18/10/2026
We went back to Megan’s () have-a-go herding day for Rough and Smooth Collies last weekend. Second time, and honestly it was just as good as the first.
If you saw the last post you’ll know why these days matter to us. Smooth Collies are classed as vulnerable now and the Rough Collie isn’t far behind. But this time we came away thinking more about the dogs that are already out there.
Most Rough and Smooth Collies are pets. Which is fine, they’re brilliant pets. But they were bred to work sheep, and that doesn’t just disappear because they’ve been on a sofa for a few generations. You can see it come back in them in the pen. Some of them take a minute, some of them get it straight away, and when it clicks you can see the dog change.
You don’t need to own sheep to give your dog this. That’s the whole point of days like this one. You turn up, someone who knows what they’re doing helps you, your dog has a go on a long line, and you go home having seen a side of them you didn’t know was there.
I also think a lot of what people call “collie problems” (the circling, the nipping at heels, fixating on the other dogs at the park) is just a dog with a lot of instinct and nowhere to put it. A day like this won’t fix that on its own, but it might change how you see it.
Fettle’s part was small again: Fuelled By Fettle tote bags made just for collies, each with a free pouch.
Thank you Megan, and thank you to everyone who brought their dogs.
If you’ve got a Rough or Smooth and there’s a day like this anywhere near you, go. And if yours has ever had a go on sheep I’d really like to hear how they got on.
