Istrian Sheepdog vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison

Istrian Sheepdog vs Australian Collie - Breed ComparisonIstrian Sheepdog is originated from Slovenia but Australian Collie is originated from Australia. Istrian Sheepdog may grow 23 cm / 10 inches higher than Australian Collie. Istrian Sheepdog may weigh 15 kg / 34 pounds more than Australian Collie. Istrian Sheepdog may live 6 years less than Australian Collie. Both Istrian Sheepdog and Australian Collie has same litter size. Both Istrian Sheepdog and Australian Collie requires Moderate maintenance.

History

istrian sheepdog - historyKnown also as the Karst Sheepdog, the beautiful, medium sized Istrian Sheepdog hails from Slovenia, Yugoslavia in the 1600s, being used to guard sheep. In fact, the Karst Shepherd was recognized as the Illyrian Shepherd in 1939.

The dog is fairly scarce in his own country, but interest in the dog started developing in the late 1970s. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale recognizes the breed and it has also been exported to the United States, being recognized by the United Kennel Club.

It is also recognized by a number of smaller kennel clubs. The dogs numbers have declined at certain periods in its history but fortunately breeding programs boosted its numbers.

australian collie - historyThe Koolie, as a breed we know today, originates from Australia. But, before they were breed and imported, they were the mix made of Britain smooth coated blue merle Collie and the Black and Tan Collie from the Highlands of Scotland. The Koolie came to Australia to work as a kennel dog since they are known as the working, farm dog that can adapt to any weather condition. They were bred to be agile and non-aggressive quiet herding dogs, and they have kept most of those good characteristics until today.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Herding dogs
Origin:
Slovenia
Australia
Height Male:
54 - 63 cm
21 - 25 inches
36 - 40 cm
14 - 16 inches
Height Female:
54 - 63 cm
21 - 25 inches
36 - 40 cm
14 - 16 inches
Weight Male:
26 - 40 kg
57 - 89 pounds
15 - 25 kg
33 - 56 pounds
Weight Female:
26 - 40 kg
57 - 89 pounds
15 - 25 kg
33 - 56 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
12 - 18 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 6
4 - 6
Size:
Medium dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Karst Sheepdog
Australian Koolie, German Koolie, German Coolie
Colors Available:
Dark and Light shades of Grey
red or blue patterned merle; some of them are born as one colored, usually red/chocolate or black. When they have two colors, they are red and white, black and white, black and tan, red and tan. Tricolor Collie is merle, with tan points and a white chest.
Coat:
Long, thick and harsh
smooth and short or short and rough; double coated or single coated. Some of them have longer coat their legs or without.
Shedding:
Moderate, Seasonal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Social
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

istrian sheepdog puppy - descriptionThis is a medium sized, muscled, strong dog with an iron-grey coat that has shades of deeper grey. His beautiful coat is long, thick and fairly harsh to the touch, with the undercoat protecting the dog against cold weather.

Around the neck area the hair is longer, forming an eye-catching-like mane. The stomach area has longer hair too. He has a noble look about him with kind, brown eyes and a round skull. The muzzle of the dog is dark, the limbs long and muscular and the tail is long and covered in thick fur.

The dog is slightly longer than its height, and both males and females stand at 54 to 63cm in height and weigh between 26 and 40kg. The long tail reaches right down to the hocks. The ears of the dog are fairly short and are floppy.

Temperament:

This dog has always made an excellent guard dog, being alert and also being distrustful of strangers. He will need to be trained and socialized if you want him to be obedient to you and more amicable around children in the home as well as visitors to the home.

If he is trained and well socialized, he is able to make a good pet. However, he is an energetic dog, used to working and he isn't recommended for life in the city if there is only a tiny garden. He needs space and will require a large garden.

