Collies vs. Shelties

[.sarah]

I was just wondering what the differences are in these two breeds? They look so much alike yet their personalities seem so different. I've always been interested in owning a Sheltie until I worked at a vet, then I realized that they were a little bit too much for me (great dogs, but not for me ). However, every Collie I've met I've just "clicked" with and I'd love to own one some day.

Are they related breeds?

[zoomer]

Shelties are much smaller (as you probubly noticed ) and they are much more active (well... that what it seems like to me). I don't know much about either of those breeds but I hope I could help you a little bit.

[K9soul]

They are completely different breeds, with collies being the older of the two breeds and originating in different areas, although thought to have a common ancester. Shelties are not, as so many seem to think, miniature collies, except in looks. I had collies and was around a lot of collies and shelties and overall their temperments are pretty different too (this has been my personal experience and isn't meant as an all-encompassing "fact" as there are always exceptions!).

I found shelties to be more highly energetic and needing of a job to do. My collies had high energy when they were outdoors but inside became big lazy rugs, unlike the shelties I have been around . They are both herding breeds and have herding breed traits. My collies were calm and laid back and generally more trusting and easy with all types of people/children than many shelties I have been around. This is NOT to say that shelties can't be just as good with kids, I just personally experienced that collies were more tolerant.

Anyway, I found this article that explains more about the origins and differences, some of which is obvious but might answer some of your questions .

http://hem.passagen.se/nightwin/articles/colltie.htm

[.sarah]

Wow, thank you so much, that helps a lot! I haven't met very many Collies, but I had noticed that they seemed much calmer than the Shelties I know. Shelties are just a bit too much for me. I've thought about Collies a lot so to train them to be therapy dogs.

[cali]

collies are older? from everything I have learned shelties are older. they are 2 entirly differnt breeds though, Shelties were on on the shetland islands to be small sheepdogs to suit the sheep they had. Collies however are not related, originally there was just Collies, all of the collie breeds(rough,smooth, border,and bearded) were just called collies, but they were deveoped in differnt areas and because of this they deveoped differntly, the show crowd came along and took over most of the Collie breeds, all exept Border collies which were not taken till much later, the original rough and smooth collies did not look much like they do today, they are pretty much entirly a show breed now, as are shelties. they may look alike but their history is very differnt lol

[.sarah]

Yeah I've seen pictures of old Collies and they look more like Border Collies. It's so wierd what the breeds have developed into today. (Show) Labs look pretty different too, and some other breeds.

[K9soul]

It is a fact that collies are an older breed than shelties, but the original collie was more a border collie type dog than today's collie.

The Shetland Sheepdog, like the Collie, traces to the Border Collie of Scotland, which, transported to the Shetland Islands and crossed with small, intelligent, longhaired breeds, was reduced to miniature proportions. Subsequently crosses were made from time to time with Collies. This breed now bears the same relationship in size and general appearance to the Rough Collie as the Shetland Pony does to some of the larger breeds of horses.

Today's sheltie has collie ancestry so I don't see how they can be the older breed. It was collies from Scotland that were imported to the Shetland Islands where the sheltie was "developed." The scottish border collie was the original collie and later the three evolved but the rough collie in any dog breed book where it lists the era of origination always has an older one than the sheltie.

Taken from here (as well as read in many many other sources as I was highly involved with collies growing up): http://www.akc.org/breeds/shetland_sheepdog/index.cfm

[ParNone]

I ran into quite a bit of that "Collies are Dumb" attitude from trainers, that is until they saw Oz and Gull in action. Then they rephrased it to Rough Collies are Dumb, which I don't think is true either. With any breed, poor breeding, leads to a poor representation of the breed and the more popular, the higher the probability for bad breeding. Since Roughs are still leaps and bounds more popular then Smooths, there's more opportunity to run into a badly bred, Rough. Judging from the Collie lists I hang out at, with both Rough and Smooth Collies excelling in agility, herding and obedience, etc., there are quite a lot of highly intelligent Collies running around out there. There's one breeder on the list, supplying Smoothes to one of the Guide Dog organizations. In Israel, the only breed that could pass the criteria to be an Alzheimer's Service Dog, was the Collie. Somehow, I'd think Collies would have to possess some level of brainpower for them to be sought after in these types of endeavors.

