Golden Collie Dog Breed

The Golden Collie is not formally categorized, but her parent breeds come from sporting and herding AKC Dog Groups, and the result is great. Because this hybrid dog tends to be more of a companion than working in the field or on the range, she makes an excellent service dog, and apparently is frequently employed that way. Families with children, people who need therapy dogs and those who can appreciate a dog that wants an "occupation" are some of the best situations for a Gollie.

PROS

• Very patient
• Highly social
• Ideal service dogs
• Remarkably patient
• Excellent watch dogs
• Lovely with children
• Fantastic family dogs
• Little desire to roam
• Love to learn new tricks
• Perfect for very active people
• Gets along well with other pets
• May have a waterproof double-coat
• High tolerance to hot and cold weather

CONS

• May bark a lot
• Not hypoallergenic
• Needs daily grooming
• Prone to separation anxiety
• Can be very sensitive to touch
• Requires a carefully managed diet
• If not trained, can become excitable
• Preference for large yards and room to run
• If not socialized, may be disinterested in humans
• Long list of possible and very serious health problems

The two excellent parent breeds that produce the Golden Collie seem to be very well-paired. Both dogs come from Scotland and were carefully managed from the start. The Golden Retriever was not just the first dog to win the American Kennel Club's Obedience Champion title but did so the first three years once it was established. Likewise, the Border Collie has been revered by poets and royalty alike — such as Robert Burns and Queen Victoria — so you are sure to have a beautiful, brilliant and well-behaved hybrid dog.

With a very intelligent dog comes a lot of responsibility to train, socialize and exercise her starting at an early age. It may seem like hard work at first, but with the Gollie, the results will come quickly and they will be wonderful! Mating the two purebreds tends to result in the nearly guaranteed characteristics of high intelligence, calm demeanor and desire to have a distinct purpose (and not just a job or occasional tasks) that your Golden Collie will inherit.

The copacetic attitude of your Golden Collie should come as no surprise once you understand how eager and able she is to learn new tricks and quickly fit into a working role. Once she's properly trained to not get excited at every opportunity (such as a knock at the door, etc.), you'll find that her "stand-by" mode after a few hours of the daily play and exercise routine (or her work, if she has a "job") is good for both of you.

Golden Collies are very active dogs. They come from herding breeds that are accustomed to long days requiring careful vigilance and a sharp mind. They will need to burn a lot of energy daily, and they need to not become bored. Like any active dog, neglecting their exercise can lead to rather bad if not destructive behavior. Be sure to keep lots of agility toys and time set aside to comfortably enjoy play time and exercise with your Gollie!

The Golden Retriever Collie mix temperament was meant to be: The Border Collie's great intelligence (which can be the basis for a very stubborn dog) is tempered by the Golden Retriever's friendly disposition. These dogs will understand what you want, quickly learn how to do it and yet also be greatly playful and carefully so. Although they may seem eternally outgoing, they are sharp enough to quickly determine the difference between a friend and a threat. With an able alertness, they are also great guard dogs.

It should be known that left alone, they can quickly develop separation anxiety — which will in turn lead to bad behavior. They also have a very strong desire to chase things: cars, other pets and even humans. They should be trained early to understand when chasing is not appropriate.

They come from working dogs and will desire a task (or tasks) to help keep them purposeful. To this end, they make excellent service dogs. Your Golden Collie will bond strongly with you and your family, and you will probably not find a better hybrid dog as a companion as a Gollie!

While the Golden Collie's personality is a match made in heaven, the health problems, unfortunately, may seem to be brought up from another place. The two parent breeds share more than the typical number of similar issues, and some of those include

• thyroid complications
• bloat
• obesity
• eye and nose difficulties
• joint dysplasia
• cancer
• the dreaded Von Willebrand's Disease

If you plan on adopting a Gollie, it is of supreme importance that you learn all about both parents' health histories as well as the overall health concerns for both parent breeds. The average life expectancy for the Golden Collie is about 10 to 15 years, but with some luck, a good bit of research and a lot of love, your Gollie may live a good bit longer.