Most people are familiar with the long-haired, sable-colored collie, made famous worldwide thanks to the popular 1950s series Lassie. But there are still those who don’t know that this isn’t the only type of collie dog.
How many types of collies are there in all? How can I differentiate them? Keep reading below to learn all this and more…
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What are the types of collie dogs?
The International Cynological Federation (FCI) and kennel clubs around the world recognize 4 types of collie:
- Long-haired or rough-haired collie (rough collie)
- Short-haired or smooth-haired collie (smooth collie)
- Bearded collie
- Border collie
The long-haired collie and the short-haired collie are varieties within the same breed, that is, the collie breed; but the bearded collie and the border collie are two separate breeds. All of them belong to the group of shepherds or herd dogs.
Long or rough-haired collie
This is the dog that almost everyone recognizes when talking about collies. Its abundant fur, except on the head and legs, is the longest of all types.
The outer coat is straight and thick to the touch, while the undercoat is soft and fluffy. The hairs of the undercoat are so close together that it is difficult to see the skin when they are separated.
Some long-haired collies may have slightly wavy coats, but this is considered a breach of the breed standard.
A collie is always distinguished by its upright and firm posture. Your body is synonymous with elegance, pride, and balance.
Beyond their beauty, these dogs are characterized by having soft, calm, sociable, and very sensitive personalities. The collie is an intelligent and sweet dog, ideal for homes with other pets and children.
Short-haired or smooth collie
This dog is still the same collie breed, but unlike his brother, he has a short, smooth, dense coat with a rich undercoat. A short-haired collie bitch can produce long-haired specimens in her litter and vice versa.
According to some insiders, the smooth-coated variety is said to be a bit closer to the roots of the breed, so it tends to require more exercise and mental stimulation than the rough-coated variety.
Likewise, it is known that short-haired specimens are usually more athletic and agile, with a marked instinct for work.
His high intelligence, coupled with his willingness to work and learn, makes him a very easy type of collie to train. Mind you, he can become stubborn and disobedient if he doesn’t receive regular training.
- Origin of the collie: United Kingdom
- Breed type: pure
- Life expectancy: 14-16 years
- Temperament: friendly, kind, intelligent, loyal, protective, sensitive, sociable
- Height : males (61-66 cm), females (56-61 cm)
- Weight : males (27-34 kg), females (23-29 kg)
- Hypo-allergenic: No
Long-haired and short-haired collies are the most representative types of collies. Both are variations of the same breed, hence they must conform to the same standard. Long-haired specimens are more common than their short-coated brothers.
Bearded collie
Bearded collies, also known as beardies or Highland collies, get their name from the look of their facial hair.
These specimens exhibit a layer of long hair that starts from the bridge of the nose and falls on both sides of the face, forming a beard that covers the lips and cheeks.
Similarly, its long and abundant double-layered fur falls in straight lines on both sides of the body, extending to the end of the legs. The outer layer is smooth and hard, while the inner layer is soft and fluffy.
This is a medium-sized collie. His build is long and slender; Although it is a strong dog, it does not have a heavy appearance. The inquisitive expression on his face is a distinctive trait of the breed.
- Origin of the bearded collie: United Kingdom
- Breed type: pure
- Life expectancy: 12-14 years
- Temperament: active, alert, intelligent, lively, self-confident
- Height : 51-56cm
- Weight : 18-27kg
- Hypo-allergenic: No
Border collie
Based on their coat characteristics, border collies are usually separated into two sub-types, the smooth-haired border collie and the coarse-haired border collie. The two variants are accepted by the breed standard.
In both cases, the dog exhibits a fluffy, weather-resistant double coat. The outer coat is straight or slightly wavy, with a coarser texture than that of the undercoat.
This for its part, is soft, short, and dense. The length of the coat in specimens with rough hair can vary, but without becoming excessively long.
The Border Collie is an athletic, medium-sized, well-balanced dog. His posture denotes grace, power, agility. The robust and muscular body gives the impression of resistance and effortless movements. These characteristics make it a great working and herding dog.
In fact, many describe the Border Collie as the “workaholic of the canine world.”
- Origin of the border collie: United Kingdom, Scotland
- Breed type: pure
- Life expectancy: 12-15 years
- Temperament: intelligent, energetic, alert, sensitive, tenacious, loyal, protective
- Height: males (48-56 cm), females (46-53 cm)
- Weight: males (14-20 kg), females (12-19 kg)
- Hypo-allergenic: No
Recommended: What are the Types of Border Collies? Characteristics and Differences
11 Dogs that look like collies
There are some dogs that, due to their origin, purpose, or appearance, are often confused and included in the group of collie breeds. They are:
- Australian pastor
- Australian cattle dog
- Miniature American Sheepdog
- Belgian shepherd or shepherd
- Brie Shepherd
- Welsh shepherd
- Bobtail or Old English Sheepdog
- Koolie
- McNab dog or McNab collie
- Icelandic shepherd
- Shetland Sheepdog or Sheltie
Note. The numbers in each image correspond to the number they occupy in the list above.
The latter, the Shetland Sheepdog or Miniature Collie, is very similar to the Long-Haired Collie. But contrary to popular belief, the Sheltie is a separate breed and was not bred through selective breeding from the Rough Collie. It is said to be the result of crossbreeding between various breeds, including the Border Collie, the Old Scottish Collie, the King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, and even the Pomeranian.
What color can the different types of collies be?
1. Long-haired and short-haired collies
- Sable (very light gold to dark reddish-brown)
- Tricolor (black with white and tan markings)
- Blue merle or blue merle and white
- White (predominantly white with markings of another color)
There may also be specimens with sable merle fur (sable-colored coat and blue or combined eyes).
2. Bearded Collie
- Black
- Blue
- Brown
- Fawn
All Bearded Collies are born black, blue, brown, or fawn, with or without white markings. As they mature, the coat may begin to lighten; this is why a black-bearded collie can turn gray or silver over time.
If the white color occurs, it only appears on the face as a glow, on the skull, on the tip of the tail, on the chest, the legs, and around the neck.
Tan markings may occasionally appear on the eyebrows, inside the ears, on the cheeks, under the base of the tail, and on the legs.
3. Border collie
- Black
- Blue
- Mottled
- Golden
- Lilac
- Red
- Saber
Border collie dogs can come in a wide variety of colors, color combinations, and/or markings. Of course, the white color should never prevail.
