Defining Term	BC	ES	Aussie
Body
Tail? - yes	.	.	no
Tail? - no	no	rare	.
Basic Body Type
Square and stocky, not much "tuck-up"	no	no	.
Rectangular and stocky, medium "tuck-up"	.	.	no
Rectangular and lithe, "tuck-up" almost greyhound like	.	.	no
Healthy Weight
Over 60 pounds	no	.	no
Under 60 pounds	.	.	.
Head
Domed Skull, distinct "stop", short muzzle	no	no	.
Flat Skull, medium "stop", wedge shape	no	.	no
Flat Skull, medium "stop", sharp features	.	no	no
Some Dome, medium "stop", heavier features	.	no	no
Ears (when alert)
low, semi-prick, set forward	.	no	.
low, semi-prick, set on side	.	.	no
low, high, totally pricked, mixed	.	no	no
Eyes
slightly almond shape, more to side	no	no	.
round, more front of face	.	.	no
round, more front, almost spooky and alert	.	no	no
Color
Merle (red or blue)	.	no	.
Black & Tan (no white)	no	.	no
Sable & White	rare	.	no
Black & White (no tan)	.	.	.
Tricolor (black, white, & tan)	.	.	.
Red & White (with or without tan)	.	no	.
mostly White	.	no	rare
Coat
long and/or thick	.	no	.
medium length, not too thick	.	.	.
smooth	.	no	no
Temperment
General Temperment
alert and intense	.	no	no
alert and excitable	no	no	.
alert yet relaxed	no	.	no
Indoor/Outdoor Personality
active/intense	.	no	no
alert/active	no	no	.
mellow/active	no	.	no
Working Style
uses mostly eye contact with sheep, fluid, stalking type motion, crouch low, head lower than body	.	no	no
a nip and run type style, sort of darting in and out	no	no	.
standing approach, smooth in motion, assesses stock to be worked, changes style to fit situation	no	.	no
wide outrun	.	no	no
"eye"	.	no	no
vocal	no	no	.
header*	.	.	.
heeler*	no	.	.
Tally	____	____	____

The Breed Comparison Chart

Shelter personel and rescue groups are constantly faced with trying to determine what breed of dog they have before them. This problem can be especially difficult with Border Collies (BC), Australian Shepherds (Aussie), and English Shepherds (ES) - three closely related, similar looking, yet remarkably different breeds.

All three are alert, intelligent, active herding breeds of the collie family. Someone who thinks they are adopting one breed and actually ends up getting a dog from another one of these breeds will probably still be satisfied with the dog they take home; but they might be concerned that their dog seems somehow different than others they meet of the same breed or that their next dog of that breed seems notably different. It is also easier for rescue groups to place dogs when they can be fairly certain of the breed.

So, this chart has been developed to try to help sort these dogs more accurately in to the proper breed.


How to Use the Breed Comparison Chart
I want to stress from the very beginning that this chart is not perfect, that there are exceptions to every generality about every breed of dog, and that this chart is just one possible tool available to help determine a dog's breed. No tool replaces common sense.

All three of these breeds have "breed standards" which define the "ideal example of the breed". The problem is that most dogs are not ideal examples of their breed and by the time dogs get to rescue they may bear very little resemblance to any breed at all. Plus all three of these breeds have put the emphasis on working ability, intelligence, and temperment rather than a strict reading of the standards so there is a wide variety within each breed. Some dogs are turned in by owners who can identify the breed but, surprisingly (or maybe not so surprisingly), some owners mis-identify their dog's breed. All in all it can get very confusing

This chart was created by using the breed standards and the input of numerous people familiar with these breeds.

Because these breeds share so many similar traits and not any trait is singular to any one breed this chart allows multiple right answers to any question. On the left is a defining term, for example: "Tail? Yes " while the right side of the chart is three columns, one for each breed. If the dog has a tail you mark the blank box for BC and ES. There is a no in the Aussie column for this trait since most Aussies are either born tailess or have their tails docked soon after birth. Of course, some Aussies do have tails, and it's possible for the other breeds to not have tails. The goal with this chart is to try to chart most likely breed characteristics and find a trend for each dog. When you've answered all the questions possible, tally up the columns and chances are you can make a pretty educated guess about which breed of dog you are dealing with.

One final thought from the web page creator - rescue dogs are not breeding stock, their purity of lines or breed is fairly immaterial. If your dog looks and acts like a Border Collie, for example, then, for all it matters, it is a Border Collie. Be proud of your dog, love it for the great friend and companion it is, what breed it is or might be is minor compared to all the love your dog gives you.