|
AKC Collie Breed Info
Herding Group
General Character
The Collie is a lithe, strong, responsive, active dog, carrying no useless
timber, standing naturally straight and firm. The deep, moderately wide chest
shows strength, the sloping shoulders and well-bent hocks indicate speed and
grace, and the face shows high intelligence. The Collie presents an impressive,
proud picture of true balance, each part being in harmonious proportion to
every other part and to the whole. Except for the technical description that is
essential to this Standard and without which no Standard for the guidance of
breeders and judges is adequate, it could be stated simply that no part of the
Collie ever seems to be out of proportion to any other part. Timidity,
frailness, sullenness, viciousness, lack of animation, cumbersome appearance
and lack of over-all balance impair the general character.
Head
The head properties are of great importance. When considered in proportion to
the size of the dog the head is inclined to lightness and never appears
massive. A heavy-headed dog lacks the necessary bright, alert, full-of-sense
look that contributes so greatly to expression. Both in front and profile view
the head bears a general resemblance to a well-blunted lean wedge, being smooth
and clean in outline and nicely balanced in proportion. On the sides it tapers
gradually and smoothly from the ears to the end of the black nose, without
being flared out in backskull (cheeky) or pinched in muzzle (snipy). In profile
view the top of the backskull and the top of the muzzle lie in two
approximately parallel, straight planes of equal length, divided by a very
slight but perceptible stop or break. A mid-point between the inside corners of
the eyes (which is the center of a correctly placed stop) is the center of
balance in length of head.
The end of the smooth, well-rounded muzzle is blunt but not square. The underjaw
is strong, clean-cut and the depth of skull from the brow to the under part of
the jaw is not excessive. The teeth are of good size, meeting in a scissors
bite. Overshot or undershot jaws are undesirable, the latter being more
severely penalized. There is a very slight prominence of the eyebrows. The
backskull is flat, without receding either laterally or backward and the
occipital bone is not highly peaked. The proper width of backskull necessarily
depends upon the combined length of skull and muzzle and the width of the
backskull is less than its length. Thus the correct width varies with the
individual and is dependent upon the extent to which it is supported by length
of muzzle. Because of the importance of the head characteristics, prominent
head faults are very severely penalized.
Eyes
Because of the combination of the flat skull, the arched eyebrows, the slight
stop and the rounded muzzle, the foreface must be chiseled to form a receptacle
for the eyes and they are necessarily placed obliquely to give them the
required forward outlook. Except for the blue merles, they are required to be
matched in color. They are almond-shaped, of medium size and never properly
appear to be large or prominent. The color is dark and the eye does not show a
yellow ring or a sufficiently prominent haw to affect the dog's expression. The
eyes have a clear, bright appearance, expressing intelligent inquisitiveness,
particularly when the ears are drawn up and the dog is on the alert. In blue
merles, dark brown eyes are preferable, but either or both eyes may be merle or
china in color without specific penalty. A large, round, full eye seriously
detracts from the desired sweet expression. Eye faults are heavily penalized.
Ears
The ears are in proportion to the size of the head and, if they are carried
properly and unquestionably break naturally, are seldom too small. Large ears
usually cannot be lifted correctly off the head, and even if lifted, they will
be out of proportion to the size of the head. When in repose the ears are
folded lengthwise and thrown back into the frill. On the alert they are drawn
well up on the backskull and are carried about three-quarters erect, with about
one-fourth of the ear tipping or breaking forward. A dog with prick ears or low
ears cannot show true expression and is penalized accordingly.
Neck
The neck is firm, clean, muscular, sinewy and heavily frilled. It is fairly
long, carried upright with a slight arch at the nape and imparts a proud,
upstanding appearance showing off the frill.
Body
The body is firm, hard and muscular, a trifle long in proportion to the height.
The ribs are well-rounded behind the well-sloped shoulders and the chest is
deep, extending to the elbows. The back is strong and level, supported by
powerful hips and thighs and the croup is sloped to give a well-rounded finish.
The loin is powerful and slightly arched. Noticeably fat dogs, or dogs in poor
flesh, or with skin disease, or with no undercoat are out of condition and are
moderately penalized accordingly.
