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:
Effective:
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