Collie

50-65 lbs
22-24"
Scotland, England Highlands
Collis, Colley, Coally

This dog breed was originally found in the Scotland Highland regions, Scottish Lowlands and areas of Northern England. Although today they are usually used as a pampered family friendly pet, these canines were originally used as herding dogs. Collies are known to be extremely intelligent and sensitive, and are said to possess an undying loyalty and the ability to know what it’s owner needs. Due to these wonderful personality traits, there exist many true stories about Collies coming to the rescue of people or animals who are in danger. There are two looks that can help you distinguish a Collie, which are a short coat, which is also called the smooth variety, and a full coat, which is called the rough variety. As long as your pet gets their required amount of exercise, they can adapt to any environment, finding happiness in both relaxing in their home and playing outside. Your Collie will still possess strong herding instincts and you may find them chasing or barking at cars and herding children or small animals, but always being calm and protective. These pets excel at many sports, including agility, lure coursing, herding trials and obedience. These beautiful dogs are usually quiet unless given a reason not to be, or if they are left alone for long periods of time. They are stunning dogs that can be white, tan, blue merle or tricolored.

purpose Purpose
Sheep herding
history Date of Origin
1800s
ancestry Ancestry
Collie, Sheepdog

Collie Health

Sketch of Collie
Average Size
Male Collie size stats
Height: 24-26 inches Weight: 60-75 lbs
Female Collie size stats
Height: 22-24 inches Weight: 50-65 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Collie Eye Anomaly
Minor Concerns
  • Allergies
  • Skin Problems
  • Dermatomyositis
  • Nasal Solar Dermatitis
Occasional Tests
  • Eye
  • Blood Test
  • (Dna Test For Pra)
  • Physical Examination
  • Allergy Tests

Collie Breed History

These stunning dogs were first found in the Highland Regions of Scotland. They used to vary greatly in looks, as their herding ability was more important than their appearance. Averaging around the size of today’s Border Collies, Collies were predominately black. Today, however, Collies have been bred and are now known for their signature coat and face structure. Collies were brought to Southern England by nomads in the stone age, which is where they became the tough and intelligent dogs that were used for herding sheep, pigs, goats and cattle. It is thought that two thousand years ago, the ancestors of Collies were introduced to the British Isles by Roman conquerors. These dogs were doomed for obscurity but were saved by Queen Victoria in 1860 when she brought some to England after she first saw them while visiting in Scotland. The first time that Collies were displayed at a dog show in the “Scotch Sheep-dogs” category was 1860 in Birmingham, England. The first of this breed was imported to the United States in 1879, and on August 26 of 1886, one of the oldest canine specialty clubs, the Collie Club of America, was created. Collies became particularly famous after one was featured in Lassie, a 1950s television series.

Collie Breed Appearance

There are two varieties of Collies; the Rough variety, which features a beautiful dog with a long coat that is shorter around the head and legs, making a mane around the neck and chest, and the Smooth variety, which has shorter fur. The Rough variety has a thick and rough outer coat with a soft undercoat that is extremely thick, so much that it is hard to find their skin when you part their fur. The Smooth variety also has a thick undercoat, but the outer coat is shorter and flat, while still very dense. They have many color types, including sable, tricolor (a black base with white markings and tan shading), white (which can include markings), and blue merle (a black and silvery blue color). They are lean and strong dogs, with arched eyebrows and skulls with flat tops. Their heads are chiseled and wedge-shaped with muzzles that are round, with a black nose and slight stop. They have teeth that meet with a scissor bite, and eyes that are almond shaped and medium sized, brown in color, except for blue merles who may have blue or different colored eyes. Collies have ears that are ¾ erect and have tips that fold forward. They have bodies that are a bit longer than their height, with long necks. They have long legs and a tail that will be held low and straight with a slight curl at the end.


Appearance of Collie
Eye Color Possibilities
brown Collie eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black Collie nose
Black
Coat Color Possibilities
black Collie coat
Black
sable Collie coat
Sable
blue Collie coat
Blue
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Collie straight coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Collie Breed Maintenance

These dogs are known for their thick and beautiful coats. The Rough variety of Collies will require more grooming and maintenance due to their longer coat, but Smooth Collies will benefit from regular brushing as well. Rough Collies will need to be brushed twice a week, and Smooth Collies will be fine with getting groomed once a week. Baths should be given when they are needed, which will be basically once every six to eight weeks. You should check their ears for dirt, odor or redness once a week and trim their nails every month. Collies should have their teeth brushed at least two or three times per week to prevent bad odor and to get rid of bacteria and buildup. This breed is not hypoallergenic and will shed moderately. They are typically not droolers and should not be smelly. It will be wise to perform a quick at home checkup each week to look for any swelling, tenderness, redness or other abnormalities. This will help you catch any illnesses or injuries before they can become a problem.

