BREED STUDY GUIDE AND AKC STANDARD

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History of the Border Collie | Judging the Border Collie | The AKC Border Collie Standard

A Structural Discussion | Suggested Readings

This Breed Study Guide was developed in an attempt to help educate AKC judges who will be judging Border Collies in the Breed ring. It represents the input of many individuals, including judges who have attended recent breed judge education seminars. Contact the editor, Fran Hoffman, for more information, hard copies, comments or suggestions. This page was constructed by Richard Whorton.

HISTORY OF THE BORDER COLLIE

What is a "Border Collie"?

The old Gaelic rural dialect term for anything useful is "collie" and for anything black is "coly". A collie dog was considered a useful farm dog, and in Scotland the names of many farm utensils are still prefixed by the word "collie".

The prefix "Border" is credited to James Reid, an Airdrie solicitor, who was a one-time Secretary of the International Sheep Dog Society (founded 1906). He is said to have given the name "Border Collie" to this strain of dog, as well as putting the name on the ISDS registration forms.

The first interactions between man and dog were probably for the purposes of hunting. Early man used the first dogs' hunting instincts to the mutual benefit of both species. Later, when man stopped his wandering ways and began to settle in discrete areas, the dog became a useful tool to this early farmer. The history and origin of the Border Collie must be tied to this change in man's habits and coincided with the development of a relationship between the farmer and his dog.

The Romans were perhaps the first to classify dogs into categories of hunting, guarding, and shepherd's dogs. In 116 a Roman named Marcus Terentius Varro was credited with having written many works on pastoral matters, including one on the care and training of the shepherd's dog.

When the Romans invaded Britain in 55 BC, they of course brought along their dogs to assist with their livestock. These dogs have been described as large, heavy boned, black, tan and white, and resembling today's Bernese Mountain Dog and Rottweiler. As the Romans settled in, so did their dogs, who became indispensable in the care and protection of livestock. When the Roman Empire began to crumble, the Vikings invaded the islands, bringing with them the Spitz-type dogs they used for herding. These dogs must have eventually crossed with the Roman herding dogs, decreasing their size and probably increasing their agility. This change could have been an advantage in the hilly and rocky highlands of Scotland and Wales.

One of the earliest written descriptions of the breed is attributed to Hywel Dda in 943 AD. He described a black sheepdog taking a flock of sheep out to graze in the hills and coming home with them in the evening.

Centuries later, in the 1576 book "English Dogges" by Johannes Caius, a description of the breed appears which could be applied to our modern-day working Border Collie:

Our Shepherd's dogge is not huge, vaste, or bigge, but of indifferent stature and growth, because it hath not to deale with the blood thirsty wolf, sythence there be none in England, which happy and fortunate benefit is to be ascribed to the puifaunt Prince Edgar.

... This dogge, either at the hearing of his master's voice or at the shrill hissing, bringeth the wandering weathers and straying sheep into the self same place where his master's will and wish is to have them, whereby the shepherd reapeth this benefite, namely that with little labour nor tyole or moving of his feete he may rule and guide his flocke, according to his own desire.

Before modern transportation became readily available, livestock was taken afoot to market. Thus a dog who could both gather unruly, wandering stock was needed as well as the driving dogs. Several different strains of these herding dogs arose according to the variety of terrains and types of stock they needed to work, and the style of herding they were used for. These included the Welsh Grey, the Highland Collie (from which the modern Show Collie arose), and the Lowland Collie . Stock tenders in Sussex, Somerset, Wiltshire and other counties had very definite types suited to the different types of sheep. One of the best known was the Dorset Sheepdog, said to be the only type which could handle the headstrong Portland sheep.

Throughout these ages, the sheepdog continued to evolve, being refined not according to an artificial criteria of appearance, but being selected by how well it worked and how tractable it was to deal with.

With the arrival of mechanization, many farmers began handling larger flocks. Since less manpower was required for most tasks, an efficient herding dog became a real asset.

