Shetland Sheepdog vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison

Shetland Sheepdog vs Australian Collie - Breed ComparisonShetland Sheepdog is originated from United Kingdom but Australian Collie is originated from Australia. Both Shetland Sheepdog and Australian Collie are having almost same height. Shetland Sheepdog may weigh 13 kg / 28 pounds lesser than Australian Collie. Shetland Sheepdog may live 4 years less than Australian Collie. Both Shetland Sheepdog and Australian Collie has same litter size. Both Shetland Sheepdog and Australian Collie requires Moderate maintenance.

History

shetland sheepdog - historyThe Shetland Sheepdog was crossed with working collies and brought to the islands. They were bred on the Shetland Islands, United Kingdom.

These little dogs have always been particularly valuable to farmers who used them to herd their sheep.

During the early 20th century other crosses occurred an in 1909 and the little dog received recognition by the English Kennel Club. The first Sheltie to be registered by the American Kennel Club was in 1911.

australian collie - historyThe Koolie, as a breed we know today, originates from Australia. But, before they were breed and imported, they were the mix made of Britain smooth coated blue merle Collie and the Black and Tan Collie from the Highlands of Scotland. The Koolie came to Australia to work as a kennel dog since they are known as the working, farm dog that can adapt to any weather condition. They were bred to be agile and non-aggressive quiet herding dogs, and they have kept most of those good characteristics until today.

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Herding dogs
Origin:
United Kingdom
Australia
Height Male:
33 - 41 cm
12 - 17 inches
36 - 40 cm
14 - 16 inches
Height Female:
33 - 41 cm
12 - 17 inches
36 - 40 cm
14 - 16 inches
Weight Male:
6 - 12 kg
13 - 27 pounds
15 - 25 kg
33 - 56 pounds
Weight Female:
6 - 12 kg
13 - 27 pounds
15 - 25 kg
33 - 56 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 14 Years
12 - 18 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 6
4 - 6
Size:
Small dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Sheltie
Australian Koolie, German Koolie, German Coolie
Colors Available:
Mix of colors - golden, black or a steel grey color with white
red or blue patterned merle; some of them are born as one colored, usually red/chocolate or black. When they have two colors, they are red and white, black and white, black and tan, red and tan. Tricolor Collie is merle, with tan points and a white chest.
Coat:
Long and thick
smooth and short or short and rough; double coated or single coated. Some of them have longer coat their legs or without.
Shedding:
Moderate, Seasonal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Social
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

shetland sheepdog puppy - descriptionThe small Shetland Sheepdog stands at between 33 to 41cm and weighs roughly between 6 and 12kg for both males and females. The long double coat of this dog sheds consistently, he will need to be brushed regularly.

The coat is golden, black or a steel grey color with white. The ears are erect and the tail long and feathery and the expression on this dogs face is sensitive, alert and gentle.

Temperament:

Shelties make wonderful pets for their human families and are great with children too. They’re protective, making good watchdogs. They are somewhat wary around strangers.

Smart and alert, you can train this little dog plenty of tricks because he is quick to learn. They’re such agile little dogs and are great athletes. It’s always a good idea to keep such a smart little dog busy so he doesn’t become bored.

He is able to adjust to life in the city or the countryside, so long as he is kept busy, otherwise he takes to a piercing kind of bark.

australian collie puppy - descriptionKoolie is a medium bred. Their head is small, with a pointy jaw. Ears are pricked, semi-dropped or dropped. Their coat can be smooth or rough, short or medium length, always with the undercoat. The colours can be Red or Blue Merle, solid Red or Black, sometimes with minimal white or cream speckles. They are usually two-coloured or tricoloured, but some of them are actually one-coloured.

Some Koolie have one or two blue, green or yellow eyes. Eye colour is, of course, affected by the gene that creates the coat pattern and eye colour as well.

They are athletic dogs, with fine bone structure but great stamina. Actually, they were breed to be like that – to work hard, be noticeable among the sheep, eat little and be loyal to one person.

