Anyone got a smooth collie?

[TataClaire]

Am thinking of getting one after losing my last of two rough collies and want some owners opinions of them?
Im told they are slightly different to roughs so want to make sure it's the right choice!

I have a half smooth collie, half kelpie. He is brilliant - incredibly clever, gentlest dog I ever met, and oddly almost mute. I find his noises are either huffing sounds or the mournful wolflike howl! He does tend to be reserved with strangers outside of the home:he won't go bounding up to them, etc, but tbh that's a good trait too! He is happy to curl up for a snooze at home but does need plenty of off lead exercise and mental stimulation. And he's big of course: lean and lanky, not bulky. He really does need human interaction and is definitely attuned to moods/emotions.

I have found though that feeding him is slightly tricky as he cannot have cereals/gluten. I feed a raw diet now, and he gets about a kilo per day on this, as he has a crazily high metabolic rate! Healthwise, he has pancreatic insufficency, and is on medication, but vet feels this was just bad luck as opposed to being due to his breed.

His parents were both working dogs: mum with cattle and dad with sheep, but I have never found him to have issues relating to drive as I have been very careful with his training and socialisation.

We had a rescue that looked exactly like a kelpie, and 2 local kelpie breeders both said he was kelpie. He came to us at 18 months as a very thin, anxious dog. He was a fantastic dog, took a few months to gain weight and confidence, but clever, fast, responsive and a legend here.

I have finally met some and they seem to be very intelligent with a nice close fitting coat and long clean legs, they also seem pretty quick off the mark and know what's going on all the time. My potential pup is hopefully getting conceived this weekend if the romance goes well!!