Sheltie or a Miniature Collie - the great debate!

BarbV

BarbV

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Well, we know that we Sheltie owners hate to have our dogs called miniature collies. I guess it strikes a nerve somehow that our breed is "less" than a breed if characterized as a mini-"something else".

So I ask the question: Apart from the obvious physical differences of size and different head shapes, etc. What is different about a sheltie vs. a collie? That is, what makes a Sheltie unique from a Collie altogether?
 
If I'm not mistaken, both breeds had their origins in spitz-like dogs that came from the Scandinavian regions. Each breed developed more-or-less on its own, but at some point in the early twentieth century a considerable amount of Rough Collie was bred into the Sheltie, for whatever reason, and this is what's responsible for the similarities in appearance. There's probably as much difference in the breeds (and similarity) as there is between Spanish and Portuguese, or German and Dutch.

I can't see getting all exercised when people who aren't familiar with the breeds get them confused. My little Dickens at five months old is already 17 inches and 23 pounds, so I'm fully prepared to have people think he's a small Collie!
 
I'm no expert but in my opinion their faces/profile look a little different. I think shelties have a little more definition whereas collie face/profiles are more smooth, if that makes sense.

Although, it does make me happy when people can recognize a sheltie, I don't really mind if they call him a mini-collie either. When Riley was a puppy I would actually say he will look like a "little Lassie" to explain what he would look like as an adult.
 
Collie: Timmy is in the well!

Sheltie: Hey you! Timmy's in the well! He's In The Well! Come on come on come oooonnnn! Move it, hooman, let's go get Timmy! He's in the well! We must save him! I'll show you where, let me herd you the way! Timmy! In the well! Wait, where's my ball? Does Timmy have my ball? Must get Timmy! He has the ball! Hooman, come! We must save the ball! The ball is in the well!

:biggrin2:
 
celloyogi said:
Collie: Timmy is in the well!

Sheltie: Hey you! Timmy's in the well! He's In The Well! Come on come on come oooonnnn! Move it, hooman, let's go get Timmy! He's in the well! We must save him! I'll show you where, let me herd you the way! Timmy! In the well! Wait, where's my ball? Does Timmy have my ball? Must get Timmy! He has the ball! Hooman, come! We must save the ball! The ball is in the well!

:biggrin2:
Click to expand...

Haha Diva and Grizz.

I have had Collies in my agility and obedience classes. I would say overall energy level and number of reps to learn a task and an overall responsiveness to the owner. However, We do have some amazing Collies here in terms of energy and they are almost as good as the shelties once the task is learned but overall still not as quick on their feet.
 
Sheltie or minature collie debate

I had someone tell me at Petsmart a couple years ago that my sheltie looked just like his Duck Tolling.I told him they did not look shelties but like Goldens.
 
I don't mind so much the mini-collie comment. I guess I just am flattered that someone is taking an interest in my dogs in the first place. My girls are such people dogs, they don't care what people call them, as long as they can get some pets and cuddles out of it, lol.
 
I think I am right in saying that in the UK, the sheltie breed was originally called and shown as the 'Miniature Collie'. I wonder if that is why the term has stuck?

On an aside, I have fallen in love with smooth collies, the rare variety of the 'lassie dog':biggrin2:
 
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