A lot of people I know always call my Sheltie a Collie but in reality the two breeds are actually different in some ways. Collies or what they like to call Rough Collies have different history than the Sheltie. Today I will give you the differences between a Collie and a Sheltie! Hopefully will know the difference between the two after reading this article!

Size

Shelties are actually smaller than Collies! Most Shelties stand about 13 inches to 16 inches and typically weigh in at about 20 to 25 pounds. But the average collie stands about 26 inches at the shoulder and weigh 60 to 75 pounds. The muzzle on the Collie is actually longer than the Sheltie’s muzzle. A lot of people like to call the Sheltie a miniature collie which is essentially correct!

Sheltie and Collie History

The Shetland Sheepdog get their name from Shetland which is the Scootish archipelago where the breed originated in the late 1800s. The Shelties were developed by shepherds to withstand rough weather and rocky terrain. The ancestors of the Shelties are believed to be border collies, Scottish collies and spitz-type dogs.

Collies actually originated in Scotland during the 1800s to help farmers herd and guard the livestock they had. The origin of the Collie is unknown, but they were refined in the mid-1800s when it became popular in England.

Health and Lifespan

Typically Shelties have a lifespan of about 12 to 14 years and the Collie is 8 to 12 years (I wish they could live as long as humans!!!!). Both of the breeds are typically very healthy but are prone to some genetic issues. Some of the issues both of the breeds can have are eye problems, seizures and hip dysplasia. Collies can sometimes be prone to gastric torsion. Also Shelties may have hypothyroidism. Both of the Sheltie and Collie

So I hope you all enjoyed reading this article on the differences between the Sheltie and Collie. I know there was some similarities in this article but the Sheltie and Collie are not that much different but they aren’t the same if that makes any sense! Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook @sheltiesarelife to see daily pictures of the cutest Shelties!!