent for training, respond very well, want to please. Roughs really don't like shouting, or very loud noises, our girl for some reason doesn't like low tones but it might just be her !

I'm sorry I don't know much about Cavs or French Bulldogs but if you want to know anymore about Roughs I'll try to help ! Smile

TataClaire · 08/06/2013 16:58

My knowledge of French Bulldogs is limited to ones I've who all seemed gregarious though prone to pulling on the lead and making some incredibly odd squealy noises....

Cavs are lovely but as others have said their health is a major concern and they seem prone to fatness.

Rough collies are lovely, I've had two and my next dog would have been another except my other half objected to their coat, so we compromised and agreed on a smooth collie. They are not identical in temperament but close enough. The collies are very intelligent, loyal and get on great with kids. The only herding either of mine felt necessary to do was the lawnmower and the hoover, we never stopped them as we found it funny...Grin
They are forgiving if for whatever reason you can't take them for their walk one day and tend to adapt to your level of activity and will always try to please. If you go for a rough pup as you cant find a rescue one, PM me and I can let you know which bloodlines to avoid, as in every breed, some breeders are more concerned about looks than temperament! Confused

VetNurse · 08/06/2013 18:16

French bulldogs are lovely but have a lot of health problems. Most have airway issues and they can get problems with their spines, hiatal hernias and are prone to eye injuries.

Cavaliers are also lovely but again have health issues. They get eye problems, heart disease and syringomyelia which is caused by the shape of their skull and is incredibly painful.

Rough collies are beautiful dogs but require a lot of grooming.

Personally I would stick with a labrador.

Original poster
SconeInSixtySeconds · 08/06/2013 18:51
OP posts:
lovesmileandlaugh · 08/06/2013 18:55

As long as you research and look for a good breeder, cavaliers are gorgeous, loyal, eager and laid back little dogs! Ours is just perfect for our family!!

portraitoftheartist · 08/06/2013 20:21

Spaniels are bird dogs and will chase your chickens. Cavs and rough collies both need daily grooming. French bulldogs snuffle and snore. What about a Jack Russell? Small and easy.

TataClaire · 08/06/2013 20:48

For rough collies as long as you keep their hotspots for matting combed regularly, i.e. behind the ears, elbows, hocks and petticoats, a give a good thorough brush once week its fine. There are also some great spray detanglers you can get to help you now too. I used to show mine and win at championship level and found they needed less coat care than I had imagined, if you comb every day, you risk breaking the hair, a little less often is fine as long as you keep on top of matts and give them a bath a couple of times a year so as not to destroy the weather-proofness of their coat.

I got myself a good quality mason pearson brush (now 14 years old and still working fine) and a good quality comb with a comfy handle and moveable teeth for knots and some good scissors for my show trimming and that was my staple kit for the whole time till they died of old age. If you get one, there are some good you tube videos or dvds on how to groom a rough collie.

notsoold · 08/06/2013 23:54

I have a Cav and love her. Her natural instinct would be to flush the birds but she is great with all other animals. She is very active with the active members of our family and very placid with the elderly and babies. But although ahe doesn't have the health problems described above she has allergies ( including cutting grass)...

Ps she loves rabbits and they got used to her...

saintmerryweather · 09/06/2013 08:30

thrre used to be a rough collie in my agility class and it wasnt a dog id go for. it was very barky and also quite nervous too...if it fell off the equipment it would take weeks to coax it back on

paddythepooch · 09/06/2013 14:23

We have a lurcher who definitely has a lot of rough collie in the mix (probably grey croosed with rough collie). Beautiful looking and gorgeous temperament. Very laid back in the house. Not vocal except when playing or when trying to have a chat when he makes all sorts of wonderful noises. Trainable - with the exception of counter surfing. people always remark how calm he is

SilverSky · 09/06/2013 21:06

We had a KCCS cross as kids. She was fantastic. Great temp and very friendly and biddable. I'd say if you're thinking of a puppy then research your breeders as they have a host of health issues. Or rescues such as Many Tears have a fair few.

Eastpoint · 11/06/2013 06:53

Rough collies are much bigger than either cavs or French bulldogs. Males can weigh up to 29.4Kg which is a big dog.

Original poster
SconeInSixtySeconds · 11/06/2013 07:08

That would still be smaller than my labs Eastpoint. SconeDog is 38kg and I haven't been told he is too heavy by the vet.

I have had a look at Many Tears, but a lot of their adults are previous breeding stock and totally unsocialised. Plus, from threads on here, I understand that they don't provide behavioural backup once you have adopted them.

As one of the chickens is now a house chicken at nighI am such a soft bloody touch it doesn't seem that the cav would be a great idea :(

It is hard. I love the idea of a smaller dog, but I have never had one. My dog history is filled with Labradors, working collies (my family were farmers) and boxers.

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 11/06/2013 08:37

If you want a small dog and you like rough collies - there's the shetland sheepdog...I have no idea what they're like, but there's loads that go to my training class, they seem like nice wee dogs.

TataClaire · 11/06/2013 09:10

Shetland sheepdogs can be more prone to nervousness and yappiness than roughs but if you get a good one they are fantastic, just like the rough collies, knowing the bloodlines is essential as some breeders prefer to focus on pretty heads and big coats rather than temperament. Another reason why Im getting a smooth collie in August assuming there's a girl in the litter I've chosen, they're like the roughs before breeders ruined a lot of them, can't wait!

Eastpoint · 12/06/2013 13:49

From a picking up poo point of view a 38Kg dog is a big plastic bag. I have Portuguese Water Dogs, 25 & 14kg (large male & runty female). Very lively & apparently intelligent (male is excellent food thief). Do you like black dogs? There is a rescue called Black Retriever X which has a wide range of dogs, some are puppies.

Original poster
SconeInSixtySeconds · 12/06/2013 13:53

Well actually I raw feed so poos are much smaller than you would think. Certainly much smaller and less stinky than my mum's lab!

OP posts:
Yoghurty · 12/06/2013 13:56

I'm biased, as i have a Frenchie!
He hasn't had any problems associated with the breed, but I will say they are expensive.

Expensive to buy, expensive to insure.

haggisaggis · 12/06/2013 14:24

We're on the waiting list for a Rough Collie - we have had them in the past and they are wonderful dogs - very laid back, easy to train and gentle. The breed has changed tremendously over the years - the norm now is for much smaller, very "big hair" dogs whereas our first one was more like the old style "Lassie" type. I prefer the old style.

LadyTurmoil · 12/06/2013 16:18

Rough collie (cross?) at Dogs Trust www.dogstrust.org.uk/rehoming/dog/1104579/welly#.UbiRIvn2aSo

ClartyCarol · 12/06/2013 16:24

TataClaire - could you recommend a couple of spray detanglers please?

OP ~ Sorry I have no experience of any of your mooted choices but I do think Rough Collies are stunning and Cavs are very sweet. Not too keen on flat nosed breeds apart from Boxers. Good luck.

ClartyCarol · 12/06/2013 16:26

I thought Cavs were bred from the start as lap dogs, not working spaniels?

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