Border Collie Size Question

She doesn't look that small to me, she looks all grown up in the first picture . From my understanding 18 inches (in height) is the smallest for females (going from akc standards). You also said her mom was on the smaller side so she could be too. And her weight (from just some general searching) looks be around the middle for female borders. She's also got a bit more growing to do too, maybe she just looks small compared to Levi? She could also being going through a lanky phase and her fur length is accentuating it

She looks smaller compared to the border collies I've met. She's beautiful.

At 23.5 inches and 45 lbs, people say my dog is small for a standard poodle. They are being bred HUGE these days. When actually... She's bred to standard and you would see dogs her size in the show ring.

The number of standard poodles I run into that are 27-29 inches at the withers and 70-100 lbs is crazy. I even know one that is 32 inches at the withers. Same breed but nearly 10 inches taller...

It's being done on purpose now with the gimmick "Royal standard poodles", kind of like small dogs and the "tea cup" craze

I want her haha seriously if you were closer, I would totally dog sit for you!

@Sabina88 - You're right, I think she has a little bit of growing to do, but she might just be small.
@Naira - Aw thank you, I think she's such a cutie, although I'm a tad biased. I've seen HUGE Standards as well, like massive. I was wondering what the standard actually was. People tell me all the time that Levi is "huge for an Aussie" when in reality I think people see the Miniature American Shepherd so often that they assume he's a mutant.
@Aspen726 - Deal, next time I'm in New England or you're in Ontario, I'll bring her to you.

As you say there's such wide variety in sizes so I wouldn't be too worried she's looking great!

I think Busters quite tall for a BC, I'm sure he was 21'' at the withers when I last measured him. He's so leggy.

Shandula said:

@Sabina88 - You're right, I think she has a little bit of growing to do, but she might just be small.
@Naira - Aw thank you, I think she's such a cutie, although I'm a tad biased. I've seen HUGE Standards as well, like massive. I was wondering what the standard actually was. People tell me all the time that Levi is "huge for an Aussie" when in reality I think people see the Miniature American Shepherd so often that they assume he's a mutant.
@Aspen726 - Deal, next time I'm in New England or you're in Ontario, I'll bring her to you.

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I'll watch Levi too so he doesn't feel left out! Aspen would have SO much fun with them!

Speaking of Levi, just curious but how big is he? he always seemed pretty tall to me from his pictures.

She looks like a typical BC to me!

Tigger is also 33lbs, but he's around 21 or 22 inches tall, so he has a much leaner, leggier appearance. I've known people with show BC's who are only 25lbs. Cattle line BC's can be closer to 50lbs. But typical to me is between 30 and 45lbs.

Yeah BC's vary so much in size etc. My friend's puppy is coming from a female who's 17" and weighs 26lbs. The sire of the litter is 20". She's hoping for a smaller pup for sport purposes, but who knows what she'll get!

aren't BC generally pretty light and small dogs to begin with?
I don't think, at least when they're not fat, that many of them have more than 20 kg.
for their purpose, in working as well as in sports, i suppose it is favorable for them to be light, compact and fast.

I think she's about on par for the breed. People don't have any idea what they are talking about.

I think she's beautiful.

Thanks everyone! I love her size, she's so little and compact and holy cow is she ever FAST!
@Sabina88 - He is 23.5 inches, so he's a touch outside breed standard, but I still love him.

Is he really, I don't know why but I always thought he was at least a inch or two taller then Sawyer (22 possibly 23 inches). I guess Levi just looks really tall in pictures lol.
Both of them look great

Now I feel like I need to measure Forbes. I think he was 22 last I checked. Looks like Levi will be jumping 24 in AKC Agility!

I'm wondering if both the size and mostly the coloring is what are throwing people off with you pup.

If you came to Bethel with her, people would assume she's an Aussie with a tail. (Remember, most people think that a border collie is only black with white markings. Even novilty dog owners would think that too.)

I used to think border collies only came in black with white markings until I started researching breeds. It was then I realized that the border collies come in different colors.

If fly in the movie babe was a tri colored or even a merle border collie, people would complain that it's an Aussie or a mixed border collie with Aussie.

So that could def be part of the oh is she a mix.

I've never met a border collie in person, but she looks border collie to me. She's lovely.
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TiggerBounce said:

Cattle line BC's can be closer to 50lbs. But typical to me is between 30 and 45lbs.

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That's interesting. I live on a farm, surrounded by farms, and was just thinking the other day that BCs really aren't terribly common around here - I know only one person who ever had one as a pet, and another who had one as a sport dog. Mixes are pretty common but not so much purebreds.

However, my neighbor has had working BCs for years. He has cattle and his dogs aren't massive but not really the lean BCs you typically think of...I didn't really know if it was just his dogs but it's interesting that it's more of a "trend".

Nearly every other rancher has ACDs or Aussies, but my neighbor's dogs are really neat. I have absolutely no interest in BCs, but it's fun to watch them work!

@Shandula - I think BCs are one of those breeds where things just kind of depend on the individual dogs, especially in the working world. Coat type, color, size, etc. it all seems to vary. But Heidi sure is gorgeous.

Thanks everyone! I think I'll just stick with my "BCs come in a pretty serious range of sizes and colours". There is one lady at the dog park who is a self-proclaimed BC expert, but didn't know they came in colours other than black and white.

I've known BCs from 19 lbs to 60 lbs. They vary a lot. In the 30ish lb range is pretty normal for that age. Most the dogs I know top around 20ish" give or take a couple inches.

I'd kill for a 18" full grown BC.