A smaller breed of dogs like the Chihuahua or Pomeranian has been a trend as far as I can remember. And breeding larger dogs into mini sizes are progressively becoming popular as well.
And one of those that you might have heard is a miniature version of a Collie.
Uhmm….
It might have caught your attention, and you want to know more about this breed.
If you’re looking for information in regards to the breed, then this content is just for you!
In this article, I will provide detailed information about the Miniature Collie, such as price range, health care, grooming, etc.
So without further delays, let’s begin…
What Is a Miniature Collie?
A Miniature Collie, as you might have surmised, is a smaller breed of Collies. Mini Collies are an adorable and gorgeous breed of dogs. And aside from their appearance, they are also energetic, lovable, loyal, and most importantly, they are great in a family setting.
As of yet, they are not officially recognized by the dog breeders organization. Nonetheless, they are among the popular breeds as of today.
However, because of their size and personality, they are more of in the toy group than anything else.
But overall, the Miniature Collie is a great choice if you’re looking for an enthusiastic, cuddly, and fun-loving canine companion.
Now, let’s continue and explore more about your potential new pet…
History and Origins: Where Do Miniature Collies Come From?
A Miniature Collie is bred from a traditional regular-sized Collie – by regular, it means that this canine group is medium-sized when it reaches full adulthood.
The predecessor of Miniature Collies is originally used for farm purposes in Scotland and other northern regions of Great Britain.
There are various ways of how a breeder produces a mini version of Collie. Typically, they have three known methods on how to accomplish this, and it includes the following:
Interbreeding With a Smaller Dog
The first and most obvious method is to find a smaller canine breed and pair them with a regular-sized Collie. If you can find an owner of small Collie nearby, then the better, but if there’s none, then it’s best to find a breed that looks similar in color.
Following this important step is a perfect way to retain every physical aspect of the breed while producing a much tinier version of the breed.
One example is breeding them with a Sheltie or Shetland Sheepdog. Because of their similarities, they would likely conceive offspring that look like them yet smaller when they reached adulthood.
Other canine groups that I think perfect for breeding Miniature Collie are the Australian Shepherd, Belgian Tervuren, and Border Collie.
Repeat Interbreeding
In connection with the previous method, you can repeat this process until the size you desire is achieved.
Introduce a Breed With Dwarfism
Lastly, you can introduce a genetic deformation into the mix, particularly dwarfism, from another Collie to achieve a miniature version of the breed.
When a normal dog interbred with a canine that has dwarfism, the abnormality of the offspring is referred to as chondrodysplasia.
Two normal hounds may also produce offspring with an abnormality. And this medical condition in dogs is called pituitary dwarfism.
It is believed that the cause is due to a deficiency in growth hormone, but how the puppy obtains the defect is unknown.
However, this method is a little challenging to achieve. This is especially true when we’re taking into consideration the type of breed and genetic deformity.
Also, this type of breeding could lead to several health conditions like for example:
Spinal problems like Intervertebral Disc Disease.
Abnormal development of limbs and joints that could be very painful to our beloved canine companions.
And nutrient-deficient conditions.
It is for this reason that this method of breeding is not widely used in general.
What Does a Miniature Collie Look Like?
Miniature Collie is a good-looking canine breed with an outstanding personality trait. They are friendly and very warm to people close to them.
If you’re a fan of Collies, then you’ll be interested in owning a tiny version of them. They are less demanding in food, and due to their size, you can bring them along with ease.
You can easily distinguish them from other breeds. If you see a collie-like dog, then they’re probably a Miniature Collie.
They are as furry as their taller and bigger counterparts but can also vary in color.
This is a huge plus factor, especially for potential dog owners looking for a specific type of fur color.
Anyway, some of the common varieties you can find are as follows:
A Shade of Black and White
Photo from @pawpower.agility (IG)
The combination of black and white is one of the most popular breeds of Miniature Collie.
Traditional Tri-Color Combination of Orange, Black, and White
Photo from @shelties4love (IG)
This tri-color is probably the one we are used to seeing in Collies.
