Collie (Rough Collie) vs Old English Sheepdog: Which Suits Your Home?

This is the rare case where both breeds actually land in the same size class; both are rated large. The Collie runs 50-75 lbs and 22-26 inches; the Old English Sheepdog runs a bit heavier and shorter, 60-100 lbs and 20-24 inches. Don't expect the shaggy silhouette to fool you into thinking it's bigger than it is; the numbers put these two closer together than almost any other pairing on this site.

Exercise need and energy level both tie at moderate 3/5 for these two breeds, which makes sense given their shared herding backgrounds. Both want regular activity without demanding elite-level exercise: daily walks, some open space to move in, and they're satisfied. If energy level alone is your deciding factor, this comparison won't give you one; look at grooming and trainability instead.

The Old English Sheepdog asks even more of you than the Collie here: 5/5 grooming need, the maximum rating, against the Collie's already-substantial 4/5. That shaggy double coat mats notoriously fast without near-daily attention. Shedding itself ties at 4/5 for both, so you're not saving on fur, just adding more brushing time if you go with the Sheepdog specifically.

Both breeds tie at 2/5 for apartment suitability and 3/5 for barking, essentially identical scores. Neither was built for small-space living; both want room to move and a yard to patrol, a legacy of their herding origins. This category, like exercise, won't separate the two breeds for you; the differences that matter are elsewhere in this comparison.

Here's where they diverge sharply: the Collie rates a perfect 5/5 on trainability and 4/5 for first-time owners, while the Old English Sheepdog comes in at 3/5 and just 2/5. Despite its friendly reputation, the Sheepdog has an independent streak that makes it a harder training project than its cuddly appearance suggests. First-time owners drawn to the breed's looks should weigh that 2/5 rating seriously before committing.

Both score a perfect 5/5 with kids and are tied at 4/5 with other dogs and strangers. Family sociability is a wash between these two breeds; whatever tips your decision, it's unlikely to be how either dog behaves around children, other pets, or visitors, since the numbers are effectively identical here.

The Collie has the lifespan edge: 11 to 14 years against the Sheepdog's 10 to 12. Hip dysplasia and bloat appear on both lists. The Sheepdog's list is notably shorter overall, adding cataracts and a rarer condition, primary ciliary dyskinesia, that isn't on the Collie's list at all; worth asking a breeder about specifically if you're set on this breed.

The Sheepdog costs a bit more to keep: rated 4/5 against the Collie's 3/5, with a monthly range of $110-$240 versus $100-$200 and a first-year total up to $3,200 against $2,800. Most of that gap traces back to the heavier grooming demands of that shaggy coat, whether you're doing it yourself or paying a groomer.