Characteristics

shetland sheepdog dog - characteristicsYou’re certainly not going to have one dull moment with the Shetland sheepdog – its such a lively, intelligent, entertaining, playful and also eager to please - that's your Sheltie.

They also have a gentle, quiet side. They love the company of their human family and are able to adapt to life in the city or countryside, so long as he gets lots of attention and exercise.

They’re highly strung dogs, and an excitable child can get them barking in a high pitched way which wont be good if you live close to your neighbors.

Shelties are essentially peaceful dogs who prefer a home where its quiet and orderly. If you give this dog what it needs, just like you would for any family member of yours, you’ll be blessed with an awesome pet and companion.

Around children

australian collie dog - characteristicsKoolie is naturally energetic, playful and affectionate so they are naturally very good to raise with children.

Special talents

They are known as great obedience dog. They are very famous as the tracking dogs.

Some of them are successful as the rescue dogs, therapy dogs or educators for school children.

Adaptability

This is not a type of dog that will be alone in the house, wait for you and then be quiet while you rest. They need a great deal of activity and they are not such great choice for indoor life anyways. The best thing for them would be the large yard, with somebody home most of the time. They are great if raised in a family, with children and active owners. They will be great for a loner at the farm as well since that is in their blood. They need enough place to run, chase, play, rest on the sun and be active as they please. They get affectionate towards their families, but they will be accepting their new home when they are older just fine.

Learning ability

They are very good at learning. Intelligent, yes, but yet very silly and playful to do what is told all the time. They will surprise you with how quickly they will pick up the new trick but not feeling like doing it every time you would like them to. Everything is a play for them, so it would be best if you know how to play, be affectionate and friendly to become a good owner of this breed.

Health Problems

shetland sheepdog puppies - health problemsEvery dog, no matter how healthy, can succumb to any one of the many dog illnesses there are.Some of the dog illnesses to look out for include cancer, bloat, ear infections, dental problems, hypothyroidism, skin allergies and obesity among others.

Hypothyroidism:

This illness occurs when the dog’s body doesn’t maintain sufficient levels of thyroid hormones. Your pet will be sensitive to the cold, the thick hair will be thinning and there will be weight gain. It will be wise to have your dog checked out by your vet as this is an ailment which can be managed with medication.

Collie Eye Anomaly:

This is an inherited condition that can lead to blindness in some dogs. It can occur in both eyes. It can be diagnosed by your vet but regrettably there is no treatment. Not spaying or neutering your dog will mean that if the have puppies the gene can be carried down to the puppies.

Dermatomyositis:

This is an inherited disorder that can cause skin lesions but also affect the muscles. Skin lesions can appear on the head and the front legs and there can be hair loss.

australian collie puppies - health problemsIf you are careful enough, you will choose your Koolie form patiently chosen breeders, after checking the health history of the pup and the pup’s family. Advisable is to do these things in person and never to buy a Koolie from a pet shop.

Sometimes, pups can be born blind or deaf pups. They have the great chance of joint problems because of their extreme activity. Their need to run, jump and play all the time may result in damage to cartilage and ligaments, especially since they are not aware of their age most of the time.

There is a chance that pup has skin allergies or immune system issues if they are growing on a farm near the chemicals used for plants, so be careful what kind of herbicide you use if you have a Collie.

In some rare cases, they suffer from seizers. If untreated, they can cause death. If you decide to take him to a regular vet check, you will have a happy and playful life together.

Caring The Pet

Exercise:

shetland sheepdog dogs - caringThese little dogs have always been farm dogs and they will need a lot of exercise. Even so, with their small size, they can adapt to life in the city or the countryside, but will always need exercise.They love going for walks and playing games with the kids.

Grooming:

Your Sheltie will need brushing every day because the hair can so easily pick up leaves, twigs and burrs. In the warmer months some people prefer to trim the coat themselves or take the dog along to a professional groomer.

Diet:

It is best to feed adult dogs two meals a day instead of one. One can make your dog want to gobble up his food too quickly and this can result in a life threatening condition known as bloat.

