Smooth Collie at a glance
- Size
- Large
- Height
- 51–61 cm
- Weight
- 18–29.5 kg
- Life expectancy
- from 10 years
Typical for the breed, not a promise about any one dog. Not assessed yet: Cats and small pets.
Is the Smooth Collie right for you?
Like every breed, the Smooth Collie is not the right fit for every home. Based on the breed’s typical traits:
May suit you if…
- You would enjoy training a dog that is usually eager to learn.
- You enjoy long walks and an active, outdoor life.
- You would like a coat that is fairly easy to look after.
Consider another breed if…
- The dog would regularly be left alone for long working days.
- You cannot offer well over an hour of exercise every day.
- You live in a flat or a small home.
- You have young children at home.
How would the Smooth Collie fit your lifestyle?
Choose a few details for a general, non-guaranteed view.
About the Smooth Collie
The Smooth Collie is a well-proportioned, dignified herding dog that looks as if it could do a full day's work. It is almost identical to the Rough Collie apart from its short, flat, harsh coat. Typically friendly, happy and active, it has an outgoing temperament and a sharp, responsive mind.
Key characteristics
General breed tendencies, not a prediction for an individual dog.
- Size
Large
A large dog.
- Exercise
High
Typically more than an hour a day, with time off the lead.
- Energy level
Lively
A lively dog that enjoys being busy.
- Grooming
Weekly
The coat usually needs brushing about once a week.
- Shedding
High
Tends to shed a lot, so expect hair around the home.
- Trainability
High
Usually eager to learn and quick to pick things up.
- Good with children
Older children
Usually better with older, calmer children.
- Good with other dogs
Varies
Varies with the individual dog.
- Good with cats
Not assessed yet
Our sources do not say enough yet.
- Suits first-time owners
Experienced owners
Best with an experienced owner.
- Barking / vocality
Can be vocal
Often quick to bark at visitors or unusual sounds.
- Time alone
Prefers company
Usually copes only with short periods alone.
The breed was developed to work sheep in the Scottish Lowlands, where the milder weather meant a heavy coat was not needed. Smooth and Rough Collies have always existed side by side, and until 1994 they could be interbred, so both coat types could appear in one litter. The breed was refined in the 19th century with some Greyhound blood for extra elegance, then bred back to Rough Collies.
Queen Victoria took Collies from Balmoral to Windsor, and her favourite dog, Sharp, was a Smooth. The Kennel Club first awarded challenge certificates to Smooth Collies as a separate breed in 1979. The breed remains rare and is listed by the Royal Kennel Club as a vulnerable native breed.
Smooth Collie temperament
Smooth Collies are usually friendly, good tempered and alert. They need plenty of mental stimulation to settle well as family dogs, and they enjoy being worked in some form, whether or not that means competing.
They can be sensitive and may be slightly quicker to react than Rough Collies. Some are prone to excessive barking, so gentle, calm handling helps. They may have issues with unfamiliar dogs while getting on with dogs they know, and they do not usually cope well with being left alone for long.
Size and appearance
The Smooth Collie is a large breed. Males typically stand 56–61 cm and weigh around 20.5–29.5 kg; females stand 51–56 cm and weigh around 18–25 kg.
The coat has a thick undercoat and a short, flat top coat. Breed standard colours are sable and white, tricolour and blue merle. The Royal Kennel Club does not register puppies from merle to merle matings because of the risks to sight and hearing linked to the merle gene.
How much exercise does a Smooth Collie need?
Smooth Collies are active dogs. Advice varies from up to an hour a day to two hours or more, but they need varied walking routes along with training, games and play, and they should never be left under-exercised mentally.
They suit country or rural suburban homes and can find busy towns and cities overwhelming. A decent-sized, well-fenced garden is important, as some can be escape artists.
Training a Smooth Collie
With kind, patient, reward-based methods, a Smooth Collie can learn almost anything a dog can physically do. They enjoy training and can reach a high standard in dog sports.
- Use positive reinforcement and calm, consistent handling.
- Give them a regular activity such as agility, Rally, Hoopers or heelwork to music.
- Keep walks long and varied to meet their need for mental and physical exercise.
- Manage herding and nipping tendencies, especially around small children.
Smooth Collie grooming
The Smooth Collie is a low-maintenance breed. A brush through the coat once a week is usually enough, though it does shed heavily. Check the paws and ears regularly for foreign bodies.
Living with a Smooth Collie
Smooth Collies are better suited to adult-only homes or families with older children who want to join in with exercise and training. Some have herding instincts that can include nipping small children, and very young or rowdy households can be stressful and overstimulating for them. Whatever the breed, dogs and young children should never be left alone together, and an adult should supervise every interaction.
