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

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

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

Name	Rough Collie	Australian Shepherd	Whippet
Origins	Scotland	United States	England
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs)	Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs)	Hunting Dogs
Popularity Rank	40	17	61
Reviews	4	2	1
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Other Names	Collie, Scottish Collie, Long-Haired Collie, English Collie, Lassie Dog	Aussie, Little Blue Dog	English Whippet, Snap Dog
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred	Purebred
AKC Group	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885 as a Herding breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1991 as a Herding breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1888 as a Hound 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 Sighthounds group, in the Short-haired Sighthounds section.
Breed Recognition	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 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 Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale 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	$400-$600	$600-$800	$800-$1200

General Appearance - Rough Collie vs Australian Shepherd vs Whippet

Size	Large	Large	Medium
Weight	Male: 60-70 pounds (27-32 kg), Female: 53-65 pounds (24-29 kg)	Male: 50-65 pounds (25-29 kg), Female: 40-55 pounds (18-25 kg)	25 - 45 pounds (11 - 21 kg)
Avg. Weight	Male: 67.5 pounds (30.5 kg), Female: 57.5 pounds (26 kg)	Male: 57.5 pounds (27 kg), Female: 47.5 pounds (21.5 kg)	25 - 45 pounds (11 - 21 kg)
Height	Male: 24–26 inch (60–66 cm), Female: 22–24 inch (55–61 cm)	Male: 20-23 inches (52-58cm), Female: 18-21 inches (46–53 cm)	Male: 18.5-20 inches (46-51 cm), Female: 17.5-19 inches (44-48 cm)
Avg. Height	Male: 25 inches (62.5 cm), Female: 23 inches (58.5 cm)	Male: 21.5 inches (55 cm), Female: 19.5 inches (46–53 cm)	Male: 19 inches (48.5 cm), Female: 18 inches (45.5 cm)

Hair & Care - Rough Collie vs Australian Shepherd vs Whippet

Coat	Rough Soft Thick Straight Harsh Furry	Feathered	Fine Short Close in texture
Colors	Black & White & Tan Blue & Merle Blue & Merle & White Sable Sable & White White White & Merle Merle	Red Blue Merle Black	Cream Red Blue Fawn White Black
Grooming	Professional: This breed needs a lot of work to keep in good condition.	Average: The Australian Shepherd requires average grooming effort.	Effortless: The Whippet requires minimal grooming.
Shedding Level	Rough Collies are heavy shedders.	Australian Shepherds shed moderately.	Whippets are low shedders.

Characteristics - Rough Collie vs Australian Shepherd vs Whippet

Temperament	Friendly Gentle Intelligent Loyal Protective Responsive Social Hard working Docile Obedient Elegant Herding	Active Friendly Intelligent Loving Affectionate Good-natured Protective	Affectionate Gentle Lively Friendly Intelligent Quiet Outright Adaptable Companionable
Intelligent Rank	Very smart: Rough Collie is an excellent dog breed.	Smart: Australian Shepherd's has great intelligence.	Average: Whippet's has average obedience intelligence.
Trainability	Rough Collies are very easy to train.	Australian Shepherds are very easy to train.	Whippets are easy to train.
Playfulness	The Rough Collie is a playful breed.	The Australian Shepherd is a highly playful breed.	Whippets, like any other dog breed, like playing.
Sensitivity Level	Rough Collies don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits.	Australian Shepherds don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits.	Whippets don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits.
Affection Level	Rough Collies are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.	Australian Shepherds are highly affectionate dogs.	Whippets are average dogs regarding their affection level.
Social Needs	Rough Collies need a lot of social interaction.	Australian Shepherds are a social breed.	Whippets need for social interaction is average.
Barking	Low to Average: The Rough Collie rarely barks.	Low to Average: The Australian Shepherd rarely barks.	Low: The Whippet barks none to minimal.
Watchdog Ability	Rough Collies are one of the best watchdogs.	Australian Shepherds are one of the best watchdogs.	Whippets are average watchdogs.
Territorial	Rough Collies are extremely protective guard dogs.	Australian Shepherds are extremely protective guard dogs.	Whippets can't provide protection for their territory.
Biting Potential	Low The Rough Collie has a low chance of biting somebody.	Low The Australian Shepherd has a low chance of biting somebody.	Low The Whippet has a low chance of biting somebody.
Mouthiness	Rough Collies have an average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Australian Shepherds have a higher than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Whippets have a higher than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.
Impulse to Wander or Roam	Rough Collies are not the biggest explorers.	Australian Shepherds are not the biggest explorers.	Wanderlust potential of the Whippet is strong enough to escape from home.
Prey Drive	Rough Collies have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds.	Australian Shepherds have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds.	Whippets have a high impulse to chase and catch something.
Apartment Friendly	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.	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.	Whippets are very apartment-friendly dogs.
Adaptability	Rough Collies adapt well to lifestyle changes and different living environments.	Australian Shepherds adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Whippets adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.
Tolerates Being Left Alone	Rough Collies tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them.	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.	Just like every puppy, they are prone to panic, cry, bark, whine when they left alone by their owner.
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 - Rough Collie vs Australian Shepherd vs Whippet

