The Rough Collie, one of Britain’s most recognisable breeds, faces an uncertain future following a steep decline in the breed’s popularity to record their lowest numbers in over 75 years. The breed is now close to being classed as ‘at risk’ by The Kennel Club, which monitors breeds with declining numbers in the UK.
The breed is best known for the iconic titular role of Lassie, which began as a novel in the 1940s, and led to a raft of eponymous films, television series, radio programs, animation and comic books. The character is also one of very few animals to have been awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
At the height of the breed’s popularity in 1979, four years after the long-running television series had ended, there were over 8,000 annual puppy registrations, placing them in the top 10 breeds in the UK. However it was a very different story last year, with less than 500 Rough Collie puppies births, a 25 per cent decrease since 2021, and a steep 94 per cent decline since their heyday.