Brushes for Collie
Pin Brush
Pin Brush
Comb
Comb
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Collie requires weekly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Collie Temperament

Collies are said to be extraordinarily protective and loyal towards their family, especially children. They can be playful but kind, sweet and gentle, and therefore are great with younger kids and smaller pets. Although they are calm, Collies can sometimes become suspicious of strangers, even more so if they approach any young children of their family. They perform well as watch dogs, as they will bark at any strangers but will not become aggressive. These smart pets are known to be good assistance and therapy dogs. Because of their high intelligence levels, Collies are easy to train and quick to learn. They are also talented at dog sports like agility, lure coursing, herding trials and obedience. These dogs can adapt to most home environments as long as they can get enough exercise. A daily walk and some play time in the yard will be enough to keep them happy. They are very family oriented, and will want to be around their people. This means that they can’t be left outside alone in the backyard all day. Temperament is defined by the dog’s inheritance, socialization and training. To ensure that your Collie grows into a calm, kind and well-rounded dog, expose them to various people and scenarios when they are young. It is important to keep your Collie occupied and to challenge them mentally, as they tend to bark excessively if bored or frustrated. Letting them participate in family activities and sports will keep them quiet and content.

Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
10 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
45 minutes
activity minutes

Collie Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
3.2 cups
cup per day cost cup per day cost cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$1.50 - $1.90
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$39.00 - $52.00
food bag monthly cost

Collie Height & Weight

6 Months
Sketch of Collie at six months
Male Collie size stats at six months
Height: 16.5 inches Weight: 37.5 lbs
Female Collie size stats at six months
Height: 15.5 inches Weight: 30.0 lbs
12 Months
Sketch of Collie at 12 months
Male Collie size stats at 12 months
Height: 20.5 inches Weight: 52.5 lbs
Female Collie size stats at 12 months
Height: 19.0 inches Weight: 45.0 lbs
18 Months
Sketch of Collie at 18 months
Male Collie size stats at 18 months
Height: 25.0 inches Weight: 67.5 lbs
Female Collie size stats at 18 months
Height: 23.0 inches Weight: 57.5 lbs

Top Collie Breeders

Check out who made our list for the most reputable Collie breeders of 2024.
Top Collie breeder Sunway Presentation
Sunway Presentation
Sophia, North Carolina
Top Collie breeder Avalon Collies and Training Center
Avalon Collies and Training Center
New Providence, Pennsylvania
Top Collie breeder SnoValley Collies
SnoValley Collies
Issaquah, Washington
Top Collie breeder Overland Collies
Overland Collies
Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Top Collie breeder Rimba Collies
Rimba Collies
Hillsboro, Oregon
Top Collie breeder Clearvu Kennels
Clearvu Kennels
Coxsackie, New York
Top Collie breeder Showboat Collies
Showboat Collies
Bush, Louisiana
Top Collie breeder Lakewinds Bulldogs & Collies
Lakewinds Bulldogs & Collies
Newtown, Connecticut
Top Collie breeder Jem's Collies
Jem's Collies
Star, North Carolina
Top Collie breeder Glenelg Collies
Glenelg Collies
Nine Mile Falls, Washington

