Australian Shepherd vs Rough Collie vs Shetland Sheepdog – Which one is a better dog breed for you?

"Find similarities and differences between Australian Shepherd vs Rough Collie vs Shetland Sheepdog" Compare Australian Shepherd and Rough Collie. Which is better: Australian Shepherd or Rough Collie or Shetland Sheepdog?

General Appearance Hair & Care Characteristics Good With Health Factors Reproducibility Show differences only

Name	Australian Shepherd	Rough Collie	Shetland Sheepdog
Origins	United States	Scotland	Scotland
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs)	Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs)	Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs)
Popularity Rank	17	40	24
Reviews	2	4	2
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Other Names	Aussie, Little Blue Dog	Collie, Scottish Collie, Long-Haired Collie, English Collie, Lassie Dog	Miniature Collie, Shetland Collie (obsolete), Dwarf Scotch Shepherd (obsolete), Toonie Dog (obsolete), Sheltie
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred	Purebred
AKC Group	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1991 as a Herding breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885 as a Herding breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1911 as a Herding breed.
FCI Group	Recognized by FCI in the Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs) group, in the Sheepdogs section.	Recognized by FCI in the Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs) group, in the Sheepdogs section.	Recognized by FCI in the Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs) group, in the Sheepdogs section.
Breed Recognition	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Dog Registry of America Inc. North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club Australian Shepherd Club Of America	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club Canadian Canine Registry
Price	$600-$800	$400-$600	$800-$1000

General Appearance - Australian Shepherd vs Rough Collie vs Shetland Sheepdog

Size	Large	Large	Medium
Weight	Male: 50-65 pounds (25-29 kg), Female: 40-55 pounds (18-25 kg)	Male: 60-70 pounds (27-32 kg), Female: 53-65 pounds (24-29 kg)	14-27 pounds (6-12 kg)
Avg. Weight	Male: 57.5 pounds (27 kg), Female: 47.5 pounds (21.5 kg)	Male: 67.5 pounds (30.5 kg), Female: 57.5 pounds (26 kg)	20.5 pounds (9 kg)
Height	Male: 20-23 inches (52-58cm), Female: 18-21 inches (46–53 cm)	Male: 24–26 inch (60–66 cm), Female: 22–24 inch (55–61 cm)	13-16 inches (33-41 cm)
Avg. Height	Male: 21.5 inches (55 cm), Female: 19.5 inches (46–53 cm)	Male: 25 inches (62.5 cm), Female: 23 inches (58.5 cm)	14.5 inches (37 cm)

Hair & Care - Australian Shepherd vs Rough Collie vs Shetland Sheepdog

Coat	Feathered	Rough Soft Thick Straight Harsh Furry	Dense
Colors	Red Blue Merle Black	Black & White & Tan Blue & Merle Blue & Merle & White Sable Sable & White White White & Merle Merle	White Blue Merle Sable Tan Black
Grooming	Average: The Australian Shepherd requires average grooming effort.	Professional: This breed needs a lot of work to keep in good condition.	Professional: This breed needs a lot of work to keep in good condition.
Shedding Level	Australian Shepherds shed moderately.	Rough Collies are heavy shedders.	Shetland Sheepdogs shed moderately.

Characteristics - Australian Shepherd vs Rough Collie vs Shetland Sheepdog

Temperament	Active Friendly Intelligent Loving Affectionate Good-natured Protective	Friendly Gentle Intelligent Loyal Protective Responsive Social Hard working Docile Obedient Elegant Herding	Affectionate Gentle Lively Responsive Friendly Intelligent Playful
Intelligent Rank	Smart: Australian Shepherd's has great intelligence.	Very smart: Rough Collie is an excellent dog breed.	Outstanding: Shetland Sheepdog is one of the brightest dog breeds.
Trainability	Australian Shepherds are very easy to train.	Rough Collies are very easy to train.	Shetland Sheepdogs are quite easy to train.
Playfulness	The Australian Shepherd is a highly playful breed.	The Rough Collie is a playful breed.	Shetland Sheepdogs, like any other dog breed, like playing.
Sensitivity Level	Australian Shepherds don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits.	Rough Collies don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits.	Shetland Sheepdogs don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits.
Affection Level	Australian Shepherds are highly affectionate dogs.	Rough Collies are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.	Shetland Sheepdogs are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.
Social Needs	Australian Shepherds are a social breed.	Rough Collies need a lot of social interaction.	Shetland Sheepdogs are a social breed.
Barking	Low to Average: The Australian Shepherd rarely barks.	Low to Average: The Rough Collie rarely barks.	High: The Shetland Sheepdog is a very vocal breed.
Watchdog Ability	Australian Shepherds are one of the best watchdogs.	Rough Collies are one of the best watchdogs.	Shetland Sheepdogs are good watchdogs.
Territorial	Australian Shepherds are extremely protective guard dogs.	Rough Collies are extremely protective guard dogs.	Shetland Sheepdogs are extremely protective guard dogs.
Biting Potential	Low The Australian Shepherd has a low chance of biting somebody.	Low The Rough Collie has a low chance of biting somebody.	Low The Shetland Sheepdog has a low chance of biting somebody.
Mouthiness	Australian Shepherds have a higher than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Rough Collies have an average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Shetland Sheepdogs have a low tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.
Impulse to Wander or Roam	Australian Shepherds are not the biggest explorers.	Rough Collies are not the biggest explorers.	Shetland Sheepdogs tend to escape less than other breeds.
Prey Drive	Australian Shepherds have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds.	Rough Collies have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds.	Shetland Sheepdogs have an average prey drive, which means that they don't have a high impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals, but it might happen.
Apartment Friendly	Australian Shepherds are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day.	Rough Collies are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day.	Shetland Sheepdogs are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle.
Adaptability	Australian Shepherds adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Rough Collies adapt well to lifestyle changes and different living environments.	Shetland Sheepdogs adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.
Tolerates Being Left Alone	Australian Shepherds do best when a family member is at home during the day or if their workplace is dog-friendly so they can take the dog at work.	Rough Collies tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them.	Shetland Sheepdogs do best when a family member is at home during the day or if their workplace is dog-friendly so they can take the dog at work.
Fighting Dog	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.

