Border collie Breed Standard
Herding Group
Preamble - The Border Collie originated in the border country between
Scotland and England where the shepherds' breeding selection was
based on biddable stock sense and the ability to work long days on
rugged terrain. As a result of this selective breeding, the Border
Collie developed the unique working style of gathering and fetching
the stock with wide sweeping outruns. The stock is then controlled
with an intense gaze known as "eye", coupled with a stalking style
of movement. This selective breeding over hundreds of years
developed the Border Collie's intensity, energy and trainability
which are features so important that they are equal to physical size
and appearance. The Border Collie has extraordinary instinct and an
uncanny ability to reason. One of its greatest assets is the ability
to work out of sight of its master without commands. Breeding based
on this working ability has made this breed the world's premier
sheep herding dog, a job the Border Collie is still used for
worldwide.
General Appearance
The Border Collie
is a well balanced, medium-sized dog of athletic appearance,
displaying style and agility in equal measure with soundness and
strength. Its hard, muscular body conveys the impression of
effortless movement and endless endurance. The Border Collie is
extremely intelligent, with its keen, alert expression being a very
important characteristic of the breed. Any aspect of structure or
temperament that would impede the dog's ability to function as a
herding dog should be severely faulted. The Border Collie is, and
should remain, a natural and unspoiled true working sheep dog whose
conformation is described herein. Honorable scars and broken teeth
incurred in the line of duty are acceptable.
Size, Proportion, Substance
The height at
the withers varies from 19" to 22" for males, 18" to 21" for
females. The body, from prosternum to point of buttocks, is slightly
longer than the height at the withers with the length to height
ratio being approximately 10:9. Bone must be strong, medium being
correct but lighter bone is preferred over heavy. Overall balance
between height, length, weight and bone is crucial and is more
important than any absolute measurement. Dogs must be presented in
hard working condition. Excess body weight is not to be mistaken for
muscle or substance. Any single feature of size appearing out of
proportion should be considered a fault.
Head
Expression is
intelligent, alert, eager, and full of interest. Eyes are set well
apart, of moderate size, oval in shape. The color encompasses the
full range of brown eyes, dogs having body colors other than black
may have noticeably lighter eye color. Blue eyes (with one, both or
part of one or both eyes being blue) in dogs other than merle, are
acceptable but not preferred. Eye rims should be fully pigmented,
lack thereof considered a fault according to degree. Ears are of
medium size, set well apart, one or both carried erect and/or
semi-erect (varying from 1/4 to 3/4 of the ear erect). When
semi-erect, the tips may fall forward or outward to the side. Ears
are sensitive and mobile. Skull is relatively flat and moderate in
width. The skull and muzzle are approximately equal in length. In
profile the top of the skull is parallel with the top of the muzzle.
Stop moderate, but distinct. The muzzle is strong, tapering slightly
to the nose. The underjaw is strong and well developed. A domed,
blocky or very narrow skull is faulty according to degree, as is
cheekiness and a snipey muzzle. Nose color matches the primary body
color. Nostrils are well developed. Lack of nose pigmentation is a
fault according to degree. Bite: Teeth and jaws are strong, meeting
in a scissors bite. Complete dentition is required. Missing molars
or pre-molars are serious faults as is an undershot or overshot
bite.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck is of
proportional length to the body, strong and muscular, slightly
arched and blending smoothly into the shoulders. Topline: Back is
level from behind the withers to the slightly arched, muscular
loins, falling to a gently sloping croup. Body is athletic in
appearance with a deep, moderately broad chest reaching no further
than the point of the elbow. The rib cage is moderately long with
well sprung ribs. Loins moderately deep and short, muscular,
slightly arched and with a slight but distinct tuck up. The tail is
set on low and is moderately long with the bone reaching at least to
the hock. The ideal tail carriage is low when the dog is
concentrating on a given task and may have a slight upward swirl at
the end like a shepherd's crook. In excitement, it may be raised
proudly and waved like a banner, showing a confident personality. A
tail curled over the back is a fault.
Forequarters
Forelegs
should be parallel when viewed from front, pasterns slightly sloping
when viewed from side. Because sufficient length of leg is crucial
for the type of work the breed is required to do, the distance from
the wither to the elbow is slightly less than from the elbow to the
ground and legs that are too short in proportion to the rest of the
body are a serious fault. The shoulder blades are long, well laid
back and well-angulated to the upper arm. Shoulder blades and upper
arms are equal in length. There is sufficient width between the tops
of the shoulder blades to allow for the characteristic crouch when
approaching and moving stock. The elbows are neither in nor out.
Feet are compact, oval in shape; pads deep and strong, toes
moderately arched and close together with strong nails of moderate
length. Dewclaws may be removed.
Hindquarters
Broad and
muscular, in profile sloping gracefully to the low set tail. The
thighs are long, broad, deep and muscular. Stifles are well turned
with strong hocks that may be either parallel or very slightly
turned in. Dewclaws should be removed. Feet, although slightly
smaller, are the same as front.
Coat
Two varieties
are permissible, both having close-fitting, dense, weather resistant
double coats with the top coat either straight or wavy and coarser
in texture than the undercoat which is soft, short and dense. The
rough variety is medium in length without being excessive. Forelegs,
haunches, chest and underside are feathered and the coat on face,
ears, feet, fronts of legs is short and smooth. The smooth variety
is short over entire body, is usually coarser in texture than the
rough variety and may have slight feathering on forelegs, haunches,
chest and ruff. Neither coat type is preferred over the other.
Seasonal shedding is normal and should not be penalized. The Border
Collie's purpose as an actively working herding dog shall be clearly
evident in its presentation. Excess hair on the feet, hock and
pastern areas may be neatened for the show ring. Whiskers are
untrimmed. Dogs that are overly groomed (trimmed and/or sculpted)
should be penalized according to the extent.
Color
The Border
Collie appears in all colors or combination of colors and/or
markings. Solid color, bi-color, tri-color, merle and sable dogs are
to be judged equally with no one color or pattern preferred over
another. White markings may be clear white or ticked to any degree.
Random white patches on the body and head are permissible but should
not predominate. Color and markings are always secondary to physical
evaluation and gait.
Gait
The Border
Collie is an agile dog, able to suddenly change speed and direction
while maintaining balance and grace. Endurance is its trademark. The
Border Collie's most used working gaits are the gallop and a moving
crouch (stealth) which convert to a balanced and free trot, with
minimum lift of the feet. The head is carried level with or slightly
below the withers. When shown, Border Collies should move on a loose
lead and at moderate speed, never raced around the ring with the
head held high. When viewed from the side the trot is not long
striding, yet covers the ground with minimum effort, exhibiting
facility of movement rather than a hard driving action. Exaggerated
reach and drive at the trot are not useful to the Border Collie. The
topline is firm. Viewed from the front, action is forward and true
without wasted motion. Viewed from the rear, hindquarters drive with
thrust and flexibility with hocks turning neither in nor out, moving
close together but never touching. The legs, both front and rear,
tend to converge toward the center line as speed increases. Any
deficiency that detracts from efficient movement is a fault.
Temperament
The Border
Collie is energetic, intelligent, keen, alert, and responsive. An
intense worker of great tractability, it is affectionate towards
friends but may be sensibly reserved towards strangers. When
approached, the Border Collie should stand its ground. It should be
alert and interested, never showing fear, dullness or resentment.
Any tendencies toward viciousness, nervousness or shyness are very
serious faults.
Faults
Any deviation
from the foregoing should be considered a fault, the seriousness of
the fault depending upon the extent of the deviation.
Approved:
January 13, 2004
Effective:
March 2, 2004
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