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.
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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 properl
Color:
Sobel, 3colored and Blue merle
Height:
Male. 56-61cm Female. 51-56cm.
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