He will also need to be exercised and not just left to his own devices in the backyard. Because he is essentially a working dog he doesn’t easily fit into the role of pet and companion. He is a working dog and will need to be kept busy.

australian collie puppy - descriptionKoolie is a medium bred. Their head is small, with a pointy jaw. Ears are pricked, semi-dropped or dropped. Their coat can be smooth or rough, short or medium length, always with the undercoat. The colours can be Red or Blue Merle, solid Red or Black, sometimes with minimal white or cream speckles. They are usually two-coloured or tricoloured, but some of them are actually one-coloured.

Some Koolie have one or two blue, green or yellow eyes. Eye colour is, of course, affected by the gene that creates the coat pattern and eye colour as well.

They are athletic dogs, with fine bone structure but great stamina. Actually, they were breed to be like that – to work hard, be noticeable among the sheep, eat little and be loyal to one person.

Characteristics

istrian sheepdog dog - characteristicsYour Istrian Sheepdog is a unique, strong-willed dog that is used to guarding, and working and he wants to be kept involved and busy.

He is wary of strangers and makes an excellent guard dog for any family home. Remember that it is never good to invest in a dog purely for guard dog purposes. A dog such as the Istrian Sheepdog is a social creature and he also wants- and needs to be part of a human family that provides him with plenty of interaction with them.

The Istrian Sheepdog is a loyal, loving dog who is capable of forming strong bonds with his human family. With proper training and socialization he makes a good friend of children and the elderly too.

Include him in all your family activities just like any human family member and he will make you a splendid, courageous pet.

Around children

australian collie dog - characteristicsKoolie is naturally energetic, playful and affectionate so they are naturally very good to raise with children.

Special talents

They are known as great obedience dog. They are very famous as the tracking dogs.

Some of them are successful as the rescue dogs, therapy dogs or educators for school children.

Adaptability

This is not a type of dog that will be alone in the house, wait for you and then be quiet while you rest. They need a great deal of activity and they are not such great choice for indoor life anyways. The best thing for them would be the large yard, with somebody home most of the time. They are great if raised in a family, with children and active owners. They will be great for a loner at the farm as well since that is in their blood. They need enough place to run, chase, play, rest on the sun and be active as they please. They get affectionate towards their families, but they will be accepting their new home when they are older just fine.

Learning ability

They are very good at learning. Intelligent, yes, but yet very silly and playful to do what is told all the time. They will surprise you with how quickly they will pick up the new trick but not feeling like doing it every time you would like them to. Everything is a play for them, so it would be best if you know how to play, be affectionate and friendly to become a good owner of this breed.

Health Problems

istrian sheepdog puppies - health problemsAs with many other dog breeds, the Istrian Sheepdog is a healthy dog that, because of history of hard work, is robust and able to stand up well to common dog illnesses.

However there is one dog illness that strikes many dogs and at any age, and it is hip dysplasia. This is a malformation of the hip joints.

You'll notice that your once active dog is lethargic, doesn't want to play so much anymore and battles to get up after lying down. The disease is painful for your dog and it can lead to mobility issues. The disease is diagnosed with x-rays and your vet will recommend treatment options to make life more comfortable and less painful for your beloved pet.

australian collie puppies - health problemsIf you are careful enough, you will choose your Koolie form patiently chosen breeders, after checking the health history of the pup and the pup’s family. Advisable is to do these things in person and never to buy a Koolie from a pet shop.

Sometimes, pups can be born blind or deaf pups. They have the great chance of joint problems because of their extreme activity. Their need to run, jump and play all the time may result in damage to cartilage and ligaments, especially since they are not aware of their age most of the time.

There is a chance that pup has skin allergies or immune system issues if they are growing on a farm near the chemicals used for plants, so be careful what kind of herbicide you use if you have a Collie.

In some rare cases, they suffer from seizers. If untreated, they can cause death. If you decide to take him to a regular vet check, you will have a happy and playful life together.

Caring The Pet

Exercise:

istrian sheepdog dogs - caringThis is a dog that is used to guarding his flock and he will need to be in a home that has a fair sized garden. He can adapt to life in the city or to the countryside, but wherever he is, he will need sufficient exercise. Take him with you on your walks or hikes and give him some rope- and ball games.

