¶Table of Contents
¶Quick Facts
In Sweden, the Collie is registered as two separate breeds: the Rough Collie, FCI 156, and the Smooth Collie, FCI 296. They are often discussed together because they share a recent ancestry, the same height range and a similar build, but have different coats. The Border Collie, however, is a different breed with its own standard.
- Origin: Great Britain, with strong historical links to Scotland.
- Roles: herding dog, working dog and companion.
- Height: 56–61 cm for males and 51–56 cm for females in both breeds.
- Weight: the Smooth Collie standard gives 20.5–29.5 kg for males and 18–25 kg for females. The Rough Collie standard gives no official weight.
- Colours: sable and white, tricolour and blue merle.
- Longevity: in a large UK study, the median for Collies as a combined category was 13.3 years. This is a figure for a large population, not a prediction for an individual dog.
A Collie is best suited to someone who wants an active life with a responsive dog and is prepared to examine temperament as carefully as appearance. Coat length makes a clear difference to grooming, but does not reliably predict how energetic, confident or easy-going an individual dog will be.
¶Appearance & Coat
The Collie is agile and well balanced, combining strength and mobility without looking heavy or coarse. The long, blunt wedge-shaped head, almond-shaped eyes and ears that tip forwards help create the characteristic expression. Both breeds have the same official height range. The Smooth Collie weight range should not be treated as an official guide for the Rough Collie, whose standard does not specify a weight.
The Rough Collie has a very dense double coat. The outer coat should be straight and harsh, while the undercoat is soft, woolly and dense enough almost to hide the skin. The mane, chest, legs and tail carry more abundant hair. Brush through to the skin and pay particular attention behind the ears, in the armpits and beneath the collar. More frequent combing is needed during a moult. Bathe when necessary.
The Smooth Collie has a short, straight, harsh outer coat with a very dense undercoat. It is much easier to keep free of tangles, but it still sheds. Brushing during a moult removes loose hair and is also an opportunity to check the skin, paws and nails. The coat should not need trimming or clipping to remain manageable.
Both breeds come in sable and white, tricolour and blue merle. White markings may appear on the collar, chest, legs, feet and tail tip, among other places. Colour is a poor basis for choosing a puppy; health, temperament, everyday behaviour and the breeder’s aims matter more.
¶Temperament & Personality
The breed ideal is a friendly, active and cooperative dog with no nervousness or aggression. Many Collies learn quickly, pay close attention to their handler and enjoy being part of daily life. That is an excellent foundation for training, but it does not guarantee that every Collie will be confident, quiet, uncomplicated around children or easy for a first-time owner.
Temperament varies between individuals and bloodlines, and fearfulness has been an important focus in Swedish breeding work. Ask for more than general descriptions such as ‘sweet’ or ‘sensitive’. Examine the parents’ full MH behaviour descriptions, meet adult relatives if possible, and ask how the dogs react to unfamiliar people, sudden noises, new surfaces and surprises. How quickly they recover is just as important.
The Collie has a dedicated mental index based on the dog’s own MH results and those of its relatives. There are indices for curiosity/confidence, sociability, play, chase and gunshot response. A value of 100 represents the breed average; it is not a pass mark. An index should be considered alongside the full description, the wider family and the type of home or work for which the litter was bred.
The standards and the Swedish Kennel Club describe Collies as friendly towards dogs and people, but experience, health and training also shape behaviour at home. Assess the individual rather than treating coat length or breed name as a guarantee of personality.
¶Training & Exercise
A Collie needs daily physical activity and tasks that make use of cooperation, concentration and curiosity. No credible number of minutes can suit a puppy, an adult competition dog and a senior equally well. Adjust effort and difficulty to the dog’s age, health, experience and recovery.
Combine walks with activities such as tracking, search work, obedience, rally, agility or simple scent games at home. Variety is more valuable than merely increasing speed or distance. Teach the dog to wait and settle as well; an active dog does not need to remain highly aroused all day.
Reward-based training, clear cues and gradually harder tasks suit a dog that enjoys working with people. Break new skills into manageable steps, reward good choices and make the exercise easier if the dog becomes uncertain or loses concentration. Harsh corrections are not a shortcut to confidence.