Legs
The forelegs are straight and muscular, with a fair amount of bone considering
the size of the dog. A cumbersome appearance is undesirable. Both narrow and
wide placement are penalized. The forearm is moderately fleshy and the pasterns
are flexible but without weakness. The hind legs are less fleshy, muscular at
the thighs, very sinewy and the hocks and stifles are well bent. A cowhocked
dog or a dog with straight stifles is penalized. The comparatively small feet
are approximately oval in shape. The soles are well padded and tough, and the
toes are well arched and close together. When the Collie is not in motion the
legs and feet are judged by allowing the dog to come to a natural stop in a
standing position so that both the forelegs and the hind legs are placed well
apart, with the feet extending straight forward. Excessive "posing"is
undesirable.
Gait
Gait is sound. When the dog is moved at a slow trot toward an observer its
straight front legs track comparatively close together at the ground. The front
legs are not out at the elbows, do not "crossover," nor does the dog move with
a choppy, pacing or rolling gait. When viewed from the rear the hind legs are
straight, tracking comparatively close together at the ground. At a moderate
trot the hind legs are powerful and propelling. Viewed from the side the
reasonably long, "reaching" stride is smooth and even, keeping the back line
firm and level.
As the speed of the gait is increased the Collie single tracks, bringing the
front legs inward in a straight line from the shoulder toward the center line
of the body and the hind legs inward in a straight line from the hip toward the
center line of the body. The gait suggests effortless speed combined with the
dog's herding heritage, requiring it to be capable of changing its direction of
travel almost instantaneously.
Tail
The tail is moderately long, the bone reaching to the hock joint or below. It is
carried low when the dog is quiet, the end having an upward twist or swirl.
When gaited or when the dog is excited it is carried gaily but not over the
back.
Coat
The well-fitting, proper-textured coat is the crowning glory of the rough
variety of Collie. It is abundant except on the head and legs. The outer coat
is straight and harsh to the touch. A soft, open outer coat or a curly outer
coat, regardless of quantity is penalized. The undercoat, however, is soft,
furry and so close together that it is difficult to see the skin when the hair
is parted. The coat is very abundant on the mane and frill. The face or mask is
smooth. The forelegs are smooth and well feathered to the back of the pasterns.
The hind legs are smooth below the hock joints. Any feathering below the hocks
is removed for the show ring. The hair on the tail is very profuse and on the
hips it is long and bushy. The texture, quantity and the extent to which the
coat "fits the dog" are important points.
Color
The four recognized colors are "Sable and White," "Tri-color," "Blue Merle" and
"White." There is no preference among them. The "Sable and White" is
predominantly sable (a fawn sable color of varying shades from light gold to
dark mahogany) with white markings usually on the chest, neck, legs, feet and
the tip of the tail. A blaze may appear on the foreface or backskull or both.
The "Tri-color" is predominantly black, carrying white markings as in a "Sable
and White" and has tan shadings on and about the head and legs. The "Blue
Merle" is a mottled or "marbled" color predominantly blue-grey and black with
white markings as in the "Sable and White" and usually has tan shadings as in
the "Tri-color." The "White" is predominantly white, preferably with sable,
tri-color or blue merle markings.
Size
Dogs are from 24 to 26 inches at the shoulder and weigh from 60 to 75 pounds.
Bitches are from 22 to 24 inches at the shoulder, weighing from 50 to 65
pounds. An undersize or an oversize Collie is penalized according to the extent
to which the dog appears to be undersize or oversize.
Expression
Expression is one of the most important points in considering the relative value
of Collies. Expression, like the term character is difficult to define in
words. It is not a fixed point as in color, weight or height and it is
something the uninitiated can properly understand only by optical illustration.
In general, however, it may be said to be the combined product of the shape and
balance of the skull and muzzle, the placement, size, shape and color of the
eye and the position, size and carriage of the ears. An expression that shows
sullenness or which is suggestive of any other breed is entirely foreign. The
Collie cannot be judged properly until its expression has been carefully
evaluated.
Smooth
The Smooth Variety of Collie is judged by the same Standard as the Rough
Variety, except that the references to the quantity and distribution of the
coat are not applicable to the Smooth Variety, which has a short, hard, dense,
flat coat of good texture, with an abundance of undercoat.
Approved May 10, 1977
From: AKC.org
|
