Collie

Personality

The Collie is the gentle, intelligent family dog that generations of readers and viewers have loved, thanks to Lassie. The reality largely lives up to the legend. VCA describes a devoted companion that is playful and good with children, other dogs and other pets, and eager to please. The AKC standard calls the Collie a lithe, strong, responsive and active dog, and stresses that expression is among the most important points in the breed.

Collies bond deeply with their people and prefer to be part of the household rather than left outside. With strangers they are polite but often a little reserved, and they will alert you to visitors.

Barking is the Collie's most common complaint. VCA rates the breed high on barking, and a bored or lonely Collie can become loud, so plan on daily exercise and training. The herding heritage can show up as chasing or heel nipping, particularly in young dogs. Gentle redirection and good outlets help. A Collie that gets attention and activity is a loving, steady companion.

History

The Collie began in Scotland in the 1800s as a working sheepdog, although its exact ancestry is unknown and it may share ancestors with the Border Collie. Two coat types existed from the start. The smooth dogs drove sheep, while the rough dogs stayed with the flocks, and early on both were called Scotch collies.

Queen Victoria's interest changed the breed's fortunes. She added her first Collie to her kennel in 1860, which drew wide attention to the dogs. An official standard was drawn up in 1886.

In the United States, Collies arrived both as sheepdogs and as elite pets. Albert Payson Terhune's stories about his Sunnybank Collies in the 1920s and 1930s attracted many new owners, and the Lassie films and television shows cemented the breed's reputation as the loyal family dog. Lassie has been played by Rough Collies, and the picture of a long-coated sable and white dog is still what many people imagine when they hear the word Collie. The Smooth Collie, according to VCA, has never shared the Rough's popularity.

Appearance, coat & colors

The Collie is a lithe, strong, balanced dog with a proud, impressive look. The AKC standard lists dogs at 24 to 26 in (61 to 66 cm) and 60 to 75 lb (27 to 34 kg), and bitches at 22 to 24 in (56 to 61 cm) and 50 to 65 lb (23 to 29 kg). VCA gives the breed's overall range as 22 to 26 in and 50 to 75 lb.

The Rough Collie carries the famous coat: abundant, straight and harsh on the outside, with a soft, dense undercoat that is close enough that the skin is hard to see when the hair is parted. The Smooth Collie has a short, hard, dense, flat coat, also over a thick undercoat. Both varieties come in four colors, none preferred over another. Sable and white ranges from light gold to dark mahogany. Tricolor is mostly black with white and tan markings. Blue merle is a marbled blend of blue-gray and black. White dogs are mostly white with colored markings.

The standard puts great importance on expression and balance. All the parts should fit together smoothly, giving what it calls an impressive, proud picture of true balance.

Training

Collies are among the easiest herding breeds to train. VCA rates ease of training at the top of its scale, and the breed responds best to reward-based methods built on praise, games and food. Collies learn quickly, so keep your voice calm and sessions upbeat. Harsh corrections are rarely needed and can damage trust.

Socialize your puppy early. Collies can be reserved with strangers, and good exposure to people, dogs, vehicles and noises keeps that reserve from turning into fearfulness. Because the breed barks readily, teach a quiet cue early and reward silence, and give the dog a regular outlet for its energy.

Herding instincts can lead to chasing bikes, joggers and children. Practice a reliable recall, a settle and a stay, and redirect nipping and circling into games with toys. Many Collies excel in herding trials, agility, rally and obedience, which use their intelligence and give them a job. Short, frequent sessions work well, and mixing in tricks keeps this clever breed from getting bored. Our crate training guide can help set routines in the early weeks.

Exercise

A Collie needs a long walk, a good run or an energetic play session every day, according to VCA. With that, the breed settles into a well-mannered housedog. Without it, expect barking and restlessness. See our guide to how much exercise a dog needs for ways to adjust by age and ability.

Collies enjoy fetch, hiking, jogging and herding-style games, and VCA says they do well at dog parks. Mental exercise counts too: puzzle feeders, scent games and trick training keep a clever dog busy. Agility, obedience and herding trials give the breed a job.

VCA notes that Collies enjoy cold weather but cannot live outside in it, and it rates their tolerance for warm weather as average. In summer, exercise early or late in the day and provide shade and water. Use a secure fence or a leash, because a Collie that spots something to herd may take off.

Young dogs should not be pushed to run long distances before their joints have matured, so build up distance and intensity gradually.

Grooming

The Rough Collie's coat is the breed's glory and its main maintenance task. VCA says to brush a rough coat once or twice a week, and more often in heavy shedding periods. Use a pin brush or slicker brush with a comb to reach behind the ears, under the elbows and on the hindquarters, where mats form first. Mats that are left to build up can pull on the skin, so work through them gently or ask a groomer.

The Smooth Collie is far simpler, since a brief weekly brushing handles most needs. VCA rates shedding for the breed as average to above average.