Good With - Australian Shepherd vs Rough Collie vs Shetland Sheepdog

Stranger Friendly	Australian Shepherds are not the most stranger friendly dogs.	Rough Collies are stranger friendly dogs.	Shetland Sheepdogs are not the most stranger friendly dogs.
Child Friendly	Australian Shepherds are very kid-friendly dogs.	Rough Collies are very kid-friendly dogs.	Shetland Sheepdogs are kid-friendly dogs.
Cat Friendly	Australian Shepherds are average friendly towards cats.	Rough Collies are very cat-friendly dogs.	Shetland Sheepdogs are very cat-friendly dogs.
Dog Friendly	Australian Shepherds are average friendly towards other dogs.	Rough Collies are dog-friendly dogs.	Shetland Sheepdogs are dog-friendly dogs.
Office Friendly	No Australian Shepherd is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Rough Collie is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Shetland Sheepdog is not the best dog breed for office environment.
Senior Citizens Friendly	Australian Shepherds are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	Rough Collies are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	Shetland Sheepdogs are usually recommended for elderly people.
Pet Friendly	Australian Shepherds are generally with other pets.	Rough Collies are one of the friendliest dog breeds.	Shetland Sheepdogs are one of the friendliest dog breeds.
Good For First Time Owners	No Australian Shepherds are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Rough Collies are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Shetland Sheepdogs are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.
Service Dog	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.
Therapy Dog	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog.	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog.
Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog	Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.	Yes A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.	Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.
Search and Rescue Dog (SAR)	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.
Boat Dog	Not really Australian Shepherd breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really Rough Collie breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really Shetland Sheepdog breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.
Cart Pulling or Drafting Dog	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.

Health Factors - Australian Shepherd vs Rough Collie vs Shetland Sheepdog

Health Issues	The Australian Shepherd is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	The Rough Collie is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	The Shetland Sheepdog is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.
Health Problems	Allergies Cancer Cataracts Collie Eye Anomaly Deafness Detached Retina Distichiasis Drug Sensitivity Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Hip Dysplasia Hypothyroidism Nasal Solar Dermatitis Osteochondrosis Dissecans Persistent Pupillary Membranes Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)	Collie Eye Anomaly Gray Collie Syndrome Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Drug Sensitivity Hip Dysplasia	Cancer Cataracts Collie Eye Anomaly Drug Sensitivity Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Haemophilia Heart Problems Hip Dysplasia Hypothyroidism Patellar Luxation Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Trichiasis Von Willebrand's Disease
Life Expectancy	12-15 years	14-16 years	12-14 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic	No	No	No
Energy Level	Australian Shepherds are high energy dogs.	Rough Collies have an average energy level, so if you live a semi-active life, this breed can be a good choice for you.	Shetland Sheepdogs have a higher energy level than other dog breeds.
Exercise Need	Australian Shepherds need a lot of exercises.	Rough Collies need quite a lot of exercise.	Shetland Sheepdogs have an average exercise need.
Sleeping Need	Australian Shepherds don't need too much sleep.	Rough Collies sleep 12-14 hours a day as an average dog and they're not considered as a lazy breed.	Shetland Sheepdogs are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend to much time with sleeping.
Avg. daily food consumption	1.5 to 2.5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	2 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	2 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.
Weight Gain Potential	Average to High.	Average.	Average.
Weather & Climate	Prefers average to cold weather conditions The Australian Shepherd can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog.	Prefers average to cold weather conditions The Rough Collie can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog.	Prefers average to cold weather conditions The Shetland Sheepdog can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog.
Stinkiness	Medium The Australian Shepherd has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium The Rough Collie has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium The Shetland Sheepdog has an average chance of bad smell.
Drooling tendency	The Australian Shepherd is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The Rough Collie is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The Shetland Sheepdog is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.

Reproducibility - Australian Shepherd vs Rough Collie vs Shetland Sheepdog

Gestation Length	60-64 days	60-64 days	60-64 days
How often can the have a litter?	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.
Litter Size	6-9 puppies, average 7	4-8 puppies	4-6 puppies
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