Breed comparison
Collie vs Shetland Sheepdog
Collie or Shetland Sheepdog? The Sheltie looks like a Collie shrunk in the wash, and the two share a long coat, a gentle face and a herding brain. The short answer: the Shetland Sheepdog is a smaller, barkier and more sensitive dog, while the Collie is a larger, softer, kid-friendly one that is a little quieter. Both are easy to train, both need real grooming and both can carry the MDR1 drug-sensitivity gene, which every owner should know about. Their care routines are similar, but size and volume differ a lot.
Photo: WisewynD · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Flickr user nickobec (Nick Cowie) · CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
At a glance
| Collie | Shetland Sheepdog | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Large | Small |
| Height | 22–26 in (56–66 cm) | 13–16 in (33–41 cm) |
| Weight | 50–75 lb (23–34 kg) | 15–25 lb (7–11 kg) |
| Life span | 12–14 years | 12–14 years |
| Group | Herding | Herding |
| Coat | Rough variety has a long, harsh outer coat over a dense undercoat; Smooth variety has a short, hard, flat coat | Long, harsh, straight double coat with a short, dense undercoat |
| Lower-allergen coat | No | No |
| Energy level | ||
| Exercise needs | ||
| Trainability | ||
| Good with kids | ||
| Good with other dogs | ||
| Friendly to strangers | ||
| Apartment living | ||
| Tolerates being alone | ||
| Good for first-time owners | ||
| Shedding | ||
| Grooming needs | ||
| Barking | ||
| Drooling | ||
| General health |
Trait scale 1–5. Shedding, grooming, barking and drooling: 5 = more. Highlighted rows are where the two breeds differ.
The key differences
Size
The Collie is the bigger dog, at 22 to 26 in (56 to 66 cm) and 50 to 75 lb (23 to 34 kg). The Sheltie stands 13 to 16 in (33 to 41 cm) and weighs 15 to 25 lb (7 to 11 kg), roughly a third of the weight. Both score 3 out of 5 for apartment living, but the Sheltie is far easier to fit into a smaller home.
Energy and exercise
The Sheltie scores 4 out of 5 for energy against 3 for the Collie, and both score 3 for exercise. VCA says a Collie needs a long walk, a good run or energetic play daily. A Sheltie needs a long walk, short run or backyard games, and loves herding and agility. Both need mental games such as tricks as well.
Coat and grooming
Both score 4 out of 5 for grooming and 4 for shedding. VCA says a rough-coated Collie needs brushing one to two times a week, a smooth coat brief weekly brushing, and a Sheltie brushing and combing every other day to prevent mats. The Collie comes in rough and smooth varieties, while the Sheltie has a long double coat. Expect plenty of fur from either breed.
Temperament and training
Both score 5 out of 5 for trainability and 4 for novice owners. VCA calls the Collie gentle, devoted and playful, and says it barks enthusiastically. It calls the Sheltie loyal and gentle with children, aloof or shy with strangers, sensitive to correction and a frequent barker. The Collie scores 5 out of 5 for kids against 4, and the Sheltie scores 5 for barking against 4 and for watchdog instinct against 3.
Health and life span
Our profiles list 12 to 14 years for both breeds, and both score 3 out of 5 for health. Washington State University lists about 70 percent of Collies and about 15 percent of Shelties as carrying the MDR1 mutation, so tell your vet before any medication. The Collie Health Foundation lists collie eye anomaly, dermatomyositis, degenerative myelopathy, hip and elbow dysplasia and bloat for the Collie. The Sheltie parent club lists hip dysplasia, thyroid and eye disease, dermatomyositis, von Willebrand disease and gallbladder mucoceles.
Cost and care
The Collie eats more and needs more room. A Sheltie often needs frequent grooming sessions, and its barking may need a trainer's help if you have close neighbors. MDR1 testing is a one-time cheek swab for either breed, and the result can protect your dog for life. Budget for professional grooming if you cannot keep up with brushing.
Which one should you choose?
Choose the Collie if you want a larger, gentle, family-friendly herding dog that is a bit quieter, and you have the space for a 50-to-75-lb dog and the time to brush a long coat. Choose the Shetland Sheepdog if you want a smaller, livelier and more sensitive herding dog that suits a smaller home, and you can live with near-constant barking and frequent grooming. Whichever you pick, buy from a breeder who tests parents for MDR1 and eye disease, and tell your vet the results before any medication. If you have close neighbors, think hard about the volume of a Sheltie.
Collie profile Shetland Sheepdog profile
Frequently asked questions
Which is bigger, a Collie or a Shetland Sheepdog?
The Collie, at 50 to 75 lb (23 to 34 kg) against 15 to 25 lb (7 to 11 kg) for the Sheltie.
Which barks more, a Collie or a Sheltie?
The Sheltie, at 5 out of 5 on our barking meter against 4 for the Collie. VCA says most Shelties bark a lot.
Do Collies and Shelties carry the MDR1 gene?
Often. Washington State University lists about 70 percent of Collies and about 15 percent of Shelties as carrying it, so DNA test your dog and tell your vet the result.