Children
Usually better with older, calmer children.
Other dogs
Varies with the individual dog.
Flats and smaller homes
Usually happier in a house.
Garden
A garden is helpful.
Being left alone
Usually copes only with short periods alone.
First-time owners
Best with an experienced owner.
Smooth Collie health
Not yet reviewed by a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice: speak to your vet about your own dog’s health.
The Smooth Collie is generally a healthy breed, but some inherited conditions are recognised in it. The Royal Kennel Club recommends that breeders prioritise genetic diversity, alongside a set of best-practice tests.
Collie eye anomaly (CEA)
An inherited condition where the eye does not develop properly, which can lead to blindness. A DNA test for CEA/CH is available.
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
An inherited eye disease. A DNA test for the rcd2 form is available, and eye testing under the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme is recommended.
Retinal pigment epithelial dystrophy
Deposits form in the eye, which can damage it and cause blindness in dim light.
Multi-drug sensitivity (MDR1)
An inherited condition that makes a dog sensitive to particular medicines. A DNA test is available.
Degenerative myelopathy (DM)
A DNA test for degenerative myelopathy is part of the Royal Kennel Club's best-practice health testing for the breed.
Hip dysplasia
The Royal Kennel Club recommends hip testing under the BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia Scheme.
What health checks should you ask about?
Responsible breeders and rescues are happy to talk about health, and any pressure to decide quickly is a reason to walk away. Before taking a Smooth Collie home, it is reasonable to ask about:
- Health testing of the parents. Ask which health tests the parents have had for conditions known in the breed, and to see the results.
- Veterinary and vaccination records. Puppies should have had a first vaccination and a vet check, with records you can take home.
- Microchip information. In England, Scotland and Wales puppies must be microchipped and registered by eight weeks old. Ask who the chip is registered to and how the transfer works.
- Registration paperwork. Registration papers, where they apply, record pedigree. They do not by themselves prove health or how a puppy was raised.
How much does a Smooth Collie cost to own?
There are two costs: bringing a Smooth Collie home, and looking after one well. Puppy prices depend on the breeder, health testing and demand; the adverts below show what sellers are asking today.
Ongoing costs are the ones new owners most often underestimate: food, insurance (which usually rises with age), routine vet care, vaccinations and parasite treatment, dental care, grooming, training, bedding and equipment, and boarding or a sitter for holidays. Budget for the whole of the dog’s life, typically from 10 years, not just the first year.
Buying a Smooth Collie
If you have decided the Smooth Collie suits your life, take the same care choosing where your dog comes from. Meet the puppy in person, see it with its mother, and look at how the litter is raised.
- Check who you are dealing with: every Mypetzilla advert shows the seller type and what we have checked.
- Ask about health testing, vaccinations and the microchip before you commit.
- Take your time. Do not be rushed by deposits or "last one left" stories.
- Meet in person before paying anything, and keep conversations on Mypetzilla.
Adopting a Smooth Collie
Smooth Collies do come up for adoption, through rescue organisations, breed rescues and private rehoming, often because an owner’s circumstances have changed rather than any fault of the dog. An adult dog arrives as a known quantity: its size, coat and character are already on show.
Rescues will usually talk you through the dog’s history, any medical care, and the home it needs, including children, other animals and time alone. Be honest about your circumstances: a good rescue would rather place a dog once, well.
Smooth Collies looking for homes
Live from Mypetzilla, updated as pets are listed.
There are no Smooth Collie adverts at the moment.
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Similar breeds you may want to consider
Smooth Collie FAQs
Is the Smooth Collie good with children?
Usually better with older, calmer children. Individual dogs vary with breeding, upbringing and health, so ask about the dog you are considering.
Can the Smooth Collie live in a flat?
Usually happier in a house. Exercise and company matter more than floor space.
How much exercise does the Smooth Collie need?
High: typically more than an hour a day, with time off the lead. Puppies and older dogs need less structured exercise.
Does the Smooth Collie shed?
Tends to shed a lot.
How much grooming does the Smooth Collie need?
Typically: about once a week.
Is the Smooth Collie easy to train?
Usually eager to learn. Kind, reward-based training works best.
Can the Smooth Collie be left alone?
Usually copes only with short periods alone. Build up time alone gradually.
Does the Smooth Collie bark a lot?
Can be vocal. Individual dogs vary with breeding, upbringing and health, so ask about the dog you are considering.
How long does the Smooth Collie live?
Typically from 10 years. Lifespan varies with genetics, weight, care and luck.
How big does the Smooth Collie get?
Adults typically stand 51–61 cm at the shoulder and weigh 18–29.5 kg.