General Care:

Wherever you live in the world, when the Winter winds howl and blow in icy rain or snow, a dog is at an increased risk of illness. You decided to have a dog in your home and it is your responsibility to care for him. Winter weather is downright unpleasant and dangerous for most pets.

Bring your pet in during such weather and provide him with a warm, dry sleeping space. During hot weather, make sure your pet has a cool, shady spot to lie down in, out of the boiling sun. Whatever weather you're experiencing, your pet should never ever be without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Provide him with excellent food that is full of vitamins and minerals to keep him healthy. Learn to know what human foods can be toxic for him and cause him digestive problems.

Grooming:

Your double coated Istrian Sheepdog will need a thorough brushing at least twice a week because of his dense, double coat. He does shed and isn't a hypoallergenic dog. His thick coat can tangle easily if it isn't properly brushed and maintained.

Clip his nails when and if they grow long. Other grooming aspects for this attractive dog require checking his ears for infection and also checking his teeth as dental disease can lead to a host of serious illnesses in your dog.

Feeding the puppy and adult

australian collie dogs - caringWhether you choose canned food or dry food, treats as biscuits or left-overs, the quantity is the safest way of keeping the balanced diet for your Collie. They like raw meat and raw bones. Make sure not to feed them with cooked bones because they can do more harm than good.

Grooming

Since Koolie coat can be very short with the undercoat or a bit longer with undercoat, bristle brushing every 3 or 4 days will be enough for them. Some of them like the water and some of them don’t and that is perfectly fine since there is no need for a regular bath.

Points for Good Health

Lots of activities and lots of love. They express their love all the time and you can learn a lot from them actually. They like raw bones and from-the-table delicious treats but make sure not to overfeed them.

The best type of activity

Games that need them to be fast and think quickly. Running with them, driving a bike with them (but not on the leash!) would be a great fun for them. Why not leash? They are so playful and happy and they tend to jump and run to the side to chase a butterfly or catch the falling leaf.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Pembroke Welsh Corgi vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  2. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  3. Bearded Collie vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  4. Collie vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  5. Dutch Shepherd vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  6. Blue Healer vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  7. English Shepherd vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  8. Australian Collie vs Australian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  9. Australian Collie vs Australian Cattle Dog - Breed Comparison
  10. Australian Collie vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  11. Australian Collie vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  12. Catahoula Cur vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  13. Catalan Sheepdog vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  14. Pyrenean Shepherd vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  15. Bergamasco vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  16. Berger Picard vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  17. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  18. Queensland Heeler vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  19. German Coolie vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  20. Bohemian Shepherd vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  21. Croatian Sheepdog vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  22. Red Heeler vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  23. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervuren) vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  24. Blue Lacy vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  25. New Zealand Huntaway vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  26. Sakhalin Husky vs Istrian Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  27. Portuguese Water Dog vs Istrian Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  28. Puli vs Istrian Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  29. McNab vs Istrian Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  30. Porcelaine vs Istrian Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  31. Hokkaido vs Istrian Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  32. Petit Bleu de Gascogne vs Istrian Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  33. Pumi vs Istrian Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  34. Istrian Sheepdog vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  35. Istrian Sheepdog vs Border Collie - Breed Comparison
  36. Istrian Sheepdog vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  37. Istrian Sheepdog vs Catahoula Leopard - Breed Comparison
  38. Istrian Sheepdog vs German Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  39. Istrian Sheepdog vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  40. Istrian Sheepdog vs Griffon Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  41. Istrian Sheepdog vs Borador - Breed Comparison
  42. Istrian Sheepdog vs German Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  43. Istrian Sheepdog vs Canadian Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  44. Istrian Sheepdog vs Finnish Lapphund - Breed Comparison
  45. Istrian Sheepdog vs Berger Blanc Suisse - Breed Comparison
  46. Istrian Sheepdog vs Griffon Nivernais - Breed Comparison
  47. Istrian Sheepdog vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  48. Istrian Sheepdog vs Griffon Fauve de Bretagne - Breed Comparison
  49. Istrian Sheepdog vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  50. Istrian Sheepdog vs Canaan Dog - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds