Shelties vs. Collies

[GoldenRetrLuver]

Originally posted by Foam
Hehe
So when are we getting new Molly pictures?

Hehehe. Uhhh probably in the next hour or so. I haven't even took a shower yet..... Better go do that now!

[gkristian]

Originally posted by primabella
Which one?

Shelties are definitly my fave. Wonder why

It's probebly because you have one.
When i use to live in Europe i use to love collies and had never heard of shelties, but after a got one they became my fave

[Foam]

Originally posted by gkristian
It's probebly because you have one.

Lol..

BTW gkristian, we are in need of new Foxy pics!!!

[gkristian]

Originally posted by Foam
Lol..


we are in need of new Foxy pics!!!

I got a digital camera last week and i am hoping to post some pics today.

[Shelteez2]

Well I may be just a tad bit biased, but......
shelties of course *S*



Of course though I haven't met many collies. And it's a little unfair to compare the two, because they are different breeds with different traits, but right now if I had to choose....it would be shelties.

I've never really wanted a collie.....except this one:

[ParNone]

Thanks Pam, Kay and Dogz!

I gotta go with Collies, but I can see myself someday getting a
Sheltie, as I get older and it's more practical to have a smaller
dog.

As to Rough vs Smooth Collies, I've never read that Smooths
were more intelligent. I have noticed that the Smooths seem
to have a lil' more pep to their step, which I think may have
something to do with coat type, as they don't get overheated
as quickly. In the old days, when Collies were still primarily
working dogs, the Smooths were mostly used as drovers of
the sheep to market, because of the overheating issue with
the Roughs.

Anyway the Roughs and Smooths can come out of the same
litters, so I don't think there's a huge difference in temperament
between the two.

As to stubborn, I do see that in Oz. He wants to please you,
but he's not going to be *made* to do anything. He digs
his heels in on things he doesn't want to do and I really have
to work to make them seem fun, so he'll want to do them.
I've used only positive reinforcement with him, but I've seen
him shut down when he's gotten stressed over something,
so I think anybody who took a "I'm gonna show you who's
boss" attitude with him, would get absolutely nowhere. Collies
are sensitive and I think it would be very easy to lose their
trust if you tried any of the harsh training techiques on them.

Par...

[Spiritwind]

Collies come in all diffrent coat colors, shapes, weights, sizes and conditions. Smooth collies tend to be more intellegent than rough coats, being the history is that smooth coats were bred by British Greyhounds, and rough collies.

First, I have had Collies for the past 9yrs, I do all sorts of things with them, conformation, obed., and herding and I haven't noticed any difference in roughs and smooths as far as intellegence goes. I have seen some VERY smart roughs and smooths, and some roughs and smooths who weren't so bright. I think it depends on the dog more than the coat of the dog.

Collies are a typically healthy breed. Prone to hip displasia (sP?), eye problems and elbow problems. Cancer is not a biggy. It's not usual in collies.

Its hard to tell if Collies are have a problem with hip dysplasia, as VERY few breeders test for it. Hard to know what you have, if you don't check. My female, who had alitter almost 5 1/2 months ago is OFA-Excellent, Thyriod-normal and Heart-clear, and eye check-choroidal hypoplasia. The sire has had all the same health tests, is a CH and is OFA-Good.

Not true. FEMALE collies grow 50-70 lbs. A large female, say Molly, can grow to be 80 but no more than that. It is very rare for the female. MALES on the other hand grow 75-90 pounds! My smooth just might be in the 80-90s when he's full grown because he's already a big boy, and his father was 94.8 lbs!!!

I have a 9yr old male Collie who is VERY large built, 26" tall at the shoulders and he is usually about 90lbs, but is a bit over weight now, should be say 80lbs. I can't even imagine a female that size! LOL My females usually top out around 55lbs. My males (not counting the 9yr old, he is my first Collie and a neutered pet, my other Collies are fom completely different lines) are usually 65-75lbs... and tall! My smooth Collie is 26" tall, and my male that I kept from the litter that is 5 1/2 months old now, is as tall as his mother... he will be a tall boy like his dad, probably 70-75lbs.

I'm not saying this is impossible to have a female that large, but its not common.

Ears are another thing. Typically healthy, the ears are big and pricked 80% of the time. Tipped ears mean the tip of the ear hangs over. Taping, or weighing down the tips is a way of forcing pricked ears into tipped. This doesn't hurt the collie. My Ozzy was born with natural tipped ears wich is unusual.

No Collie is born with prick ears... they start going up as pups if they aren't worked with. My three 5 1/2 month old Collie pups have never had prick ears a day in their life, and I don't tape that often... only when needed. But their ears were flopped down the sides of their heads till about 6-8 wks, when the ears started to come up on the head.

