I did some reasearch on the two dog breeds Collie and Shetland Sheepdog back in 1983. I was about to make up my mind whether to get the one or the other for myself, for company. At a quick glance, the two breeds are strikingly alike, if you do not take the size difference into account. And they should look alike. The early Shetland Sheepdogs were crossbred with Collies for “refinement” of the little herding dog from the toons of the Shetland Islands. Even so, the amount of Collie in the Shetland Sheepdog is small. The two breeds developed independently of one another, in Scotland and on the Shetland Islands, and there are differences in history, appearance, size, and character.

The Collie has a much longer history than the Sheltie. The breed is believed to date back to the seventeenth century. Wooden carvings from 1655 have been found that picture a dog that looks very similar to the Collie of today. The breed originates from Scotland and the dogs were probably first named Colleydogs because of the task they performed, herding the sheep in the mountains of the Scottish highlands. These sheep had a black mask called colley. In the Shetland Islands, a copper etching picturing a small dog, very similar to the Shetland Sheepdog of today, has been found. This etching dates back to 1840 and is the first evidence of the sheepdogs’ existence. The Sheltie, as the breed is commonly called, was also used for herding. But instead of herding sheep in highlands, like the Collie did, the Sheltie herded the sheep away from the small Shetland farms, called toons, to save the sparse crops from being eaten by the sheep. This is why the Shetland Sheepdog was first known as a Toonie Dog.

The colors and coats, of the two breeds, are somewhat similar, though differences also remain: The original color of the Collie was black and white. Today the Collie comes in sable, tricolor and blue merle. The black and white color, however, no longer exists. The tricolor of the Collie is believed to date back to Gordon Setter crosses. The Collie comes in two lengths of coat: short-coated and long-coated. The short-coated Collie looks naked and therefore quite different from its long-coated breed mates. The long-coated Collie’s coat consists of two layers: a thick, soft undercoat and a harsh top coat. The coat should be especially long around its head, chest, and on its tail. Unlike the Collie, the original color of the Sheltie was black and tan. This is a color that no longer exists. Instead, the colors of the modern Sheltie are sable, tricolor, blue merle, and black and white. It is believed that a yacht, visiting the Shetland Islands, left behind a King Charles Spaniel and that the tricolor gene in Shelties traces back to this Spaniel. The Sheltie should never be short-coated, but always have a long coat consisting of two layers, the thick undercoat and the harsh upper coat. This special coat protects both the long-coated Collie and the Sheltie from dirt and water, which is a must when herding in the hard, rainy, and windy conditions of Scotland and the Shetland Islands. The coat of the Sheltie is rich, like the Collie’s, especially around its head, chest, and on its tail.

The size of the two breeds varies considerably. A Collie male is 56-61 cm tall at the shoulders and he weighs 21-30 kg. The Collie bitch is a little smaller, 51-56 cm tall and weighs 18-25 kg. The male Sheltie is 37-39 cm tall at its shoulder while the bitch is 35-38 cm tall. A Sheltie weighs 7-12 kg.

A characteristic impression of alertness that both breeds have comes from the tipped ears. Both the Collie and Sheltie have semi-erect ears with one third folded over to the front. Collies and Shelties are sensitive dogs. Their hearing is very well developed, a must from the days of the windy moors, mountains, or islands where hearing the sheep was essential to survival. Today this sensitivity can bother some of them during thunderstorms, shootings, or fireworks.

For the working Collie it is essential to be able to move with strong, free, and graceful movements. The balance and vitality of the body is important. The beautiful and somewhat dreamy expression of the Collie shows an alert and smart dog. The Collie never gives a clumsy impression, though its features are those of a large working dog. The first and immediate impression of a Sheltie is that of instant beauty, intelligence, and liveliness. Its head is well-formed and has a loveable expression. The Sheltie moves freely, fast, and graciously. Its speed and ability to jump is large, considering its small size. A Sheltie is much livelier than a Collie.

I made up my mind to get a Shetland Sheepdog for myself. The size and the liveliness led to my decision. I wanted an alert, small, and beautiful dog for company. The Collie seemed a bit too large to me. Some people misleadingly call Shelties “Miniature Collies” because they look alike. Collies and Shelties are and remain two different breeds, but it is easy to understand the idea behind the saying “Miniature Collie.” Standing next to one another, the two lovely, long-coated breeds do look very much alike!