Collie Owner Experiences

bloush
14 Months
2 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
he is very clever & teach very fast but his Commandability is low because he is very selfish... I love him...
3 years, 3 months ago
Marceline
20 Months
3 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walks
training
tasking
Public Access
Marceline is honestly the best dog Ive owned. She has been trained as a service dog and is my ultimate lifeline. I can see why they are considered the 'fab four'
3 years, 4 months ago
Beau
2 Years
5 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Running, walking, relaxing
Walk
Run
My family loves our Collie. He's smart, active, house trained and very obedient. He loves his family. A great prorector.
6 years, 12 months ago
5 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Playing
petting
Collies love affection and exploring outside. They are very sweet. Never had any behavioral problems with them.
6 years, 11 months ago
10 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
The two collies I have walked were older, low energy but enjoyed walking and collecting smells. Their long, fluffy hair requires frequent grooming.
6 years, 11 months ago
6 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Collies are mild mannered and easy dogs to walk. Depending on how they are groomed they may get over heated in the summer and don’t necessarily want to stop walking, but they like water breaks. They are very trainable and listen on command . Collies are good with children and affectionate.
6 years, 11 months ago
4 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Collies are exceptionally smart dogs. They are one of the fastest learners. However, if a collie feels that your command is not appropriate, it will do as it think is best because they are very independent thinkers as well. If you remember that TV show, Lassie, that dog knew when Tommy needs her help and acted independently. Collies love intellectual activities most.
6 years, 11 months ago
Lilly
3 Years
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
She is very smart and only needs mild correction heavy makes her withdraw and sad She loves to watch over her cocker brother and sister mild correction at times for nipping heading them
6 years, 9 months ago
5 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walking
Eating Snacks
Laying in the sun
She was so beautiful! I couldn't believe I was seeing such a beautiful dog. She was super friendly when I walked into the house and she wanted to play with her toys. When I told her we were going to go on a walk she was crazy excited. It was an hour long walk and hot out that day. So whenever she got a chance to go into the shade she went for it. She would lay down in the shade for a little bit before moving along. She was sad when we got back to the house for good, but she had a great time. The good thing about her was she didn't eat anything off the ground like most dogs do! Thank goodness for that!
6 years, 11 months ago
3 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Leo was his name a real sweet dog. He was really timid at first but quickly understood that we were going to have fun. He really enjoyed finding and chewing sticks. He had a beautiful coat. We jogged walked for almost 2 miles in the thirty minute time frame.
6 years, 11 months ago
5 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
runnig
snow
Collies, or Lassies as I call them are very loyal dogs. They are happy go lucky, intelligent, friendly , sweet tempered, have lots of endurance, etc...The list of positives goes on and on! This collie mix I walked was very big and very fluffy. She was absolutely beautiful and so so obedient. She would walk by my side and not pull like most dogs. She would also glance at me periodically to see what I wanted her to do and to make sure I was ok during the walk. What lucky owners to have such an amazing dog! She was truly textbook perfect during the duration of the walk. She did not pull, she was friendly with other dogs, obeyed her commands, did not pick up food off the ground, did not jump on other people, did not chase after small animals and came back home without protesting. This sounds like a dream dog that doesn't exist, but it was real I tell you! I am so thankful to have gotten to walk a sweet dog like her. I imagine she would protect her owners and go to the ends of the earth for them. Probably strangers as well. I would say they are one of the best, if not THE best dog breeds around. Labrador and golden retrievers, eat your hearts out! Oh, did I mention she was not a big barker? I bet she would only bark to alert to danger or something, like Lassie in the show. During our walk, it was heavily snowing and she did not seem to get affected by the cold, probably because of her very long and dense fur coat she had on. Once we arrived at a nearby park, she started getting more playful and loosening up a bit. She started rolling around and jumping back and forth like a giddy puppy. She was also picking up sticks, bringing them to me than running away before I could grab them. She was very energetic at this point and I let her have a great snow day. We both had an excellent time and had enough energy to jog back through the snow much to the amusement and amazement of the people shoveling their drive ways. Overall this breed is the best and is very easy to train and wants to listen to their humans. I definitely am considering getting a Collie in the very near future.
6 years, 10 months ago
4 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
runn
Collies, or Lassies as I call them are very loyal dogs. They are happy go lucky, intelligent, friendly , sweet tempered, have lots of endurance, etc...The list of positives goes on and on! This collie mix I walked was very big and very fluffy. She was absolutely beautiful and so so obedient. She would walk by my side and not pull like most dogs. She would also glance at me periodically to see what I wanted her to do and to make sure I was ok during the walk. What lucky owners to have such an amazing dog! She was truly textbook perfect during the duration of the walk. She did not pull, she was friendly with other dogs, obeyed her commands, did not pick up food off the ground, did not jump on other people, did not chase after small animals and came back home without protesting. This sounds like a dream dog that doesn't exist, but it was real I tell you! I am so thankful to have gotten to walk a sweet dog like her. I imagine she would protect her owners and go to the ends of the earth for them. Probably strangers as well. I would say they are one of the best, if not THE best dog breeds around. Labrador and golden retrievers, eat your hearts out! Oh, did I mention she was not a big barker? I bet she would only bark to alert to danger or something, like Lassie in the show. During our walk, it was heavily snowing and she did not seem to get affected by the cold, probably because of her very long and dense fur coat she had on. Once we arrived at a nearby park, she started getting more playful and loosening up a bit. She started rolling around and jumping back and forth like a giddy puppy. She was also picking up sticks, bringing them to me than running away before I could grab them. She was very energetic at this point and I let her have a great snow day. We both had an excellent time and had enough energy to jog back through the snow much to the amusement and amazement of the people shoveling their drive ways. Overall this breed is the best and is very easy to train and wants to listen to their humans. I definitely am considering getting a Collie in the very near future.
6 years, 10 months ago
lassy
11 Years
5 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
feeding
I have prety good experience. She realy likes ham
6 years, 5 months ago
Jenny
4 Years
5 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
laying in her favorite chai
Run
going on walks
Jenny is a great dog. I have always loved Rough sable collies. Jenny is very hyper. Every time you say Walk she will start walking back and forth barking
5 years, 11 months ago
Benson
2 Years
2 People
Condo
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Camping
Hiking
swimming
Benson is my first (rough) collie. He is by far the easiest dog I have ever owned. Very, very mellow, intelligent, gentle, but also up for anything if I ask and can be a little clown at times. He can be aloof with strangers sometimes but generally loves everyone and anything, yet he is very protective when he needs to be
4 years, 10 months ago
Book me a walkiee?
Pweeeze!
Sketch of smiling australian shepherd