Canis lupus familiaris
Smooth Collie
Featured photosmooth-collie.jpgThe Smooth Collie is a British herding breed identical in conformation and ancestry to the Rough Collie — famously known through the 'Lassie' character — but with a short, flat, hard-textured double coat rather than the abundant flowing coat of the Rough. Both collie varieties were developed in Scotland for herding sheep and cattle and were popularised by Queen Victoria, who kept Collies at Balmoral Castle from the 1860s onward. The AKC recognised the Smooth Collie in 1886 as one of its founding breed cohort. Males stand 56–66 cm and weigh 20–34 kg.
Quick facts
- AKC group
- Herding
- Origin country
- Scotland
- Origin period
- 19th century
- Coat type
- Short
- Coat colors
- Sable and White, Tricolor, Blue Merle, White
- Average lifespan
- 12-14 years
- Recognition
- AKC 1886 · FCI 1954 · UKC 1948 · Group 1 — Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (Section 1: Sheepdogs)
Origin
The Smooth Collie shares its origin with the Rough Collie — both descend from Scottish herding dogs developed in the Highlands and Lowlands of Scotland for driving and tending sheep and cattle. The precise ancestry of the Collie family includes indigenous Scottish dogs crossed with possible droving dog crosses from Wales and England. Queen Victoria's patronage from the 1860s onward transformed the Collie from a working sheep dog to a fashionable companion breed. The Smooth variety was the preferred form of many early Collie breeders, including Queen Victoria and Edward VII, before the Rough's flowing coat won the show ring.
Recognition
The AKC recognised the Collie in 1886, including both the Rough and Smooth varieties from the start. The two varieties are today shown in the same AKC breed classification — Collie (Rough) and Collie (Smooth) — competing separately within the same breed. The Kennel Club (UK) originally registered them as separate breeds; it later consolidated them as two varieties of the Collie. The FCI (FCI No. 296) recognises the Smooth Collie as one of two Collie varieties with Scotland/UK as patron.
Standard
The AKC standard for the Smooth Collie is identical to the Rough Collie in all points except coat: the Smooth has a short, flat, hard outer coat with a dense undercoat rather than the Rough's long, abundant, straight outer coat. Accepted colours and patterns are the same for both: sable and white, tricolor (black/white/tan), blue merle, and white. The breed's characteristic long, tapered head, expressive almond-shaped eyes, and semi-erect ears are the same in both varieties. Males stand 61–66 cm; females 56–61 cm.
Sources & further reading (3)
- kennel-club-registry — accessed 2026-05-07
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-05-07
- fci-standard — accessed 2026-05-07
Frequently asked questions
What AKC group does the Smooth Collie belong to?
The AKC places the Smooth Collie in the Herding Group alongside the Rough Collie. Both are registered as the 'Collie' breed in two coat varieties. The Herding Group includes breeds developed to control the movement of livestock; the Collie was Scotland's primary sheep and cattle herding dog before becoming a popular show and companion breed.
How is the Smooth Collie different from the Rough Collie (Lassie)?
The Smooth Collie and Rough Collie are the same breed in two coat varieties — identical in conformation, size, color, and temperament, differing only in coat length. The Rough Collie has the long, abundant, flowing double coat familiar from the 'Lassie' films; the Smooth Collie has a short, flat, hard outer coat with a dense undercoat. Both varieties share the same sable, tricolor, blue merle, and white colour options. The AKC registers them as separate varieties of the single breed Collie.
When was the Smooth Collie recognised by the AKC?
The AKC recognised both Rough and Smooth varieties of the Collie in 1886, making the Smooth Collie one of the earliest breeds in the AKC studbook. The Collie Club of America was founded the same year. The FCI (FCI No. 296) recognised the Smooth Collie in 1954 alongside the Rough Collie as two varieties of the Collie breed.