A Collie can suit a first-time owner who wants to train, can recognise early signs of worry and chooses a litter on the strength of documented temperament. It is a poorer match for someone drawn mainly to the appearance, looking for a fixed exercise timetable or expecting the dog to entertain itself in a garden.
¶Health
When choosing a puppy, the actual results matter more than being told that the parents are ‘tested’. Ask for registration numbers and check hip results, MH records, eye findings and any relevant DNA results. Registration requirements and breeding recommendations are not the same thing.
For both Collie breeds, current Swedish Kennel Club registration rules require both parents to have an official hip dysplasia result before mating. Smooth Collie breeding dogs should have grade A or B hips. A Rough Collie with grade D or E must not be used for breeding, and the Swedish Kennel Club recommends a combined parental hip index above 100. The rules therefore differ between the two breeds.
The rules also require a known mental status. For resident Swedish parents born in 2016 or later, the full MH behaviour description must be completed and all 33 positions recorded. The handler may decline the gunshot element without the dog losing its known-status designation. MH describes reactions; the dog does not pass or fail it.
Collie Eye Anomaly, or CEA, is a congenital developmental abnormality affecting the back of the eye. It ranges from CH/CRD, which often causes no vision problem noticeable in daily life, to coloboma and rarer consequences such as bleeding or retinal detachment. Do not ask only whether a dog has been ‘CEA tested’; request the exact diagnosis and the age at examination.
Current Swedish registration rules do not impose a specific eye-examination requirement on Collies. The breed club nevertheless recommends that puppies are examined before leaving the breeder and that breeding dogs are examined again as adults. The Swedish Kennel Club explains that CH/CRD is best detected in young puppies, usually at 8–10 weeks, and recommends an adult examination before first mating in at-risk breeds.
A variant in the ABCB1 gene, commonly called MDR1, can make a dog sensitive to certain medicines. Testing is relevant for both Rough and Smooth Collies. Dogs with two copies are at greatest risk, but a dog with one copy may also react. Keep the result and show it to the vet before medication is given. The test addresses this particular drug sensitivity; it is not a general certificate of health.
The Swedish Kennel Club does not permit registration of puppies produced by mating two merle Collies. Merle combined with sable is also subject to specific rules on DNA status and breeding restrictions. A puppy buyer should therefore ask how the parents’ colours and any merle variant have been established, rather than choosing solely by the puppy’s markings.
¶History & Origins
The Collie is a British breed with strong Scottish associations, although its precise early origin is uncertain. The breed standard describes a background in which local dogs mixed with dogs brought to Scotland by the Romans. Rough and Smooth Collies developed from the same working stock and shared bloodlines until relatively recent times.
Collies were first shown in England in 1861. Queen Victoria’s interest later helped make them fashionable as companions and show dogs. Their working ability remained important: the elegant build and responsiveness make more sense when seen in the context of a herding and working dog, not merely an appearance ideal.
During the twentieth century, the Rough Collie in particular became closely associated with the fictional Lassie. Eric Knight created the character in Lassie Come-Home, and the 1943 film used a Rough Collie. The stories shaped a heroic image of the breed, but a real dog must be judged by its own temperament, health and upbringing.
¶Living with the Breed
A Collie can live in a flat or a house when given enough activity, rest and company. A garden does not replace walks and shared tasks. In a block of flats, the owner should also teach calm behaviour around sounds in communal areas and prevent the dog from spending all day watching the window or front door.
An adult should supervise time with children, set clear rules and provide a resting place where the dog will not be disturbed. Children should not climb on or hug the dog, or bother it while it is eating or sleeping. Even a friendly dog can feel trapped, and an enthusiastic Collie may accidentally knock over a small child during play.
Many Collies can live with other dogs and cats, but introductions should be calm and gradual. Prevent chasing, give the cat clear escape routes and do not leave the animals alone together until their relationship is settled. Small pets need secure accommodation that the dog cannot enter or watch from close range.
Being left alone must be taught gradually. Start with very brief periods when the puppy feels safe and is calm, and increase the duration only when it can settle. The amount of time an adult dog can manage varies; use the dog’s behaviour rather than a general maximum as your guide.
Before buying, the breeder should be able to answer these questions clearly:
- Is the litter Rough or Smooth, and what are adult relatives like to live with?
- What are the parents’ hip results and, for a Rough Collie, their current hip indices?
