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ROUGH
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.
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