Which is Better between the Collie and the Shiloh Shepherd?

Last Updated: May 01, 2022

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Collie Versus Shiloh Shepherd: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Collie and the Shiloh Shepherd? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Collie and the Shiloh Shepherd better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Collie and the Shiloh Shepherd.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Collie and the Shiloh Shepherd is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Collie and for the Shiloh Shepherd. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Collie and the Shiloh Shepherd.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Collie or the Shiloh Shepherd.

Note that the Collie breed comes in two varieties based on coat texture. There is the smooth collie and the rough collie. Read our article on rough collie versus smooth collie.

Furthermore, the border collie dog breed is very different from the collie dog breed. Learn about the differences between these two dog breeds in our border collie versus collie article.

See this article that compares the Border Collie to the Shiloh Shepherd.

Finally, just like the collie, the border collie also comes in two varieties. There is the rough border collie and the smooth border collie. To learn about the differences and similarities between them, check out our article on rough-coat border collie versus smooth-coat border collie.

Collie versus Shiloh Shepherd: Overview

A very important difference between the Collie and the Shiloh Shepherd is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Collie is a medium-sized dog while the Shiloh Shepherd is a giant-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Collie belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

On the other hand, the Shiloh Shepherd belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

Collie versus Shiloh Shepherd: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Collie to the Shiloh Shepherd based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Collie and the Shiloh Shepherd

FactorCollieShiloh Shepherd
Does NOT Drool5/53/5
Tendency NOT to Wander5/53/5
Life Span10 to 14 years9 to 14 years
Tolerates Being Alone2/52/5
Easy To Groom2/54/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor4/52/5
Height22 to 26 inches all at the shoulder26 to 30 inches
Adapts Well To Apartment Living3/51/5
Tolerates Hot Weather3/54/5
General Health3/53/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight3/52/5
Does NOT chew on things3/52/5
NOT Rambunctious3/52/5
Minimal Exercise Needs3/52/5
Good For Novice Owners4/52/5
Tolerates Cold Weather4/55/5
Dog Friendly4/54/5
Friendly Toward Strangers4/55/5
Easy To Train4/55/5
Intelligence4/55/5
Low Prey Drive2/55/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl2/52/5
Potential For Playfulness4/55/5
Easygoing1/52/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Kid-Friendly5/55/5
Does NOT Shed1/52/5
Weight50 to 70 pounds80 to 130 pounds
Average Lifespan12.0 years11.5 years
Average Price$1480No Data
Price Range$1000 – $1800No Data
Temperament Score80.8 percent80.8 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Dermatomyositis
  • Multiple Drug Sensitivity
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • *Data from AKC.org (The American Kennel Club),dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (The American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Collie in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Shiloh Shepherd. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the Collie is 83 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Shiloh Shepherd is 82 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Collie is a better pet than the Shiloh Shepherd. So, you should get a Collie!

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Collie and the Shiloh Shepherd

    Below is a list of where the Collie and the Shiloh Shepherd are most different:

  • Collies have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets. However, Shiloh Shepherds have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
  • The Similarities Between the Collie and the Shiloh Shepherd

    The Collie and the Shiloh Shepherd are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Collie and the Shiloh Shepherd are most similar:

  • Both the Collie and the Shiloh Shepherd do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Collie and the Shiloh Shepherd can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Collie and the Shiloh Shepherd get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Collie and the Shiloh Shepherd are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Collie and the Shiloh Shepherd are very easy to train.
  • Both the Collie and the Shiloh Shepherd are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Collie and the Shiloh Shepherd are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Collie and the Shiloh Shepherd are very playful.
  • Both the Collie and the Shiloh Shepherd are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Collie and the Shiloh Shepherd are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Collie and the Shiloh Shepherd get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Collie and the Shiloh Shepherd shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Size Comparison of the Collie versus Shiloh Shepherd

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Collie and the Shiloh Shepherd.

    The Collie weighs 50 to 70 pounds when fully grown. The Collie is 22 to 26 inches all at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, the Shiloh Shepherd weighs 80 to 130 pounds when fully grown. The Shiloh Shepherd is 26 to 30 inches when fully grown.

    Size of Collie versus Size of Shiloh Shepherd

    Lifespan of Collie versus Shiloh Shepherd

    The lifespan of the Collie is between 10 to 14 years. The average lifespan of the Collie is 12.0 years.

    The lifespan of the Shiloh Shepherd is between 9 to 14 years . The average lifespan of the Shiloh Shepherd is 11.5 years.

    The Collie live longer than the Shiloh Shepherd.

    Temperament of the Shiloh Shepherd Versus the Collie

    The Collie has the same temperament score as the Shiloh Shepherd.

    This is because the temperament score for the Collie is 80.8 percent while the temperament score for the Shiloh Shepherd is 80.8 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 80.8 percent, the Collie has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 80.8 percent, the Shiloh Shepherd has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Collie and the Shiloh Shepherd by measuring the temperaments of 896 Collies and 26 Shiloh Shepherds.

