Are you looking for a furry companion? but need clarification on the adorable Sheltie and the brainy Border Collie?
Well, worry not anymore! Because I am here to put away your indecisiveness and guide you through the similarities and differences between the two breeds.
So put on your thinking cap and embark on the journey of finding out if either Sheltie or Border Collie is going to be your new furry best friend.
Sheltie Vs Border Collie comparison- Overview
Factor | Sheltie | Border Collie |
---|---|---|
Height | 13-16 inches | 18-22 inches |
Weight | 15-25 pounds | 30-55 pounds |
Energy | Moderate | High |
Temperament | Affectionate | Intelligent |
Price | $600-$1,200 | $600-$1,200 |
Life Span | 12-14 years | 12-15 years |
Health | Prone to Eye Issues | Prone to Hip Dysplasia |
The origin of the Sheltie or Shetland Sheepdog
The Sheltie, or the Shetland Sheepdog, is traced back to the 19th-century Scottish Shet Islands, where they were famous for being used as watchdogs or herders and valued for their loyalty and agility.
The Sheltie breed has now evolved and is mainly kept as a companion animal in most of the typical households in the United States.
These dogs are very popular in having a beautiful coat, easy to train, and affectionate behavior towards people and making them highly preferable for families requiring a small, loving pet who can follow commands proficiently.
The origin of Border Collie
The border collie breed was first bred around the 19th century near the border region of England and Scotland.
These dogs were well known for their intelligence, speed, and herding abilities.
These qualities helped the border collie breed to manage sheep flocks even in regions of rugged terrains.
Therefore, this breed was highly preferable by shepherds who admired the work ethic of border collies and the ability to learn quickly.
Border Collies hold impressive skills and athleticism, which has made them increasingly popular for Dog shows in recent times.
This breed remains on the top for ranchers and farmers for its impressive intelligence, energy, and loyalty abilities.
The Appearance Difference in Border Collies and Shelties
The two breeds, Border Collie and Sheltie have their unique appearance that is very striking.
The border collie, in terms of size, is a medium to large “18-22 inches” breed with a muscular and athletic build physique.
Their coat is very sleek, helping them to keep dry if it rains, as their coat is weather resistant.
Their eyes, which are often blue or brown, appear to look intelligent and extremely alert.
The border collie is found to be in several colors, such as blue merle, black and white, and red and white.
The Sheltie, on the other hand, is a “13-16 inches” small-sized breed.
Their coat Is beautiful, weather resistant and has a long silky appearance, giving them a delicate and refined look.
This breed has different colors of coat such as blue merle, gold, Sable, black, and at times with white markings.
Their ears are small compared to the border collies, whose ears are large and protrude to the side of their necks.
The Shelties are also known to have expressive eyes, that appear large, round, and blue or brown, making them even more adorable.
The Personality Difference in a Sheltie and Border Collie
The breed’s personality differs around people, situations, and environment.
The sheltie dog is primarily bred around available farmlands, impacting their temperament, and giving them their unique personality.
Shelties are very affectionate, loving animals who are highly protective and vocal about their needs.
Shelties also have a very eager nature to please, making them playful, extroverted, and fun-loving dogs.
The border collie, on the other hand, is a bit reserved in nature and not very stranger friendly.
For instance, if your border collie is next to you and a stranger, chances are your border collie will be less protective and aloof around the stranger than a Sheltie who is more protective.
The border collie is also a very serious animal whose primary purpose has always been sheepherding.
Therefore, they require more physical stimulation since they have a stronger work ethic and high energy.
Physical Activities of Shelties and Border Collies
Shelties and border collies are energetic dogs that require a lot of physical activity to exert their attention on something worthwhile.
As these dogs are prone to boredom, lack of exercise will lead them to do disruptive things to unleash their energy.
Border collies comparatively have a high intensity and energy for exercise that should be about 60 to 90 minutes regularly, and their running speed is 28mph.
Whereas the Sheltie is smaller in size, and its tiny legs are tiresome and only run at 20 mph; therefore, it only requires 45 minutes of intense physical activity.
Training of Shelties and Border Collies
Training from a young age is vital for both breeds, as it helps them become more receptive to commands and agile.
The training can help the Sheltie maintain its overprotective nature and the border collie’s shy nature.
The two breeds highly appreciate reward-based treats like any other dog.
Therefore, make sure you reward them during their training process, as this will help them maintain their developed behavior and strengthen their bond with you.
The health of Shelties and Border Collies
Shelties and border collies are strong animals, and their regular physical activities help them live a happy, healthy life.
Though their life span is shorter, only one year from each other, the border collie’s lifespan is about 12-15 years, whereas the Sheltie’s life span is 12-14 years.
Border collies are susceptible to allergies and health issues like collie eye anomaly, epilepsy, hip dysplasia, Osteochondrosis, Dissecans, and Progressive Retinal Atrophy.
The shelties get health issues such as Von Willebrand’s Disease, cancer, cataracts, hypothyroidism, and collie eye anomaly.
So, make sure you take your pets for a monthly vet checkup, so your precious fuzzy friends live a healthy life.
Nutrition of a Sheltie and Border Collie
The border collie being more giant and twice as hard-working as compared to a sheltie, border collie requires food rich in omega fatty acids.
This will help your border collie maintain its strength throughout the day, packed with constant physical activities.
Make sure you give your border collie two and a half cups of kibbles so that its tummy is happy and fed fully.
Do not give food to your border collie after physical activity, let their bodies go at an average rate, and then it is kibbling time for your pet!
The Sheltie being the small one with a more petite mouth, requires one or two cups of kibbles every day.
While choosing kibbles, make sure you buy the one specifically designed for smaller dogs.
Grooming of Sheltie and Border Collie
The Sheltie is fluffier than a Border collie. Therefore, their coat maintenance is very high, and they need to be brushed at least two to three times a week.
During the shedding season, a sheltie will shed more than a border collie whose shedding level is low.
Both dogs do not have a drooling problem and only have mediocre dander issues.
To prevent harming their coat oil, bathe your sheltie and border collie once in 12 weeks.
The price of Sheltie and Border Collie
Both breeds have the same price, that is, 600$ – 1200$, and the price does vary according to their age, breeder and the location.
Therefore, be sure to do your research before buying either of these two breeds.
Final Words?
Here we are at the end, and I do hope that this guide of similarities and differences between a border collie and a sheltie helped you comprehend the inner details that you were left wondering about!
Both breeds can be kept indoors or in a small, medium, or large yard.
Although only the border collie is prone to barks or howls to keep away danger, the Sheltie will keep you protected all the time by being with you 24/7.
FAQs
Q: What temperatures do border collies and Shelties are used to?
A: A border collie is used to 30°F to 80°F, whereas the Sheltie is used to 20°F to 75°F.
Q: What are the coat lengths of a border collie and a sheltie?
A: A border collie has a medium coat length, and a sheltie has a medium to long coat length.
Q: Are border collies aggressive?
A: Border collies are reserved dogs known to have below-average aggression.