Collie
The storybook shepherd — grace, brains, and a heart tuned to children.
Vital stats
| Size | Large · 51–61 cm |
| Weight | 20–34 kg |
| Life expectancy | 12–14 years |
| Energy | Moderate-high — 60 min/day |
| Shedding | Heavy, seasonal |
| Coat | Rough (long) or smooth double coat · sable, tricolour, blue merle |
| Group | Herding · FCI №156 / AKC |
Breed traits
Friendliness
Care
Mind
Temperament
Generations of Scottish hill work bred a shepherd that thinks ahead of its sheep — and its people. The modern Collie reads household moods with uncanny accuracy, learns routines after one showing, and appoints itself guardian of the children. It's soft-tempered and eager to cooperate, but it has opinions and a voice, and it uses both.
Habits & quirks
The nanny patrol
It counts its flock — and in a house, the children are the flock, headed off gently at every gate.
The announcer
Doorbell, squirrel, unusual hat: a Collie believes news should be shared, at volume.
One-take learner
Show it a trick or a routine once or twice and it's filed away for life.
The gentle lean
Affection arrives as a full-body lean against your legs, timed for when you're holding something.
Care
| Grooming | Line-brush the rough coat thoroughly once a week — more during the big seasonal moults; smooths are far quicker. |
| Exercise | An hour daily plus mental work; a Collie without a job writes its own, usually vocal, job description. |
| Health | Ask breeders about MDR1 drug sensitivity and Collie eye anomaly — both are testable and common in the breed. |
| Training | Reward-based and varied; it learns fast, bores fast, and never forgives shouting. |
Common questions
Are Collies good with children?
Famously so — they're gentle, patient and protective, and many quietly shepherd the family's youngest members. As with any breed, supervise and teach mutual respect.
Do Collies bark a lot?
They tend to — barking is how a herding dog reports and directs, and Collies are diligent reporters. Training and enough mental exercise keep it to useful announcements.
What is MDR1 and should I worry?
It's a gene mutation, common in Collies, that makes certain routine drugs (like some wormers) dangerous. A simple DNA test tells you your dog's status — do it, and tell your vet.