    Health Problems of Collie versus Health Problems of Shiloh Shepherd

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.

    Both the Collie and the Shiloh Shepherd are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Shiloh Shepherd is prone to the same number of genetic health problems as the Collie.

    4 health tests are recommended for Collie while 4 tests are recommended for the Shiloh Shepherd.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Collies and in Shiloh Shepherds.

    Collie Health Problems

    Collies are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Collie puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Collie puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Collie breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Collies for:

  • Clear By Parentage
  • Dermatomyositis
  • Multiple Drug Sensitivity
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test

  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Collies here.

    Shiloh Shepherd Health Problems

    Shiloh Shepherds are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Shiloh Shepherd puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Shiloh Shepherd puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Shiloh Shepherd breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Shiloh Shepherds for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Hip Dysplasia

  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Shiloh Shepherds here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Collies and Shiloh Shepherds

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Collie Breed is Collie Eye Anomaly problems.

    This is because the Collie ranks 1 out of 7 dog breeds for Collie Eye Anomaly problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 114 Collies, 16 of them had Collie Eye Anomaly problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Collies, and how common these diseases are in Collies relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Collie Eye Anomaly problems: Rank 1 out of 7 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 1 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Multiple Drug Resistance (Mdr1) problems: Rank 1 out of 7 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 13 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 16 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 65 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 107 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 182 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Shiloh Shepherd Breed is Congenital Cardiac problems.

    This is because the Shiloh Shepherd ranks 39 out of 159 dog breeds for Congenital Cardiac problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 740 Shiloh Shepherds, 3 of them had Congenital Cardiac problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Shiloh Shepherds, and how common these diseases are in Shiloh Shepherds relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 39 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 40 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 42 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 52 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 97 out of 115 Dog Breeds

  • The table below lists the common health problems in Collie and in Shiloh Shepherd and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Collie and the Shiloh Shepherd:

    Disease Collie Rank Shiloh Shepherd Rank
    Collie Eye Anomaly problems 1 out of 7 dog breeds Not Common
    Eyes problems 1 out of 182 dog breeds Not Common
    Multiple Drug Resistance (Mdr1) problems 1 out of 7 dog breeds Not Common
    Dentition Database problems 13 out of 49 dog breeds Not Common
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems 16 out of 70 dog breeds 40 out of 70 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems 65 out of 115 dog breeds 97 out of 115 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 107 out of 144 dog breeds 52 out of 144 dog breeds
    Hips problems 182 out of 198 dog breeds 42 out of 198 dog breeds
    Congenital Cardiac problems Not Common 39 out of 159 dog breeds

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Collie versus Shiloh Shepherd

    Collies do not like to be left alone.

    Shiloh Shepherds do not like to be left alone.

    Do Collies shed more than Shiloh Shepherds?

    Collies shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Shiloh Shepherds shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Collie or the Shiloh Shepherd?

    Collies require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Shiloh Shepherds are very easy to groom.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Collie or the Shiloh Shepherd?

    Collies get along very well with other dogs.

    Shiloh Shepherds get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Collies good family dogs? What about Shiloh Shepherds?

    Collies are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Shiloh Shepherds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Is the Collie Easier to Train than the Shiloh Shepherd?

    Collies are very easy to train.

    Shiloh Shepherds are very easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Collie or the Shiloh Shepherd

    Collies do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Shiloh Shepherds drool moderately.

    How Kid-friendly are Collies and Shiloh Shepherds?

    Collies get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Shiloh Shepherds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Does the Collie Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Shiloh Shepherd?

    Collies have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Shiloh Shepherds have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Do Collies Bark and Howl? What about Shiloh Shepherds?

    Collies are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Shiloh Shepherds are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can Collies Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Shiloh Shepherds Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Collies can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Shiloh Shepherds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Collie vs. Shiloh Shepherd

    Collies do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Shiloh Shepherds have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Collies Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Shiloh Shepherds Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Collies can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Shiloh Shepherds can tolerate hot weather.

    Is the Collie Better for Apartment Owners than the Shiloh Shepherd?

    Collies adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Shiloh Shepherds do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Collie or the Shiloh Shepherd?

    Collies are very good for new dog owners.

    Shiloh Shepherds are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Collie Versus Other Dog Breeds

    You may also be interested in how the Collie compares to other breeds aside from the Shiloh Shepherd. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Collie to other breeds:

    Collie versus West Highland White Terrier     Collie versus Cairn Terrier     Collie versus Pomchi     Collie versus Samoyed     Collie versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen     Collie versus Frenchton     Collie versus Pharaoh Hound     Collie versus Shichon     Collie versus Portuguese Water Dog     Collie versus Boston Terrier     Collie versus Bergamasco Sheepdog     Collie versus Keeshond     Collie versus Jack Russell Terrier     Collie versus Dachshund     Collie versus Tibetan Mastiff     Collie versus Mastiff     Collie versus Norfolk Terrier     

    Conclusion: Collie versus Shiloh Shepherd. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Collie and the Shiloh Shepherd better suits you and your family.