Bathe when the dog is dirty or smelly, rinse thoroughly and dry completely before brushing. Avoid shaving a double-coated Collie unless your vet or groomer advises it. Trim nails regularly, check the ears weekly and brush the teeth several times a week. Collies are not hypoallergenic.

Feeding

Collies tend to stay at a healthy weight, but a heavy coat can hide extra pounds, so check body condition by feel. VCA advises running your hands over the dog: you should be able to feel the ribs easily, even through all that fur. Use our dog food calculator for a starting estimate and adjust from there.

Choose a complete and balanced diet for your dog's life stage, and ask your vet whether a large-breed formula suits yours. Most adults do well on two meals a day. Bloat is a recognized concern in the breed, so a slow-feeder bowl can slow fast eaters, and it helps to avoid heavy exercise right around mealtimes. Learn the signs of bloat: a swollen belly, unproductive retching and sudden distress. Call your vet or an emergency clinic immediately if you see them.

Count training treats in the daily total. One Collie-specific reminder: before giving any over-the-counter medicine, including anti-diarrheal products, check with your vet, because the MDR1 gene variant makes some drugs unsafe for affected dogs.

Health

Collies are generally healthy, with a few breed-specific risks. The most important to know is MDR1, a gene variant that stops some dogs from pumping certain drugs out of the brain. In an affected dog, the over-the-counter anti-diarrheal loperamide, several cancer drugs and high doses of ivermectin-type antiparasitic drugs (such as those sometimes used to treat mange) can cause serious neurologic problems, and some sedatives and other drugs need special care. Heartworm preventives given at label doses are considered safe. A simple DNA test shows your dog's status, so tell your vet the result before any new medication.

Collie eye anomaly (CEA) is an inherited eye condition that can cause blindness in some dogs, and a DNA test is available. Other conditions include progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), dermatomyositis (a skin and muscle disease), degenerative myelopathy, bloat, hip and elbow dysplasia, epilepsy and cyclic neutropenia, a rare inherited immune disorder also known as gray collie syndrome.

The AKC lists DNA tests for MDR1, CEA, PRA (rcd2) and dermatomyositis as the national club's recommended tests. The AKC gives a typical lifespan of 12 to 14 years, and the Collie Health Foundation says many live that long or longer with good care.

Health conditions to know about

• MDR1 drug sensitivity — A gene variant that makes some drugs, such as loperamide, unsafe; a DNA test shows status, so tell your vet before any medication.
• Collie eye anomaly (CEA) — Inherited eye condition that can cause blindness; breeders screen puppies and use a DNA test.
• Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) — Inherited retinal disease causing vision loss; a DNA test is available.
• Dermatomyositis — Inherited autoimmune disease of the skin and sometimes the muscles; a DNA test is available.
• Bloat (GDV) — Life-threatening twisting of the stomach; a swollen belly or unproductive retching needs emergency care.
• Degenerative myelopathy — Progressive spinal cord disease that usually starts after about 8 years of age.

Health tests to ask a breeder about

• MDR1 DNA test
• Collie eye anomaly (CEA) DNA test
• PRA (rcd2) DNA test
• Dermatomyositis DNA test
• Eye exam by a veterinary ophthalmologist

Written from veterinary sources by the Pawsplained editorial team. Not yet reviewed by a veterinarian; this is general information, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Updated Oct 30, 2026. Editorial policy

Living with a Collie

Collies adapt to many homes if their exercise and company needs are met. A house with a fenced yard is ideal, but an apartment can work for a dog that gets a long daily walk and some off-leash running in a safe area. The main challenge in close quarters is barking, so work on a quiet cue and try to limit the dog's view of the street.

They are family dogs at heart and do poorly when left alone for long stretches. A bored Collie may bark, pace or chew, so consider daycare or a dog walker if your household is empty for much of the day.

The dense coat of the Rough Collie handles cold weather well, but the breed should still live indoors with the family. In heat, provide shade, water and a cool place to rest, and exercise in the cooler parts of the day. Expect hair around the house, especially during seasonal shedding.

Collies are usually gentle with children and other pets, particularly when raised with them. Supervise young kids and teach them not to run and scream near a young herding dog, which can trigger chasing.

Puppies, breeders & rescue

Collie puppy prices vary widely, so compare breeders on health testing and care rather than cost. A responsible breeder does the testing that matters for this breed. The AKC lists DNA tests for MDR1, collie eye anomaly, PRA (rcd2) and dermatomyositis as the national club's recommended health tests. Ask to see results for both parents, plus a puppy eye exam by a veterinary ophthalmologist.

Ask the breeder about the MDR1 status of the parents and what it means for the puppies. Dogs with one or two copies of the variant can live normal lives, but even one copy raises the risk of drug reactions, so they need a vet who knows which drugs to avoid or adjust. Good breeders raise puppies in the home, let you meet the mother, offer a contract and take dogs back if needed. Be cautious about sellers with many litters or any who cannot supply records.

Collie rescues exist in many regions, and an adult dog's temperament, coat type and health history may already be known. If you adopt, ask whether the dog has been tested for MDR1, and share the result with your vet.