Strongly resembling the Old English Sheepdog, the Bearded Collie is a medium sized dog with a height ranging from 20 - 22 inches, and a weight of 50 pounds. Males reach up to 21 - 22 inches and 50 pounds. Females reach up to 20 – 21 inches tall and 50 pounds. Its large head is wide and bears a short muzzle. The shaggy hair under the chin gives the appearance of a beard, hence the “Bearded” part of the name. Eyes are set far apart, colored to complement the coat color, and set under a pair of arched eyebrows. Ears hang down and are carried close to the head. Bearded Collie tails are carried low and medium-length. The shaggy, weatherproof double coat has a soft, thick undercoat and an outer coat that’s black, blue, brown, fawn, and white. Some of the things that can disqualify this dog from competitions are a coat that drags on the floor or ground, a coat with a silky texture, a flat croup, a height that’s over or under the specified measurements, a pointed muzzle, a steep croup, and/or a trimmed coat.

The Border Collie is a muscular, medium sized dog with a height ranging from 18 - 22 inches, and a weight ranging from 30 - 50 pounds. Males can reach up to 17 - 21 inches and 30 - 50 pounds. Females reach just under those measurements. Its entire body is longer than its height, and the dog strongly resembles the Australian Shepherd minus the tail. Its head is wide and bears a narrowing muzzle with a black nose. Its eyes are dark brown or blue, or part blue in merles, and its ears are erect or part erect. Border Collie tails are long and set low. The double coat is typically black with a white blaze and ruff, but it can be any color other than all white (all black, black & gray, black and white, red & white, and tri-color.). It can also be rough or smooth. The teeth should meet in a scissors bite.