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Miniature Collie Dog Breed: Info, Pictures, Facts & Traits

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By Nicole Cosgrove

Miniature Collie

Height: 13–16 inches
Weight: 14–35 pounds
Lifespan: 12–13 years
Colors: Merle, Blue Merle, Sable, Tri-color, Black & White, Sable & White, Black & Tan
Suitable for: Active families, those looking for an agility dog
Temperament: Affectionate, playful, and loyal

As a smaller cousin of the famous Collie, the Miniature Collie is a compact, elegant dog with an affectionate temperament. Consistently ranked as one of the world’s most intelligent breeds, this herding dog is a sensitive and obedient companion. Keep reading to learn all about this distinctive breed.

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Miniature Collie Puppies

Miniature Collie puppy
Image Credit: JACLOU-DLm Pixabay
Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability

Collies were initially bred thousands of years ago to herd sheep. These instantly recognizable dogs can be up to 26 inches tall and weigh as much as 75 pounds. Collies are known for their beautiful long coats, which can be white, tricolor, sable, or blue merle. Less commonly, they may have short, smooth coats. Collies also have elegant, narrow faces, and if you’ve ever seen “Lassie,” you know that these sweet, loving dogs are incredibly affectionate with children.

Standing about 10 inches shorter, Miniature Collies look like their larger relatives but always have long, full coats. Don’t be fooled by their small size; they were bred to be effective, resilient sheepherders. They’re loyal dogs that create strong bonds with their humans. They’re an excellent option for active families that can provide their dogs with enough activities to keep up with their high energy.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Miniature Collie

1. Collies First Reached the United Kingdom 2,000 years ago.

They were brought by the Romans as early herding dogs.

2. You Can Thank Queen Victoria for Popularizing This Beautiful Breed.

This famously dog-loving queen’s favorite was a Collie named Sharp.

3. Miniature Collies Were Bred to Be Smaller Because They Eat Less Food.

This is an important consideration in their harsh native climate, where food was scarce.

Female Miniature Collie
Image Credit: JACLOU-DL, Pixabay

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Physical Traits of the Miniature Collie

Miniature Collies have long, straight outer coats and dense undercoats that can be black, blue merle, or sable colored, with white markings. They have a wedge-shaped head and small, three-quarters erect ears. Miniature Collies have a seasonally shedding double coat.

The outer layer is long and straight, while the inner coat is short and dense. You’ll need to brush your Miniature Collie’s coat multiple times a week to prevent matting and control shedding. You’ll also want to give your Miniature Collie monthly baths and keep their nails trimmed.

How Big Is a Full-Grown Miniature Collie?

As their name suggests, Miniature Collies are small dogs. They can stand between 13 and 16 inches tall at the shoulder and typically weigh between 14 and 35 pounds, with males slightly bigger than females.

How Long Do Miniature Collies Live?

Healthy Miniature Collies typically live between 12 and 13 years.

Miniature Collie
Image Credit: evantoddmedia, Pixabay

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Intelligence, Temperament, and Personality Traits 🧠

Though they can be reserved with strangers, Miniature Collies are very eager to please and highly trainable. They’re gentle, obedient, and self-assured, and they make loyal family pets. They’re also playful and good-natured and can be particularly affectionate with children.

They’re intelligent and do well with basic obedience training and sufficient early socialization. They learn quickly, but they need constant mental stimulation and activity. If you leave a Miniature Collie alone for too long, you may return to find that your furniture or shoes have been chewed up.

These intelligent, sensitive dogs are particularly well-suited to therapy and service work. They pay close attention to verbal cues and respond well to positive reinforcement. Miniature Collies can make effective watchdogs, barking to alert their owners to intruders.

However, they’re not highly protective and may be too small to scare off intruders.

Miniature Collie tongue out
Image Credit: No-longer-here, Pixabay

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Things to Know When Owning a Miniature Collie

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Miniature Collies do well with high-quality dog food and don’t generally have particular dietary needs. If you notice a digestive reaction to your dog’s food, you may want to consult your veterinarian. Miniature Collies can develop allergies to beef, chicken, and other common ingredients.

Exercise 🐕

Since Miniature Collies were bred as working dogs, they have significant energy and need a lot of exercise. They adapt well to city living, though they need regular walks and trips to the park. They’re intelligent, active, and agile and excel at canine sports such as agility, obedience, and herding. To keep a Miniature Collie engaged and active, you may want to provide new challenges like puzzles and games.

Miniature Collies were bred as herding dogs, instinctively chasing after stray sheep. They’re particularly alert to moving objects and animals, like passing squirrels and cars, and tend to chase them without warning.

While on walks or in the park, keep your Miniature Collie attached to a leash to prevent an escape. They also need a large fenced-in yard to keep them safe.

Training 🦮

Because they’re intelligent and alert, Miniature Collies are relatively easy to train. To make the process even easier, you may want to keep these tips in mind.

1. Start Training and Socialization Early.

Socializing puppies can help dogs learn how to interact with other dogs safely. Your breeder will likely start this process before you pick up your puppy, but you’ll want to ensure your dog is comfortable with people and other dogs. Early obedience training establishes your relationship with your pet and teaches them to look to you for cues. This crucial training is the foundation of your dog’s future tricks.

Training is vital to controlling undesirable behaviors like barking. Miniature Collies bark, whine, and growl quite a bit, but with training, you can limit these behaviors.

2. Use Plenty of Positive Reinforcement.

Miniature Collies are sensitive dogs that pay close attention to their owners’ verbal cues and moods. You don’t have to be overly firm or harsh in training because Miniature Collies are very eager to please. They respond well to positive reinforcement like treats and petting.

3. Don’t Forget the Leash.

Because Miniature Collies were bred for herding, they instinctively chase moving objects. This can include squirrels, cars, and other dogs. To prevent your Miniature Collie from racing off, keep a tight hold on their leash. Experts also recommend strong, solid fences for your yard to prevent escapes.

Health Conditions ❤️

Miniature Collies are very healthy dogs. However, they are more vulnerable to these conditions:

Minor Conditions
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Dermatomyositis (skin conditions)
  • Epilepsy
  • Arthritis
Serious Conditions
  • Thyroid disease
  • Gallbladder mucoceles
  • Eye diseases
  • Von Willebrand’s disease

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Final Thoughts

The Miniature Collie is a compact, energetic dog with a distinctive face, a beautiful long coat, and excellent agility. They are popular companions and family animals since they’re patient and affectionate with children.

As a herding dog, the Miniature Collie needs quite a bit of exercise and can make a vigilant watchdog. They respond well to cues and can be trained as a service or therapy dog. You must regularly groom your Miniature Collie and provide plenty of mental and physical stimulation.

We hope this comprehensive guide to the Miniature Collie helps you understand this beautiful, energetic breed. If you’re looking for an intelligent, active family dog, the Miniature Collie could be for you!

Read about other interesting dog breeds:


Featured Image Credit: Erkki Makkonen, Shutterstock

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