How much any adult dog eats will depend on his size, his age and his activity levels.The quality of dog food you buy also makes a huge difference – the better quality the food, the more satisfied your Sheltie will be.

Some of the best commercially manufactured dog foods are convenient and they can be good if you go with the best brands that have high levels of vitamins and minerals in them. Dry kibble can be made more enticing when you add some homemade food into it.

Boiled chicken, sweet potatoes, brown rice or pasta, carrots and spinach will do him the world of good. Chop it up and add small portions to the kibble about twice a week. His wagging tail and prancing antics will be all the thanks you need.

Some raw meat added in occasionally will also contribute to your pet’s heath. Make sure he is never without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Feeding the puppy and adult

australian collie dogs - caringWhether you choose canned food or dry food, treats as biscuits or left-overs, the quantity is the safest way of keeping the balanced diet for your Collie. They like raw meat and raw bones. Make sure not to feed them with cooked bones because they can do more harm than good.

Grooming

Since Koolie coat can be very short with the undercoat or a bit longer with undercoat, bristle brushing every 3 or 4 days will be enough for them. Some of them like the water and some of them don’t and that is perfectly fine since there is no need for a regular bath.

Points for Good Health

Lots of activities and lots of love. They express their love all the time and you can learn a lot from them actually. They like raw bones and from-the-table delicious treats but make sure not to overfeed them.

The best type of activity

Games that need them to be fast and think quickly. Running with them, driving a bike with them (but not on the leash!) would be a great fun for them. Why not leash? They are so playful and happy and they tend to jump and run to the side to chase a butterfly or catch the falling leaf.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Shetland Sheepdog vs Corgi - Breed Comparison
  2. Shetland Sheepdog vs American Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  3. Shetland Sheepdog vs Miniature Australian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  4. Shetland Sheepdog vs Cardigan Welsh Corgi - Breed Comparison
  5. Toy Australian Shepherd vs Shetland Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  6. Welsh Corgi vs Shetland Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  7. Shetland Sheepdog vs Pomeranian - Breed Comparison
  8. Shetland Sheepdog vs Maltese - Breed Comparison
  9. Shetland Sheepdog vs Pug - Breed Comparison
  10. Shetland Sheepdog vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison
  11. Shetland Sheepdog vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  12. Shetland Sheepdog vs Maltipoo - Breed Comparison
  13. Shetland Sheepdog vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  14. Shetland Sheepdog vs Bichon Frise - Breed Comparison
  15. Shetland Sheepdog vs Dachshund - Breed Comparison
  16. Shetland Sheepdog vs Jack Russell Terrier - Breed Comparison
  17. Shetland Sheepdog vs Cockapoo - Breed Comparison
  18. Shetland Sheepdog vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  19. Shetland Sheepdog vs Cavapoo - Breed Comparison
  20. Shetland Sheepdog vs Miniature Schnauzer - Breed Comparison
  21. Shetland Sheepdog vs Cavachon - Breed Comparison
  22. Shetland Sheepdog vs Mal-Shi - Breed Comparison
  23. Shetland Sheepdog vs Papillon - Breed Comparison
  24. Pembroke Welsh Corgi vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  25. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  26. Bearded Collie vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  27. Collie vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  28. Dutch Shepherd vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  29. Blue Healer vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  30. English Shepherd vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  31. Australian Collie vs Australian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  32. Australian Collie vs Australian Cattle Dog - Breed Comparison
  33. Australian Collie vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  34. Australian Collie vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  35. Catahoula Cur vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  36. Catalan Sheepdog vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  37. Pyrenean Shepherd vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  38. Bergamasco vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  39. Berger Picard vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  40. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  41. Queensland Heeler vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  42. German Coolie vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  43. Bohemian Shepherd vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  44. Croatian Sheepdog vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  45. Red Heeler vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  46. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervuren) vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  47. Blue Lacy vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  48. New Zealand Huntaway vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds