Smooth Collie
The Smooth Collie is the short-coated Collie of the Scottish borders, registered in Britain as a separate breed from the Rough although the two share a standard in everything but…
About the Smooth Collie
The Smooth Collie is the short-coated Collie of the Scottish borders, registered in Britain as a separate breed from the Rough although the two share a standard in everything but coat and have been interbred within living memory. Elsewhere in the world they are often one breed with two coat varieties, which is worth knowing when reading an imported pedigree.
Dogs stand 56 to 61 cm, with a short, harsh, flat coat over a dense undercoat in sable and white, tricolour or blue merle. Without a standing ruff the Smooth shows its construction plainly, and faults of front or hindquarter that a Rough could hide are on open display, which makes assessing a stud unusually straightforward. Blue merle must not be bred to blue merle.
The eye tests come first: ask for a current eye certificate and for the DNA results for collie eye anomaly and rcd2 progressive retinal atrophy. Knowing a Smooth's MDR1 status matters, since the gene changes which drugs are safe to use and the Collie breeds carry it at high frequency. Ask for hip scores, for the degenerative myelopathy DNA result, and about epilepsy in the line.
Health & breeding
We check every hip, elbow, eye and DNA result you give us against the Royal Kennel Club’s public records by hand, and we record who checked it and when. The Royal Kennel Club’s public records may not include all the screening a dog has had, so a dog with no Royal Kennel Club record showing is not necessarily untested.
Breed Right’s summary — under The Royal Kennel Club Health Standard
Health tests for the Smooth Collie
This panel is Breed Right’s summary of the testing that matters for the breed under The Royal Kennel Club Health Standard. The Health Standard is the Royal Kennel Club’s guidance for breeders, not a registration rule. It describes tests to ask about — it is not a report on any individual dog. The Royal Kennel Club’s public records may not include all the screening a dog has had, so a dog with no Royal Kennel Club record showing is not necessarily untested.
Best Practice — further tests it recommends
Completing these as well as the Good Practice tests is what the Royal Kennel Club calls Best Practice.
| Test | Type | Scheme | What’s involved |
|---|---|---|---|
| DNA test — CEA/CH (Collie Eye Anomaly / Choroidal Hypoplasia) | DNA test | Laboratory | The result printed on the laboratory certificate. |
| DNA test — DM (Degenerative Myelopathy, SOD1 risk test) | DNA test | Laboratory | SOD1 risk test: clear, carrier or at risk (affected). |
| DNA test — MDR1 (Multi-Drug Resistance) | DNA test | Laboratory | The result printed on the laboratory certificate. |
| DNA test — rcd2-PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy, rod-cone dysplasia 2) | DNA test | Laboratory | The result printed on the laboratory certificate. |
| Hip score (BVA/KC) | Screening scheme | BVA/KC | Total of both hips, 0–106. Lower is better. |
| Eye testing (BVA/KC/ISDS) | Screening scheme | BVA/KC/ISDS | Result printed on the eye certificate. |
Breed hip median
Breed median 8 (BVA Hip Dysplasia Scheme breed statistics 2025 — 5 years, 12 dogs scored — indicative only, from a small sample). Lower is better. Source · How hip scores work
At stud now
Smooth Collie stud dogs
No Smooth Collie studs are listed right now
When a Smooth Collie on the Royal Kennel Club Breed Register is listed at stud, it will appear here.
Also available
Smooth Collie litters
No Smooth Collie litters are listed right now
Litters appear here as breeders list them. Check back soon, or browse other breeds.
