exactly..when people ask me what kind of dogs I have most are like what?!?!! I say you know they look somewhat like a collie but smaller and people understand...I dont take offense to any of it..Pretty much everyone in the world knows what Lassie is...I mean even at shows if the rings are far away from where im grooming I cant tell the difference between the Belgian Tervuren and the Belgian Sheepdog...all look the same to me from far away...afterall im sure unless your are an AKC BIS judge you most likely dont know every breed..
Sheltie or a Miniature Collie - the great debate!
- Thread starter BarbV
- Start date
Annie Laurie: "Yeah, I know Timmy's in the well. I pushed him."
Annie Laurie, were she hooman, would I think pose like the old-style pin-up girls, biting a nail and denying everything.
Well, I've had three collies and one sheltie and the Timmy in the well scenario describes it nicely!
My collies were not as driven to *always* be doing something as my sheltie. I refer to my sheltie as my little ADHD child whereas my collies were more 'hey, you're relaxing now?! Great idea, I'll come relax with you". My sheltie will persist in trying to get me up off the couch to do something until about the third 'go lie down!' when he'll go pout.
And while my collies apparently found it necessary to supervise my baths to make sure I didn't drown, my sheltie takes it a step further and tries to kill the water-monster coming out of the tap. Explain that one to me!
My collies were not as driven to *always* be doing something as my sheltie. I refer to my sheltie as my little ADHD child whereas my collies were more 'hey, you're relaxing now?! Great idea, I'll come relax with you". My sheltie will persist in trying to get me up off the couch to do something until about the third 'go lie down!' when he'll go pout.
And while my collies apparently found it necessary to supervise my baths to make sure I didn't drown, my sheltie takes it a step further and tries to kill the water-monster coming out of the tap. Explain that one to me!
Caro
Moderator
Sophie - all the labs I know would go "woo-hoo, water, let me jump in and join you!"
BarbV
Forums Celebrity
Well, I've had three collies and one sheltie and the Timmy in the well scenario describes it nicely!
My collies were not as driven to *always* be doing something as my sheltie. I refer to my sheltie as my little ADHD child whereas my collies were more 'hey, you're relaxing now?! Great idea, I'll come relax with you". My sheltie will persist in trying to get me up off the couch to do something until about the third 'go lie down!' when he'll go pout.
And while my collies apparently found it necessary to supervise my baths to make sure I didn't drown, my sheltie takes it a step further and tries to kill the water-monster coming out of the tap. Explain that one to me!
Your answer has come closest to answering my original question.
I was not asking about how your felt about your dogs being mistaken for mini-collies....but asking the question as to WHY they could be mistaken as same. So what differentiates a Sheltie from a Collie? Trying again!
Did you see my post explaining it? Most people in the world are familiar with Collies. They see something that somewhat resembles a collie so it must be...hey they do get points for atleast making a somewhat visual comparison, atleast they arent asking if they are mini goldens or something just as off base..and besides alot of pet shelties can be just as large as their collie cousins...
danisgoat
Moderator
From what I got out of this thread is that collies are bigger, more laid back, not as quick to learn, do not have attention deficit disorder. Shelties are smaller, more active, quicker to learn, and more willing to please.
Annie Laurie: "Yeah, I know Timmy's in the well. I pushed him."
That's Neechee and Bela through and through.
labgirl
Forums Sage
Yes, and then there is Cadbury. Cadbury doesn't do water unless he can touch the bottom with his paws
labgirl
Forums Sage
Barb, I think where the problem rests is that rough collies and shelties to an untrained eye are very, very similar.
For instance, I have seen roughs that were very small and close to Merlin's size and I have seen pure shelties bigger than Merlin. They come in the same colours, they have similar coats - though I would say roughs have a coarser, stand-up coat.
Even I have trouble. I saw a lady with two dogs at a show, one was certainly a rough, but the other was Merlin sized and very delicate. I had to ask her sheltie or collie? They were both collies, but one was exceptionally small.
Now I can see other differences too, for instance the head shape is very different, but then I am a dog nerd and spend a lot of time pouring over breed standard books - most people wouldn't know.
However, in the UK the typical 'collie' is the border collie, and while some people do confuse those with shelties most people can see they are very different, in the coat in particular. Also it seems shelties are more common here than roughs, so there is less confusion.
For those not familiar with dog breeds appearances count for a lot, and though temperament wise a handler could see the difference, to an observer roughs and shelties just look like fluffy dogs of different sizes. And as I say with there being small roughs and big shelties the differences get even more confused.
For instance, I have seen roughs that were very small and close to Merlin's size and I have seen pure shelties bigger than Merlin. They come in the same colours, they have similar coats - though I would say roughs have a coarser, stand-up coat.
Even I have trouble. I saw a lady with two dogs at a show, one was certainly a rough, but the other was Merlin sized and very delicate. I had to ask her sheltie or collie? They were both collies, but one was exceptionally small.
Now I can see other differences too, for instance the head shape is very different, but then I am a dog nerd and spend a lot of time pouring over breed standard books - most people wouldn't know.
However, in the UK the typical 'collie' is the border collie, and while some people do confuse those with shelties most people can see they are very different, in the coat in particular. Also it seems shelties are more common here than roughs, so there is less confusion.
For those not familiar with dog breeds appearances count for a lot, and though temperament wise a handler could see the difference, to an observer roughs and shelties just look like fluffy dogs of different sizes. And as I say with there being small roughs and big shelties the differences get even more confused.