Smooth Collie vs Schnoodle - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

When you see the Smooth Collie you just assume that you’re looking at a long-haired Lassie-type Collie that was sent to the groomers.

The Smooth Collie has always been used for herding purposes and is a short haired version of the Rough Collie. The early history of this dog is unknown and there are quite a few stories surrounding its history.

It seems as though the dog’s history started during the reign of Queen Victoria who is believed to have owned these dogs.

In some countries it is thought that the smooth- and rough collie are one and the same while in other countries they are classified as separate breeds. The dog hails from the United Kingdom and they classify the Smooth Collie as a separate breed from the Rough Collie.

The Schnoodle was developed in the 1980s. It is believed the dog originates from the USA. This was when it was discovered that breeding the poodle with other dogs produced excellent mixes.

The idea with the Schnoodle was to develop a low-shedding dog. The Schnoodle is a mix between a Schnauzer and a Poodle,but because both the Poodle ad Schnauzer have different sizes, there is no knowing what size the Schnoodle will be.

Major kennels don’t recognize the Schnoodle as a breed.

The Smooth Collie is a medium to large sized dog, ranging in size from 51–56cm and weighing anything from 18kg to 30kg.

The Smooth Collie is slightly longer than it is tall and he has a deep chest. Most people are very familiar with the sweet, gentle expression of the Collie dogs.

The dog also has the long slender head, the semi-erect ears and a long tail. The coat of the Smooth Collie is dense and long with the outer hair being straight and harsh. The Smooth Collie comes in different colors – fawn, reddish brown, white,grey, black and tan.

Temperament:

The Smooth Collie is generally an amicable dog, sociable and friendly. He loves his human family and wants to be constantly with them, showing signs of separation anxiety when left for long periods on his own.

He is intelligent too so that he is easily trained. He is totally non-aggressive but that doesn’t stop him from being an excellent watchdog and he’ll alert you to strangers approaching you or your home.

They’re also energetic dogs and will require regular exercise. Although these Smooth Collies make splendid family pets, they are still used for herding purposes.

The Schnoodle is a cross between a poodle and a schnauzer and with the poodle parent in the mix, the dog is considered to be hypoallergenic.

Because there are three sizes of Schnauzer, the Schnoodle can be medium sized but also fairly large. Weight of this dog can be anything from 6 to 45 Kg and he can stand at between 38cm to 66cm. The coat can be either wavy, straight or curly and will need to be brushed, stripped or clipped according to the coat they have.

The most common coat colors are grey, a mix of grey, silver and white, a fawn or creamish color and black. The medium sized ears are floppy.

Temperament:

Because this is a mixed breed you won’t get a fixed personality type and you won't find fixed looks. Because the dog comes from two excellent parent breeds, you can expect your schnoodle to be friendly, alert and very active.

They may not take readily to kids so it is up to the human owners to see that their children are brought up to be kind and respectful to dogs and animals. Your Schnoodle can be gentle too and stubborn but he will bond closely with his human family.

The smallish size of these dogs makes it a good choice for city or country life, but wherever he is, he will need lots of exercise. Schnoodles are smart and respond well to training.

The Smooth Collie ticks all the right boxes for making a splendid pet.

Not only is he intelligent, he is playful and energetic too, making a good pet for children and tolerating other pets too.

Add to that the fact that he is a a good watchdog and wants to protect his family. Sweet and gentle, the Smooth Collie is guaranteed to make a wonderful addition to your family.

Thanks to their parents, Schnauzer cross Poodles are smart, easy to train and fast learners.

Schnoodles are also fun-loving dogs, and they make great playmates for children. They are also a good choice for first time dog owners. A bonus part for dog owners is that these dogs are low shedding, making them great for anyone who suffers from allergies.

The Schnoodle forms strong bonds with their human family and this makes them both protector and watchdog. He is a great family dog with some excellent characteristics from each of the parent dog breeds involved.

Your gentle smooth haired collie can live to be 12 to 14 years of age if he enjoys a good life, but like with other dog breeds, they can also be susceptible to certain common dog illnesses.

Collie Eye Anomaly:

This is when the chromosomes that determine how the eyes develop are mutated, so that the blood vessels that nourish the retina and absorb scattered light are underdeveloped. When this mutation occurs it is in both eyes, but one eye could be more severely affected than the other.

Your vet will do a complete examination of your dog’s eyes to find out what the extent of the defect is.

Bloat or Gastric Dilatation Volvulus:

This is a life threatening problem where the stomach twists. It is more prevalent in deep chested dogs. It can help by feeding your dog two smaller meals a day instead of one larger one which he gobbles up quickly.

Cyclic Neutropenia:

Also known as Gray Collie Syndrome, this rare disease affects the neutrophils of a dog, which are an important part of the immune system. Bacterial infections and a shortened lifespan are your dog’s lot with this illness.

The Schnoodle is a robust, healthy breed, but unfortunately he can also succumb to any one of the many dog illnesses there are -

Progressive Retinal Atrophy:

This refers to an eye disease which results in the deterioration of the retina. Your dog develops night blindness and this can lead to total blindness. Unfortunately there is no cure.

Epilepsy:

It can be horrible seeing your pet jerking and twisting out of control with seizures. You will need to get your pet to the vet as epilepsy can be a symptom of a bigger issue.

Bloat:

This is a life threatening disease where your dog’s stomach fills with gas and becomes hard and swollen. The stomach can twist. Symptoms of bloat include restlessness, drooling and trying to vomit.

Diet:

Your Smooth Collie deserves the very best food there is because of the wonderful companionship he provides you with. You want him to enjoy good health and a long life with you.

If you buy one of the commercially manufactured dog foods, make sure it is one of the best – packed with vitamins and minerals and good, natural ingredients.

Follow the instructions on the packaging for portion sizes. Also include some plain, wholesome dog food made at home. The perfect example of this is boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and sweet potatoes, spinach and carrots all chopped up and added to your dog’s dry kibble as a treat twice a week. No need to add in exotic spices. Avoid onions.

Try and include some raw meat into the diet once in a while too. Make sure your Smooth Collie has a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Spay or Neuter:

This is one of the best things you can do for your Collie, eliminating the possibility of your pet becoming a parent of unwanted puppies.

Grooming:

Brush your Smooth Collie twice a week. He is a moderate shedder but has a couple of heavier shedding periods.

While brushing your pet, check inside the ears for signs of infection, check that his eyes are still bright and alert and check inside his mouth for bad teeth. He can’t tell you about a rotting tooth and this can cause a host of other problems for your dog.

Exercise:

The Schnoodle is a dog that will need a good dose of exercise. Provide him with daily walks, walks in the park, hikes, runs along the beach as well as ball and rope games.

Diet:

Always try to feed your dog a high quality food. Many people give their dogs one of the commercially manufactured foods there are because they are wonderfully convenient, and you get some good ones.

You don’t want to give this food to your dog day after day after day. Feed him some home-made food occasionally which can be added to his dry kibble twice a week. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are a healthy choice for your pet.

You can boil it, chop it all up and add smaller portions to the dry kibble twice a week as a wonderful, tasty treat for your dogs.

Try and include some raw meat into the diet as this can help to fight of skin diseases. Ensure there is always a bowl of fresh, cool water for him.

Vaccines:

Make sure all the necessary vaccines are up to date to avoid some of the deadly canine diseases there are.