Here are some pictures of my Collies:




This is Ben - mjr ptd. Apple Valley Shades of Blue, CGC. He is the one I do the most herding with. He LOVES it!



This is Angie, the mother of my 5 1/2 month old puppies. Tomelle's Painted Angel, OFA-Excellent, Thyriod-normal, Heart-clear, eye check-Choroidal hypoplasia



This is Laddie, my first and oldest Collie. He is 9yrs old, and the one I said as usually around 90lbs.



This is Bart, the sire of my 51/2 month old pups. CH Apple Valley Coat of Arms. OFA-Good, Thyriod-normal, eye check-go normal.

And these are my Bart x Angie babies!!



Kira- Spiritwind Celtic Kiss at 12 wks old.



Coors- Spiritwind The Silver Bullet at 9wks old. He is a cyrptic blue merle.



Misty - Spiritwind Irish Mist at 12 wks old.

Janna

[GoldenRetrLuver]

Originally posted by Spiritwind
I have a 9yr old male Collie who is VERY large built, 26" tall at the shoulders and he is usually about 90lbs, but is a bit over weight now, should be say 80lbs. I can't even imagine a female that size! LOL My females usually top out around 55lbs.

My female is 73 pounds, but I believe she could gain a few more.
By the way, your Collies are GORGEOUS!
Heres a picture of my Molly...



I guess she's just a big girl!

[KYS]

Originally posted by Spiritwind:
Its hard to tell if Collies are have a problem with hip dysplasia, as VERY few breeders test for it. >>>>>>>>

It's sad that not all breeders do not test before breeding.
Not only do you need to test your breeding pair,
but the generations before them should have been
tested by their breeders too.
Hopefully in the future and with DNA etc.
this will improve?


Janna,

A big welcome to Pet Talk.
Your collies are BEAUTIFUL, and I think it is great
that you are active in many events with your dogs.


P.S To anwser the top question:
I could never pick, I think both breeds are
beautiful.

[Spiritwind]

GoldenRetrLuver,

Molly is beautiful! I had a sable merle female at one time that looked very similar to Molly, but she was much lighter sable.

Her name was Macey, she was tall, but not as tall as your girl, but about 23" or so inches tall and maybe 65lbs.

My 5 month old blue female, Kira, I kind of expect her to be a bit taller, since she is pretty much close to the same height as her dam right now. I'd be happy with about 23" tall...LOL Her mother is 22" tall, and Bart, the sire is right around 25" tall.

Janna

[Spiritwind]

Originally posted by KYS


It's sad that not all breeders do not test before breeding.
Not only do you need to test your breeding pair,
but the generations before them should have been
tested by their breeders too.
Hopefully in the future and with DNA etc.
this will improve?

Janna,

A big welcome to Pet Talk.
Your collies are BEAUTIFUL, and I think it is great
that you are active in many events with your dogs.

P.S To anwser the top question:
I could never pick, I think both breeds are
beautiful.

Yeah, well all breeders test for CEA (I'm talking show breeders etc... BYB have no clue about this either)

but not many really do test for stuff like OFA, Heart, Thyriod etc.... I do know of a few other Collie breeder, one is a friend of mine how does these test, which is why I decided to do my dogs before they were bred.

Thanks KYS, I haven't done to much with performance stuff just yet. Probably more herding than anything else right now. My olest Collie, Laddie, when he was younger I did do some USDAA agility with him. I want to do agility with Ben too, if I ever get time to take him up for trainined classes. Kira, one of my blue pups, I think she'll love herding. Can't wait till she has a bit more size to her so I can try her at it......

Janna

[cloverfdx]

i adore both breeds and cannot decide.

i have had a male tri coloured rough collie when i was youngster and have had a soft spot for them ever since but then again i have met ALOT of wonderful shelties through various dog sports and could picture myself having/training a sheltie oneday

[Shelteez2]

Originally posted by Spiritwind


This is Angie, the mother of my 5 1/2 month old puppies. Tomelle's Painted Angel, OFA-Excellent, Thyriod-normal, Heart-clear, eye check-Choroidal hypoplasia

Hey that's my collie

When are you going to send her up here anyways

[Spiritwind]

Originally posted by Shelteez2
Hey that's my collie

When are you going to send her up here anyways

LOL hey, if you want her, I'll send her up there for a while, but you gotta try to show her in conformation while she is up there LOL well I guess you could do obedience with her too LOL

Janna

[Aspen and Misty]

Shelties of course! My teddy bear is the sweetest most loving dog I've ever met! I just love him to pieces!!! I hope to own more Shelties when I get older there such a wonderful breed!!














Ashley