What type of collies are there

He's got a double coat, so like most collies needs regular grooming. Shaggier than other collies, his appearance is part of his charm. He makes a good family dog, but requires a fair amount of exercise. The American Kennel Club describes the border collie as "the workaholic of the dog world," and that may be an understatement. This is a dog who needs a job. If he can't herd sheep, he requires something else to hold his interest.

Agility, obedience and other canine sports are good outlets for that border collie energy. This is one smart dog—you may find your border collie is brighter than some of your human acquaintances.

At maturity, the border collie stands between 18 and 22 inches tall at the shoulder. He may be black and white, merle and white, sable and white, tricolored or solid in color. Often referred to as the miniature collie, the Shetland sheepdog resembles a small rough-coated collie.

It originates from Scotland's Shetland islands, where due to the harsh climate many domestic animals became diminutive—think Shetland pony. Shelties mature between 13 and 16 inches high at the shoulder. Smart and loyal to his person, the sheltie may be shy with strangers.

If you'd like a collie but live in a smaller space, the sheltie may be a good choice. He still needs regular exercise, as all collie types are active dogs. Jane Meggitt has been a writer for more than 20 years. In addition to reporting for a major newspaper chain, she has been published in "Horse News," "Suburban Classic," "Hoof Beats," "Equine Journal" and other publications. For a long time, they were considered the same breed.

In fact, the Rough Collie would sometimes give birth to short-haired puppies. However, they are now considered a different type of Collie and have had different breeding lines for generations. The Border Collie is one of the best known Collie dog breeds.

As with other Collie dogs, they have an excellent adaptation for learning and are highly valued for their trainability. These dogs originated a little earlier than the Rough Collie during the 18th century.

At this time they worked as cattle herders, able to control animals much larger than themselves. Although many Border Collies are still used on working farms, they have become a very popular companion animal. They can be affectionate dogs and great with children. They are very intelligent and active. In fact, according to Stanley Coren's list of the most intelligent dog breeds , this Collie breed is number 1.

Unlike the Smooth Collie, this breed's nature does not work well in small spaces. Ideally they will need a garden or outdoor space to run around in. It cannot be stressed enough how much physical and mental stimulation the Border Collie requires.

If they are not given intelligence games and training on a daily basis, they can start to develop behavioral problems. In terms of physique, the snout is elongated, but less than that of the Smooth and Rough Collie. Their life expectancy is around years. They are medium and light dogs and their long dense coat can have different colors, but black with white is perhaps the most common.

Since the Australian Shepherd bears a strong resemblance to the Border Collie, they are often thought to be another type of Collie breed. However, although the Australian has Border Collie in its genealogy, they are not considered a Collie breed. Take a look at our article on the difference between Border Collies and Australian Shepherds to learn more. We finish our complete list of Collie breed types with the Bearded Collie. This is a very old dog breed with origins dating back to at least the 16th Century.

They were also used as sheep herding dogs. The breed almost disappeared at one point, but was taken back from the edge of extinction during the 20th Century.

They are cheerful, friendly dogs, good with children and have adapted to life in cities. They are also great dogs to live with other dogs and animals. Unlike the previous Collies on our list, the Bearded Collie is not very easy to train. They can be a little stubborn and will need a lot of patience and energy to make them learn advanced tricks. However, their basic education can be carried out relatively easily. The Bearded Collie's longer coat means they need to be brushed every day, especially because they are prone to tangles.

Their coat color is commonly blue and white, but they can have black, fawn, brown or tan markings. Their hair naturally parts on their back and can grow over their eyes. For this reason, they will need to be periodically groomed.

Their look is reminiscent of the Old English Sheepdog , but the latter is also not a Collie breed. Our article on Bearded Collies vs. Old English Sheepdogs will help you learn more. They are prone to musculoskeletal diseases , skin problems and cancer. However, with good care and some luck, they can live to around 12 to 13 years.

If you want to read similar articles to Types of Collie Dog Breeds , we recommend you visit our Comparisons category. Share on:. May 12, You may also be interested in: Setter Dog Breed Types.