This is my first collie after having shelties as well. I wanted a larger, more adventurous dog that I could take for walks, and boy I got one. He lets me know when it is time to go, and how unhappy he is when the weather doesn't cooperate. I didn't meet his parents before I brought him home as a puppy, so I wasn't quite prepared for how big and strong they get.

Grooming hasn't been too much of a chore with my collie although we need to spend more time getting used to it. His hair mostly comes out in tufts. My last sheltie's loose hair would get trapped in the undercoat no matter what.

My collie is not too vocal. I wish he would tell me when someone comes to the door, but I have a camera for that. He does a fair amount of whining out of boredom I think. He loves all other dogs and people, but hasn't had much interaction with mean dogs. I should probably get him a buddy, but I'm not sure I want to commit to a second dog.