What is the difference between a sheltie and a collie?

Question

They look nearly the same to me, but what's the difference?

Answer 1

A sheltie is most assuredly NOT NOT NOT a "miniature collie"!!!!

The Shetland sheepdog developed completely independently of the collie on the Shetland Islands. The sheltie has a completely different set of standards, and a totally different personality.

The most noticable difference is size, with the Shetland sheepdog standard calling for 13-16 inches. The proper sheltie head should have two parrallel planes with a noticible stop. The sheltie is reserved with strangers but loyal and affectionate with their family. Sheltie colors include black, sable, and blue merle, all with varying amounts of white, and some with tan points. In other words, they can come in bi-colors, like black and white, or blue merle and white. Collies don't have the bi-color gene.

The collie head is to be light in comparison to size, and very slight stop. Collie size differentiates between males, who can be 24-26 inches, and females, which can be 22 to 24 inches. Collies come in sable & white, black, tan and white (tri-color), Blue merle with white and tan, and white with heads of any color above. Collies originated deep in the Scottish highlands.

Answer 2

Sheltie Collie

Answer 3

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They are completely 2 different dog breeds. A collie is large (Lassie) and Sheltie is actually a Shetland Sheepdog and much, much smaller. They get confused because they have the same coats, that come in the same colors and a Sheltie looks like a miniature Collie, but it is not. It is a Shetland Sheepdog...

Answer 4

Sheltie (AKA Shetland Sheepdog) LOOKS like a miniature Rough Collie (AKA Scottish Collie) but is actually a separate breed!
The Sheltie is believed to be descended from Scottish Collies that were brought to the Shetland Islands, then interbred with a smaller local dog, the Icelandic Yakkin.
Sheltie is 13-16" at the shoulders and 14-24#
Collie is going to be about 10" taller and can weigh up to 65#
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/collie.htm
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/shetlandsheepdog.htm
Both are very "barky" breeds and have high energy levels, as they are working dogs. If you don't have sheep (haha) they will herd other pets or children.

Answer 5

Their fur is not different colors.. I believe they can be the same color combinations. Shelties are much smaller. Collies are also a bit more of a "guarding" breed than a herder.. both are very intelligent and need mental stimulation and exercise to be happy. Shelties have a tendancy to be vocal ("yappy") if allowed to be, I'm not sure about collies. Collies are generally more calm than Shetlies, that can become skittiish without enough socialization.

Answer 6

Though they look similar, shelties are not minature collies. They are a totally different breed that developed from a different line of dogs. Both are herding breeds. Shetland Sheepdogs (shelties) were bred on the Shetland Islands - and were bred to be small and resistant to working in cold weather conditions and utilizing limited island resources. Collies were developed in Scotland and England. There are two types - the short-haired smooth collie and the more commonly known long-haired rough collie.

Answer 7

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RE:
What is the difference between a sheltie and a collie?
They look nearly the same to me, but what's the difference?

Answer 8

Thank you kitdrago and Jennifer T. I find it irritating when people refer to my Sheltie as a miniature Collie.

The Shetland Sheepdog, like the Collie, traces to the Border Collie of Scotland, which, transported to the Shetland Islands and crossed with small, intelligent, longhaired breeds, was reduced to miniature proportions. Subsequently crosses were made from time to time with Collies. This breed now bears the same relationship in size and general appearance to the Rough Collie as the Shetland Pony does to some of the larger breeds of horses. Although the resemblance between the Shetland Sheepdog and the Rough Collie is marked, there are differences which may be noted. The Shetland Sheepdog is a small, alert, rough-coated, longhaired working dog. He must be sound, agile and sturdy. The outline should be so symmetrical that no part appears out of proportion to the whole. Dogs should appear masculine; bitches feminine.

It you took a Shetland Sheepdog and blew it up to the size of a Rough Collie they would look nothing alike because the proportions would be all messed up.

Answer 9

Shelties are a lot smaller than collies.

Answer 10

Shelties are smaller. They are much, MUCH louder, but I'm pretty sure they are as intelligent as a collie. They will also nip at your heels, but Shelties are also playful and affectionate and will try to follow you around the house.