Collie: Temperament, Size, Lifespan & Care

Collie temperament and personality

VCA describes the Collie as gentle and devoted, eager to please and quick to learn. Collies were bred to herd sheep, and most remain closely tuned to their people, sensitive to tone of voice and happiest when included in family life.

VCA notes that overly enthusiastic barking can be a problem. Collies often bark to alert, to herd or when bored, so a routine with enough exercise and early quiet training makes a real difference. Otherwise they tend to be calm, mannerly housemates.

How big do Collies get?

The AKC gives males about 24 to 26 inches at the shoulder and 60 to 75 pounds, and females about 22 to 24 inches and 50 to 65 pounds. VCA gives the same overall ranges of 22 to 26 inches and 50 to 75 pounds. The AKC describes Collies as intuitive, gentle and affectionate, attentive to their family's emotions.

The rough coat hides body shape, so check condition by feeling the ribs and waist rather than looking. Ask your vet what a healthy weight is for your dog's frame and adjust food to its activity.

Collie lifespan and common health issues

VCA gives a lifespan of 8 to 12 years. Its breed page does not list specific conditions, so ask your vet and the breeder about the inherited problems the national breed club tracks, including eye disease and a drug sensitivity seen in herding breeds.

Ask a breeder for eye exams on both parents and puppies, and which DNA tests they run. Tell every vet who treats your dog that it is a Collie before any new medication. Sudden vision changes, a seizure or collapse needs a vet promptly.

Exercise needs

VCA says Collies need a long walk, a good run or energetic play every day, plus mental stimulation from games and tricks. It says they do well in dog parks and enjoy cold weather but cannot live outdoors in it.

Herding, agility, obedience, rally and long hikes suit the breed. An hour or so of activity a day keeps most adults content. In hot weather, exercise early and late, since the thick rough coat holds heat.

Collie grooming and shedding

VCA says rough-coated Collies need brushing once or twice a week and smooth-coated Collies a brief brushing weekly, and rates shedding as average to above average. Expect heavier seasonal sheds when the undercoat comes out in clumps.

For the rough coat, use a pin brush, a slicker brush and an undercoat rake, with extra care behind the ears and on the trousers where mats form. Trim nails regularly, check the ears and brush the teeth several times a week.

Training a Collie

VCA says Collies respond best to reward-based methods using games, food or praise. They are quick learners and sensitive dogs, so harsh corrections tend to make them anxious rather than obedient.

Teach a quiet cue early, reward calm behavior at doors and windows, and keep training sessions varied so the dog stays engaged. A reliable recall and loose-leash walking are easy wins with this breed.

Practice handling the paws, ears and coat daily so grooming stays easy, and introduce the brush with treats from the first week.

Are Collies good with kids and other pets?

VCA says Collies are playful and very good with children and generally good with other dogs and pets. Their patience with children is a big part of the breed's reputation as a family dog.

Some Collies try to herd running children, nudging or circling them. Teach children to stay calm around the dog and redirect herding into a game. Introduce new pets slowly and supervise early meetings.

Most Collies settle well with other dogs and with cats they are raised with.

What a Collie needs at home

A fenced yard or regular leashed walks, a crate, a large comfortable dog bed and a cool spot in summer cover the basics. Herding balls, puzzle feeders and trick training keep the brain busy.

For the coat, keep a pin brush, slicker brush, undercoat rake, comb, nail clippers, ear cleaner and a dog toothbrush. Ask your vet about medication sensitivity testing for herding breeds before your dog needs any treatment.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.