Stranger Friendly	Rough Collies are stranger friendly dogs.	Australian Shepherds are not the most stranger friendly dogs.	Whippets are average friendly towards strangers.
Child Friendly	Rough Collies are very kid-friendly dogs.	Australian Shepherds are very kid-friendly dogs.	Whippets are kid-friendly dogs.
Cat Friendly	Rough Collies are very cat-friendly dogs.	Australian Shepherds are average friendly towards cats.	Whippets are not cat-friendly dogs.
Dog Friendly	Rough Collies are dog-friendly dogs.	Australian Shepherds are average friendly towards other dogs.	Whippets are average friendly towards other dogs.
Office Friendly	No Rough Collie is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Australian Shepherd is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Whippet is not the best dog breed for office environment.
Senior Citizens Friendly	Rough Collies are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	Australian Shepherds are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	Whippets are usually recommended for elderly people.
Pet Friendly	Rough Collies are one of the friendliest dog breeds.	Australian Shepherds are generally with other pets.	Whippets do best when they’re the only pet at the family.
Good For First Time Owners	No Rough Collies are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Australian Shepherds are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Whippets are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.
Service Dog	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.
Therapy Dog	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.
Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog	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.	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 Rough Collie breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really Australian Shepherd breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really Whippet 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 - Rough Collie vs Australian Shepherd vs Whippet

Health Issues	The Rough Collie is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	The Australian Shepherd is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	The Whippet is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.
Health Problems	Collie Eye Anomaly Gray Collie Syndrome Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Drug Sensitivity Hip Dysplasia	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)	Addison's Disease Arthritis Deafness Drug Sensitivity Heart Murmurs Heart Problems Hypothyroidism Kidney Issues Vaccination Sensitivity Von Willebrand's Disease
Life Expectancy	14-16 years	12-15 years	12-15 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic	No	No	No
Energy Level	Rough Collies have an average energy level, so if you live a semi-active life, this breed can be a good choice for you.	Australian Shepherds are high energy dogs.	Whippets are high energy dogs.
Exercise Need	Rough Collies need quite a lot of exercise.	Australian Shepherds need a lot of exercises.	Whippets have an average exercise need.
Sleeping Need	Rough Collies sleep 12-14 hours a day as an average dog and they're not considered as a lazy breed.	Australian Shepherds don't need too much sleep.	Whippets don't need too much sleep.
Avg. daily food consumption	2 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	1.5 to 2.5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	1 to 2 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.
Weight Gain Potential	Average.	Average to High.	Low.
Weather & Climate	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 Australian Shepherd can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog.	Prefers warm weather
Stinkiness	Medium The Rough Collie has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium The Australian Shepherd has an average chance of bad smell.	Low The Whippet has a low chance of bad smell.
Drooling tendency	The Rough Collie is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The Australian Shepherd is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The Whippet is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.

Reproducibility - Rough Collie vs Australian Shepherd vs Whippet

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	4-8 puppies	6-9 puppies, average 7	4-8 puppies
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