Collie Facts Breed Description Page

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Purebred adult Collies stand 22 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh 45 to 90 pounds. There is no such thing as a Miniature Collie. The small dog that resembles a Collie is a Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie), a completely different breed.

Not all Collies look like Lassie. Collies come in two varieties, rough and smooth, and each variety may be one of 4 colors: sable and white, tricolor, blue merle, and white. The smooth Collie is identical in conformation to the rough, but it's outer coat is short, hard, dense and flat. Collies are loving, loyal, devoted companions. The Collie standard forbids any display of sullenness, timidity or viciousness, and it is extremely rare to find a Collie possessing these undesirable traits. Collie ears stand erect except for the top 1/4 which is tipped forward.

Collies are nibblers, particularly when in play or when exhibiting their herding traits. They frequently nibble gently at their family as a sign of playfulness or affection, and this should not be misinterpreted as biting.