White and Orange
Photo from @doodlesdoggiedaycare (IG)
It’s a less popular combination where there are little-to-none patches of black.
Along the way, you may see different patterns, but the colors of their fur would always revolve around the textures mentioned above.
How to Differentiate Between a Miniature Collie and Shetland Sheepdog?
You might have mistaken the two breeds of canine for the other. But as I emphasized earlier, they are far distinct aside from the apparent gap in size and weight.
One distinction is their history and how each group is bred. As I discussed earlier, you have to perform specialized methods to produce a Miniature Collie.
Another is that they also vary in personalities and tendencies. A Shetland Sheepdog or popularly known as Sheltie is intended for herding purposes in the farms of North Great Britain.
A distinct tendency of a Sheltie is that it would try to do something whenever they feel bored. It may be running back and forth in your house or finding something that they can sink their teeth into – they will do anything to beat the boredom.
On the other hand, a Miniature Collie is more reserved and quiet and tends to nap more whenever they find themselves having nothing to do.
Lastly, the expected lifespan slightly varies, with a sheltie having an average of 12 to 14 years, while a Miniature Collie is only around 12 years.
Nevertheless, both make an excellent household pet, but if you’re looking for a more adorable or smaller dog, then the Mini Collie is the obvious choice.
Miniature Collie Temperament: Do They Make Good Family Dogs?
Both the Sheltie and Mini Collie are perfect in a family setting.
Although the Mini Collie is lovable, loyal, and playful, they tend to be very reserved at times, as emphasized earlier. Despite their small stature, they are not necessarily the best option if you have small kids roaming around the house.
The good news is that you can train your lovable and cuddly pets on how to socialize with your children and other household pets.
Training your dog should start at an early age. You can teach them how to behave and interact with other living things around them.
In return, you should also teach your children how to treat the dog properly whenever possible. For example, pulling the dogs’ ears, feet or tail may result in aggressive behavior from your pets.
How Big Do Miniature Collies Get When Fully Grown?
Photo from @pawpower.agility (IG)
Take note also that their size may vary as well, depending on their gender.
Males are naturally larger and taller compared to the female.
The average height of a male Miniature Collies is around 24 to 26 inches and weighs between 60 to 75 pounds.
On the other hand, the female Miniature Collie could reach around 22 to 24 inches tall, and the average weight is between 50 to 65 pounds.
Miniature Collie Health Issues
Miniature Collies from pure breeds are believed not to experience any health conditions from genetic abnormalities. As explained, this may not always be the case with puppies that are the result of interbreeding.
However, a purebred Miniature Collie may suffer from eye conditions at some point in their lives. They may also be candidates for a displaced kneecap disorder, which is medically known as Luxating Patella.
In any case that these health conditions indeed occur, then it’s advisable that you visit your local veterinary to correct the displaced kneecap or treat the eye condition.
This type of breed is also prone to becoming overweight. Therefore, it is of utter importance to feed your dog properly and walk them daily for exercise.
Another critical piece of information to consider here is that Collies, in general, are sensitive to medications. So never attempt to treat your dog by yourself whenever they are ill.
Generally, Miniature Collies are very healthy and live a full life if proper health measures are observed. Their expected lifespan is at least 12 years.
Miniature Collie Puppy Price & Expenses: Can You Afford a Miniature Collie?
If you’re contemplating adopting a Miniature Collie, then you have to prepare your budget because a puppy is extremely expensive.
Depending on the breeder and its pedigree, it would cost you anywhere from $800 to $1,200.
Of course, there may be chances that you would find puppies that have lower prices, and you might be tempted to buy them.
But you have to remember that cheaper puppies may already be in poor health condition.
After the initial cost, you also have to consider vaccination, which would cost you an average of $60 to $70.
