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Meet the breedA gentle herder in a long coatCharacter, size, and what surprises new owners
The Collie is a herding dog with a gentle household reputation and a coat that needs regular care. Long hair is the visible job; teaching, exercise, and attention to the individual are the less visible ones.
Adults commonly weigh 50–75 lb; a typical lifespan guide is 12–14 years. These are breed-wide guides, never targets or forecasts for an individual pet.
Daily life & exerciseA day with a CollieExercise, play, and a practical daily rhythm
Regular walks and play are a sensible starting rhythm for a Collie. Then look at your dog's energy, age, and health to decide whether they want more adventure or more time on the sofa.
For the Collie, a retrieving game gives them a job to do with you. Practice giving the toy back as carefully as the exciting throw.
What would your Collie love?
Add their age, size, and favorite things. We’ll find a few good places to start.
Training & temperamentLearning together with a CollieGood manners and individual personality
The Collie is often devoted, proud, and graceful.
Give your Collie a suitable search, fetch, or chase game when they enjoy it, and practice stopping and returning before excitement runs away with the lesson.
Coat & groomingThe Collie coatGrooming and everyday care
The Collie has a double coat with a softer underlayer; brush through it gently rather than only smoothing the surface. A weekly brushing is a sensible baseline; add sessions when the coat sheds or tangles more.
Bringing home a Collie puppy?
Plan their first days with a little help from our puppy welcome kit.
Build a puppy welcome kitProduct starting pointsGood finds for your CollieFood, play, care, and rest
Choose food for your Collie's life stage and measured weight. The breed range is a clue, but the portion and fit should follow the individual. Use your dog's measurements for a harness, carrier, crate, or bed; a breed name is not a size chart.
For your Collie, start with something suited to retrieving games, plus a comb that reaches the undercoat. Add a comfortable rest spot; a good product list should follow this dog's interests, not a breed stereotype.
Health & lifespanCaring for a Collie over time12–14 years is a guide, not a forecast
The Collie has a lifespan guide of 12–14 years, though no range predicts one dog's future. Keep a record of weight and changes in appetite or activity, and plan preventive care with your veterinarian.
If you are meeting a breeder, ask to see the parents' screening records. The AKC lists progressive retinal atrophy, rod-cone dysplasia 2 DNA testing and multidrug resistance 1 DNA testing for the Collie. These checks are questions for breeding stock, not a prediction of a puppy's future health.