As to the energy level and behaviorial issues. I view them as moderate energy level. I'm not a very active person and I've easily been able to give mine enough exercise to be calm and well behaved in the house. If they are starting to get rambunctious in the house, that's my queue to go get the frisbee and head outside to play with them for 5 or 10 mins, then they're pooped and ready to lay around while I watch TV or surf the internet. As with obedience training, you have to train good house behavior and Collies wanting so much to please you, will conform to the boundaries you set, pretty quickly. The only training issue I've ever had to really work with them on is barking, but from my observations of Shelties, they're generally more barky then the Collies, so I don't think you're gonna gain anything in that area with a Sheltie.

One big difference I've observed between the two is that the Collie seems to be more outgoing with strangers. Shelties don't seem all that gung ho to be petted by people they don't know, at least all the ones I've met. They seem to be more standoffish and have more of a serious demeanor. Collies can be quite playful, even with strangers and have a bit of a sense of humor about them. I know my agility club was quite amused when Oz, clipped my legs out from under me when I crossed in front of him. Then as I was sprawled out on the grass, he ran back and jumped on my chest, and stood there nudging me with his nose to play. And Gull is even more of a character. I sometimes view him as having a 80lb terrier.

Anywho, I love Shelties too and would love to own one someday, maybe when I'm too old for as big of a dog as a Collie. So my talking up of Collies was in no way meant as a talking down about Shelties. I think they're great lil' dogs. Highly intelligent and devoted to their people.

Par...

[binka_nugget]

I don't have much experience with Collies but I thought I'd add in my personal experiences with Shelties. I've found that Shelties are generally high strung and would love nothing more than to run and bark all day. Of course, there are exceptions as with any breed.. my boys are laid back most of the time. They get their occasional "bark, chase, bark, ball, bark, bark, bark" moments.

They're known for being barkers (yeah, I know.. it can be "trained" out of them.. but it still comes VERY naturally to Shelties) as well as being "reserved" with strangers. Both my boys hold conversations (LOL) and are reserved with strangers as well.

[BC_MoM]

Why do people think Collies are dumb?? I've never met a dumb Collie.. I find them to be extremely intelligent!!

[bckrazy]

I love both breeds, they're great dogs but I've also noticed the differences in the breeds that have been mentioned. I consider ALL well-bred herding dogs to be extremely keen and intelligent, of course their breeding has a ton to do with it, but both Shelties and Collies should be very bright dogs. Collies I've noticed are more friendly and inquisitive, but I've met my share of really laid back, friendly Shelties too! I think socialization and training has a lot to do with how they turn out as adults. Both should have enough energy to herd livestock all day, so I would consider both active dogs!

[gardengirl]

Good discussion! I used to hear the 'brains being bred out' way back in the 70's. It's kind of like a rumor that came from a joke about the narrow heads. Not true! I've had collies for 35 years. My last four were therapy dogs over the past 17 years. They're wonderful dogs and I find them to be very flexible when it comes to energy. If there's a dog party or playtime, they're ready and willing. When it's time to veg-out, they're perfectly happy lying at your feet, all day if necessary. I have done the therapy dog work, conformation, obedience, flyball, rally, and most recently dancing. You should see my Bailey dance! So much energy. But he can be a lazy boy, too. They're great dogs, but they do have a barking issue, especially if left outside alone.

[Genny]

I'm glad someone asked the differences. I have had a collie (best dog I've ever had!) but, I've always wondered how a sheltie is.

I have thought about getting another collie someday, but I want a dog that would get along with ducks. Which breed would do better--collie or sheltie???

[iusara]

I don't have much experience with Collies but I thought I'd add in my personal experiences with Shelties. I've found that Shelties are generally high strung and would love nothing more than to run and bark all day. Of course, there are exceptions as with any breed.. my boys are laid back most of the time. They get their occasional "bark, chase, bark, ball, bark, bark, bark" moments.

They're known for being barkers (yeah, I know.. it can be "trained" out of them.. but it still comes VERY naturally to Shelties) as well as being "reserved" with strangers. Both my boys hold conversations (LOL) and are reserved with strangers as well.

Yeah, my shetland sheepdog never stops barking.

[buttercup132]

This is kind of a old thread