Shollie Dog Breed

Both German Shepherds and Collies are working dogs; the Collie is a herding dog and the Shepherd is both herding and military or police duty. It is likely that your Shollie would also excel at these activities as well as home and personal protection, companionship, and accompanying you for exercise activities. Ideally, the owner will have a large fenced yard for this dog, however, it is a requirement that he/she has enough time to devote to making sure their pet gets 1-2 hours of daily outdoor exercise (lest they want a large, uncontrollable nuisance).

Pros

• Shollies are great family companions and appropriate for multi-dog households.
• They make excellent home and family guardians.
• They are amazingly intelligent and fast learners.
• These dogs make superb exercising companions for any activity.

Cons

• Members of this breed shed a lot and their coats require frequent grooming.
• They are not suitable for apartments or condos and should have a fenced yard.
• Shollies require 1-2 hours of outdoor activity daily.
• They should be socialized very early with small pets and may still retain prey instincts.

Shollies, as hybrid dogs, will inherit characteristics from both parents but not always equally. We recommend prospective owners read up on the traits of both Collies and German Shepherds before adopting one of these guys. The following information for the Shollie breed can be supplemented by visiting our parent breed pages.

Members of this breed are arguably among the most intelligent dogs in the world. Both parent breeds top the list of smartest and most trainable dogs. This hybrid comes from two working/herding breeds and can adapt easily to working life, whether it be herding cattle, military, or protection duties. Shollies should be trained early and firmly; they will catch on quickly and a harsh temper with them is not necessary. An owner without the time and energy to give them proper instruction will rapidly find themselves with a bored, destructive, and even uncontrollable nuisance on their hands.

Shollies are happy, energetic, playful, loving and affectionate towards their people. They are excellent family playmates, however, due to their size they shouldn't be left alone with very small children. These guys are social with other dogs but may have the strong urge to chase cats or other small pets; socialize them as early as possible if they will be living with other critters. Strangers may find these dogs intimidating and they make loyal protectors of their families and homes; they may not open up to visitors immediately.

You can be certain that your Shollie will be very high energy. In fact, they will likely need early training to curb their rough play, jumping, pulling the leash, and nipping. They are prime choices for active owners looking for exercise buddies as they can effortlessly keep up on your long walks, hikes, runs and bike rides. Ideally, they will get at least 1-2 house daily of outdoor exercise and have a large fenced yard to run and play. These quick learners enjoy games like fetch and frisbee, plus obedience training is a great way to exercise your pets body and mind (as well as bond with them).

Hybrid dogs tend to vary much more than their purebred predecessors. The coat color of the Shollie is one such example, with some individuals keeping the traditional black and tan of the German Shepherd while others are solid or multicolored of the following shades: black, brown, white, cream, sable and yellow.

The coat also varies in length depending upon whether the hybrid is a German Shepherd x Rough Collie mix or German Shepherd Smooth Collie mix. The term "rough" simply refers to a longer, less smooth coat while "smooth" is a short coat that is smooth to the touch. The Rough Collie mix results is a shaggier, longer coat. Overall, Shollie tends to favor the German Shepherd in regards to appearance.

Intelligent, active, protective, industrious, and sometimes stubborn, the Shepherd-Collie mix temperament is one of intellect and enthusiasm. Not only are these dogs incredibly bright, they're also energetic, playful, and normally suspicious of strangers.

Since its Shepherd and Collie ancestors are working/herding breeds, a Shollie is itself extremely task-oriented; this crossbreed excels in obedience and agility trials, and Shollies are regularly employed as police and rescue dogs. Shollies can be great family companions, but it's best to begin socializing them with humans and other pets at a young age, if possible, to teach them not to be too boisterous around others. The good news is that Shollies will learn extremely fast! Keep in mind, the temperament of a bored German Shepherd Collie mix can take a sharp turn into unmanageable nuisance!

Shollies are also fantastic guard and watchdogs. They're instinctively protective and they're usually wary of strangers, so they will sound a vocal alarm if confronted with a potential threat--and they will often attempt to physically neutralize the threat as well.

German Shepherd Collie mixes result in puppies that should be healthier than the parent breeds, especially first generation crosses. Choosing a reputable breeder, combined with routine trips to your veterinarian, can help prevent some issues. It is recommended you read up on all possible health issues of both parent breeds before adopting one of these dogs. Typically, this breed will live from 12-15 years with few problems.

Although Shollie Puppies are usually healthy, hip dysplasia, deafness and epilepsy are the most common diseases that may be passed from the previous generation.