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"I think dogs are the most amazing creatures;
they give unconditional love.
For me they are the role model for being alive."
Gilda Radner, (1946 - 1989) US actress
This is the American Collie Club Standard for Collies
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
"I believe in everything until it's disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons.
It all exists, even if it's in your mind. Who's to say that dreams
and nightmares aren't as real as the here and now?"
- John Lennon
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