Shetland Sheepdog vs Rough Collie vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel – Which one is a better dog breed for you?
"Find similarities and differences between Shetland Sheepdog vs Rough Collie vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel"
Compare Shetland Sheepdog and Rough Collie. Which is better: Shetland Sheepdog or Rough Collie or Cavalier King Charles Spaniel?
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| Name | Shetland Sheepdog | Rough Collie | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Origins |  Scotland | Scotland | England |
| Group | Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs) | Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs) | Companion Dogs |
| Popularity Rank | 24 | 40 | 19 |
| Reviews | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Rate |
| Other Names | Miniature Collie, Shetland Collie (obsolete), Dwarf Scotch Shepherd (obsolete), Toonie Dog (obsolete), Sheltie | Collie, Scottish Collie, Long-Haired Collie, English Collie, Lassie Dog | Cav, Cavalier, Cavie |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred | Purebred |
| AKC Group | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1911 as a Herding breed. | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885 as a Herding breed. | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1995 as a Toy 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 Companion and Toy Dogs group, in the English Toy Spaniels 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 Canadian Canine Registry | 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 |
| Price | $800-$1000 | $400-$600 | $1200-$1500 |
General Appearance - Shetland Sheepdog vs Rough Collie vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
| Size | Medium | Large | Small |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 14-27 pounds (6-12 kg) | Male: 60-70 pounds (27-32 kg), Female: 53-65 pounds (24-29 kg) | 10-18 pounds (5-8 kg) |
| Avg. Weight | 20.5 pounds (9 kg) | Male: 67.5 pounds (30.5 kg), Female: 57.5 pounds (26 kg) | 14 pounds (6.5 kg) |
| Height | 13-16 inches (33-41 cm) | Male: 24–26 inch (60–66 cm), Female: 22–24 inch (55–61 cm) | 12-13 inches (30-33 cm) |
| Avg. Height | 14.5 inches (37 cm) | Male: 25 inches (62.5 cm), Female: 23 inches (58.5 cm) | 12.5 inches (31.5 cm) |
Hair & Care - Shetland Sheepdog vs Rough Collie vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
| Coat | Dense | Rough Soft Thick Straight Harsh Furry | Feathered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colors | White Blue Merle Sable Tan Black | Black & White & Tan Blue & Merle Blue & Merle & White Sable Sable & White White White & Merle Merle | Tan Blenheim Tricolor Ruby |
| Grooming | 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. | Average: The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel requires average grooming effort. |
| Shedding Level | Shetland Sheepdogs shed moderately. | Rough Collies are heavy shedders. | Cavalier King Charles Spaniels shed above average. |
Characteristics - Shetland Sheepdog vs Rough Collie vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
| Temperament | Affectionate Gentle Lively Responsive Friendly Intelligent Playful | Friendly Gentle Intelligent Loyal Protective Responsive Social Hard working Docile Obedient Elegant Herding | Affectionate Courageous Intelligent Cheerful Gentle Social Polite Quiet Active Graceful Fearless Friendly Nonaggressive Sporty No tendency towards nervousness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligent Rank | Outstanding: Shetland Sheepdog is one of the brightest dog breeds. | Very smart: Rough Collie is an excellent dog breed. | Average: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel's has average obedience intelligence. |
| Trainability | Shetland Sheepdogs are quite easy to train. | Rough Collies are very easy to train. | Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are quite easy to train. |
| Playfulness | Shetland Sheepdogs, like any other dog breed, like playing. | The Rough Collie is a playful breed. | Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, like any other dog breed, like playing. |
| Sensitivity Level | Shetland Sheepdogs 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. | Cavalier King Charles Spaniels don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits. |
| Affection Level | Shetland Sheepdogs are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. | Rough Collies are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. | Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. |
| Social Needs | Shetland Sheepdogs are a social breed. | Rough Collies need a lot of social interaction. | Cavalier King Charles Spaniels need a lot of social interaction. |
| Barking | High: The Shetland Sheepdog is a very vocal breed. | Low to Average: The Rough Collie rarely barks. | Average: The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel barks occasionally. |
| Watchdog Ability | Shetland Sheepdogs are good watchdogs. | Rough Collies are one of the best watchdogs. | Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are not the best watchdogs. |
| Territorial | Shetland Sheepdogs are extremely protective guard dogs. | Rough Collies are extremely protective guard dogs. | Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are not the best to protect their territory. |
| Biting Potential |
Low The Shetland Sheepdog has a low chance of biting somebody. |
Low The Rough Collie has a low chance of biting somebody. |
Low The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a low chance of biting somebody. |
| Mouthiness | Shetland Sheepdogs have a low tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. | Rough Collies have an average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. | Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have an average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. |
| Impulse to Wander or Roam | Shetland Sheepdogs tend to escape less than other breeds. | Rough Collies are not the biggest explorers. | Cavalier King Charles Spaniels tend to escape less than other breeds. |