- Have both parents completed MH, and what do MH, mental index and close relatives show about fearfulness and recovery?
- When were the puppies and parents examined by an eye specialist, and what exact CEA findings were recorded?
- What is each parent’s MDR1 status, and does the mating involve merle?
Coat length alone should not decide the choice. Look for a litter whose health, temperament and everyday behaviour across the wider family can be checked.
¶Characteristics
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Breed Type | Purebred |
| Aggressiveness | 1/5 |
| Child Friendly | 5/5 |
| Energy | 5/5 |
| Hair Shedding | 5/5 |
| Health | 4/5 |
| Intelligence | 5/5 |
| Grooming Needs | 3/5 |
| Learning Ability | 5/5 |
| Barking Level | 4/5 |
| Height | 51 – 61 cm |
| Weight | 16 – 34 kg |
| Life Expectancy | 14 – 16 years |
¶Frequently Asked Questions
Are Collies good family dogs and how do they behave around children?
They are typically gentle, affectionate and people focused, which makes them well suited to family life. Many are naturally protective and attentive to children, though their herding instincts can lead to nudging or circling, especially with running kids. Early training and supervision help channel those instincts into calm, appropriate behavior.
How much grooming does a Rough Collie really need compared to a Smooth Collie?
The Rough variety has a long double coat that benefits from thorough brushing at least several times a week to prevent mats and reduce shedding. Smooth coats are shorter and generally easier to maintain, but they still shed heavily and need regular brushing. Both types blow coat seasonally, so owners should be prepared for noticeable hair around the home.
How much exercise does a Collie need each day?
Most adults do well with 60 to 90 minutes of daily exercise split into walks, play and mental enrichment. They are active and agile rather than hyper, so a mix of moderate physical activity and brain work keeps them satisfied. Under exercised dogs may become vocal, restless or develop unwanted habits.
What are the most common health problems in Collies?
They are prone to several inherited conditions, including Collie Eye Anomaly, progressive retinal atrophy, hip dysplasia and certain autoimmune issues. Many also carry the MDR1 gene mutation, which affects how they process specific medications. Responsible breeders screen for these problems, and owners should discuss testing and safe drug use with their veterinarian.
What is the MDR1 gene in Collies and how does it affect medications?
MDR1 is a genetic mutation that alters how some herding breeds handle certain drugs, including some dewormers, anti‑diarrheals and chemotherapy agents. Affected dogs may suffer serious neurological reactions if given unsafe doses. A simple DNA test can determine your dog’s status so your veterinarian can choose appropriate medications.
Are Collies easy to train and what training challenges are typical for this breed?
They are usually intelligent, eager to please and sensitive to their handler, which makes positive reinforcement training very effective. Their sensitivity means harsh corrections can quickly undermine confidence and trust. Some individuals can be easily distracted by movement due to herding instincts, so impulse control and focus work are important.
Do Collies bark a lot and can barking be controlled?
They are naturally vocal watchdogs and many will alert bark at unfamiliar people, animals or sounds. Without guidance, this can escalate into nuisance barking, particularly in busy neighborhoods. Early training, adequate exercise and teaching a reliable quiet cue go a long way toward managing noise levels.
Can a Collie live happily in an apartment or small home?
It is possible if daily exercise and mental stimulation are prioritized and the dog is not left alone for very long periods. They are usually calm indoors once their needs are met, but their size, shedding and vocal tendencies can be challenging in close quarters. Access to nearby walking areas and a consistent routine is important.
How do Collies typically get along with other dogs and pets?
They are often sociable with other dogs when well socialized, though some can be reserved or slightly bossy. With smaller pets, their herding instincts may lead to chasing or circling, so introductions should be supervised and managed. Early exposure and clear boundaries usually result in peaceful multi‑pet households.
What is the difference between a Rough Collie and the dogs seen in Lassie compared to modern show lines?
The Lassie type is based on the Rough variety, though many modern show lines have more abundant coats and sometimes heavier bone than historical working dogs. Today there is a spectrum from high‑coat show dogs to more moderate, performance oriented lines. Prospective owners should discuss coat care, activity level and structure with breeders to find the type that fits their lifestyle.¶Comparisons with other breeds
Compare Collie with other breeds and see the differences in temperament, activity level, and care to make a confident choice. Show all comparisons