I will breakdown the estimated maintenance cost into the following sections…
Places to Find Miniature Collie Puppies for Sale or Adoption
Sadly, there are no dedicated websites that offer adoption for Collies. But there are fairly good online websites where you can find one:
Greenfield Puppies: Greenfield Puppies is an online shop that addresses aspiring pet owners of a Mini Collie. They were established in the 2000s. And being in this business for a long time says a lot about the businesses’ credibility.
Lancaster Puppies: So far, Lancaster puppies is the only site I found that has a huge listing of Miniature Collies in their database. You can visit their website and see for yourself.
You can also search from these shelters and help rescue a Mini Collie:
Best Friend: Best Friends is an organization based in Utah that primarily aims to homeless dogs.
Adopt-a-Pet: Adopt-a-Pet is an online adaptation platform that offers users a wide selection of breeds, including Mini Collies.
How to Care for Your Miniature Collie?
Feeding
As mentioned, the breed group of Collies is generally prone to obesity. And it is for this reason that you feed them properly.
The average feeding cost is $120 per year if your pooch consumes regular dog foods, but it could go as high as $500 if you are feeding them premium dog foods.
Grooming
Aside from household grooming, it also advisable to bring your pet to the veterinary for their monthly groom. The reason for this is to ensure that your beloved pet is free from any harmful disease.
The usual grooming cost is as follows:
Nail Trimming: An average of as much as $10 per visit.
Bathing: This grooming treatment would usually cost you about $30 to $40.
Exercise & Training
A primary part of their training must also include social interaction with other dogs and human beings. Since they would be around people a lot, this training is of the utmost importance to help them become comfortable and reduce anxiety.
Small as they are, Mini Collies are extremely smart and easy to train. It is believed that they are even smarter than their taller and bigger counterparts – as they always say, sometimes big things often come in small packages.
Daily exercise should also be a part of their daily routine since they easily become overweight.
Veterinary Care
A monthly visit to your local veterinary is also an essential factor in ensuring that your dog is perfectly safe from any health condition.
Some of the medical care expenses you have to consider are as follows:
Vaccines: Rabies vaccines are in the range of $15 to $20, while other vaccines, in general, should be within $60 to $70. They are given to your dog regularly, depending on your arrangement with your veterinarian.
Ear and Dental Care: This specific need should cost dog owners an average of $40 per month. On the other hand, the expenses may go up to $1,000 if they are experiencing a serious dental condition.
Flea Management: The cost of flea shampoo in the market would only cost you about $40 in a year. On the other hand, you may have to spend $150 to $200 a year for a flea pill.
Deworming: Preventing worms such as heartworm is important since it is one of the common causes of death among dogs. Prevention is relatively affordable, which is around $15 a month. It could also go up to $180 a month, depending on what methods are used. If this basic need is ignored, the heartworm could spread in the lungs. Treating the disease would now cost you at least $400.
Related Questions
Do Miniature Collies Shed?
Like in any breed of dog, you can expect them to shed once in a while. For this reason, you have to bring them to your local pet center to be groomed.
Since Miniature Collies have prominent furs, they shed all year long, but you expect the worst shedding between spring and fall.
Do Miniature Collies Bark a Lot?
Although Miniature Collies are friendly and loyal, they tend to be shy and nervous around a stranger. Therefore, they bark a lot if there are people near or within your compound that they are not familiar with.
Final Thoughts: Is Miniature Collie the Right Pet Dog for You?
I hope you find my Miniature Collie content helpful!
Taking care of your beloved dogs is of utter importance if you want to keep them healthy and happy at the same, no matter what breed they are. And the level of attention only differs in their breed.
As you see above, the expenses and care could be taxing if you’re not prepared to become a responsible owner.
Since most breeds are the result of interbreeding, you have to be ready for any health conditions occurring as a result.
But overall, I think that they are a great breed to own. They are fun-loving, energetic, and loyal, which makes them excellent around your family.
If you’re up for the challenge, then I believe that the Miniature Collie is the right fit for you!
Well, I guess we’ve tackled sufficient information about this type of breed!
Thank you for the time!
I hope to see you in the next contents!
Peace!
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