| Prey Drive | 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. | Rough Collies have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds. | Cavalier King Charles Spaniels 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 | Shetland Sheepdogs are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle. | 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. | Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are very apartment-friendly dogs. |
| Adaptability | Shetland Sheepdogs adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. | Rough Collies adapt well to lifestyle changes and different living environments. | Cavalier King Charles Spaniels adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. |
| Tolerates Being Left Alone | 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. | Rough Collies tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them. | Cavalier King Charles Spaniels tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them. |
| 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 - Shetland Sheepdog vs Rough Collie vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
| Stranger Friendly | Shetland Sheepdogs are not the most stranger friendly dogs. | Rough Collies are stranger friendly dogs. | Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are very stranger friendly dogs. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child Friendly | Shetland Sheepdogs are kid-friendly dogs. | Rough Collies are very kid-friendly dogs. | Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are very kid-friendly dogs. |
| Cat Friendly | Shetland Sheepdogs are very cat-friendly dogs. | Rough Collies are very cat-friendly dogs. | Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are average friendly towards cats. |
| Dog Friendly | Shetland Sheepdogs are dog-friendly dogs. | Rough Collies are dog-friendly dogs. | Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are very dog-friendly dogs. |
| Office Friendly |
No Shetland Sheepdog is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
No Rough Collie is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
No Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
| Senior Citizens Friendly | Shetland Sheepdogs are usually recommended for elderly people. | Rough Collies are one of the best breeds for elderly people. | Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are one of the best breeds for elderly people. |
| Pet Friendly | Shetland Sheepdogs are one of the friendliest dog breeds. | Rough Collies are one of the friendliest dog breeds. | Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are generally with other pets. |
| Good For First Time Owners |
No Shetland Sheepdogs 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 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels 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 |
Yes This breed makes a perfect 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 Shetland Sheepdog breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. |
Not really Rough Collie breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. |
Not really Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 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 - Shetland Sheepdog vs Rough Collie vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
| Health Issues | The Shetland Sheepdog 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. | Cavalier King Charles Spaniels tend to have more and frequent health issues than other breeds. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health Problems | 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 | Collie Eye Anomaly Gray Collie Syndrome Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Drug Sensitivity Hip Dysplasia | Dry Eye Episodic Falling Syndrome Hip Dysplasia Mitral Valve Disease Patellar Luxation Syringomyelia |
| Life Expectancy | 12-14 years | 14-16 years | 10-14 years |
| Hypoallergenic | No | No | No |
| Energy Level | Shetland Sheepdogs have a higher energy level than other dog breeds. | Rough Collies have an average energy level, so if you live a semi-active life, this breed can be a good choice for you. | Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have an average energy level, so if you live a semi-active life, this breed can be a good choice for you. |
| Exercise Need | Shetland Sheepdogs have an average exercise need. | Rough Collies need quite a lot of exercise. | Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have an average exercise need. |
| Sleeping Need | Shetland Sheepdogs are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend to much time with sleeping. | Rough Collies sleep 12-14 hours a day as an average dog and they're not considered as a lazy breed. | Cavalier King Charles Spaniels sleep 12-14 hours a day as an average dog and they're not considered as a lazy breed. |
| Avg. daily food consumption | 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. | 1 to 1.5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. |
| Weight Gain Potential | Average. | Average. | Average to High. |
| Weather & Climate |
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. |
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. | Tolerates warm and cold weather. |
| Stinkiness |
Medium The Shetland Sheepdog has an average chance of bad smell. |
Medium The Rough Collie has an average chance of bad smell. |
High The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a high chance of bad smell. |
| Drooling tendency | The Shetland Sheepdog is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency. | The Rough Collie is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency. | The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency. |
Reproducibility - Shetland Sheepdog vs Rough Collie vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
| 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 | 4-6 puppies | 4-8 puppies | 3-5 puppies |
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