Mentions of the Border Collie continue in the literature through the 1700s and 1800s. Sheepdog trials played an important role by testing the merit and capabilities of these dogs in a uniform environment . The first record of a Sheepdog Trial was on October 9, 1873. This event was held in Bala, Wales, with the winner being Mr. William Thomson and his Scottish bred dog, Tweed. Tweed, a compactly built dog with a black coat and tan and white markings was also the winner of the beauty prize.

Border Collies were introduced to Australia and the United States in the 1880s and shepherding trials have continued under the watchful eye of many different societies and registries.

All modern Border Collies trace back to a single dog, Old Hemp, who was born in 1893. He was bred by Adam Telfer of Northumberland, England. He began appearing in sheepdog trials at the age of one year, and was unbeaten throughout his lifetime. This record has never been matched.

Old Hemp stood about 21 inches tall and weighed about 45 pounds. He was black and white with a long, straight coat and semi-erect ears. He is the dog the modern Border Collie standard was patterned after.

Other influential early sires were Isaac Herdman's Tommy #16 (ISDS number), Thomas Armstrong's Sweep (both grandsons of Old Hemp), and JM Wilson's Craig and Wartime Cap #3036. JM Wilson's Wartime Cap #3036 was best known because of his influence in the pedigree of Wiston Cap, where he appears more than 16 times.

John Richardson's Wiston Cap is perhaps the dog who has had the greatest influence on the breed in recent history. Cap was the 1965 International Champion. He died in 1979 at the age of 15 1/2 years. He was a big, handsome, tri-color rough coated dog who produced some excellent sons and daughters.

Another modern influence on the breed was John Gilchrist's Spot #3624 (bred by J Purdie). He was black and white, rough coated, well marked, and of medium size.

What drove all these aforementioned dogs to their success as stud dogs was first their success as a herding dog. All had won important championships, and portrayed a certain style of working, usually well off the stock with wide outruns and were good natured and biddable.

The International Sheepdog Society (ISDS) (mentioned earlier) played a great role in maintaining pedigrees and registration information on the Border Collie. The ISDS originated in Scotland, and their activities were confined to this area for several years. Its purpose, however, is as the name implies: International. There is little doubt that this organization has had tremendous influence on the development of shepherding and the dogs used in this activity, be it for sport or for farm work. The ISDS is very active to this day, and maintains a registry and governing body for the working Border Collie in Great Britain and many other countries.

References:

1. Combe, Iris. Border Collies. Faber and Faber, London, England, 1978.

2. Larson, Janet. The Versatile Border Collie. Alpine Publications, Inc. Loveland, CO. 1987.

JUDGING THE BORDER COLLIE

In Iris Combe's book, Border Collies (1978), she writes of her opinion on judging this then newly recognized breed (in Great Britain). Her ideas may be thought-provoking for anyone considering judging Border Collies for the American Kennel Club. The following is a quotation from her book:

"To judge and award top honours to a collie one considers to be typical of the breed will be a rewarding experience, but should only be attempted when one is confident that sufficient knowledge of the breed has been gained, but to be the owner or exhibitor will be both rewarding and thrilling.

"A great responsibility rests upon the shoulders of the judges appointed to evaluate the Border Collie exhibits at the first few shows. At present, most are what are known in the show world as all-rounders. These are judges with a vast experience in many breeds, but they would be the first to admit that they are only real specialists in a few. However experienced they may be, all of them will now start from the same point, since none will have judged these dogs under the new Breed Standard. Few will ever have had any experience of the breed in its working capacity. Many of them may have judged Border Collies abroad, indeed I have myself, but they have been judged to the Breed Standard and type existing in that particular country. We now have British dogs requiring to be judged to a British Standard. The responsibilities are to see that the points in the new Standard are faithfully adhered to. I had the honour to judge the first separate Border Collie classes .... I was very conscious of my responsibilities in this appointment and made up my mind that whatever the consequences, if the exhibits did not come up to my interpretation of the correct type according to the Standard, I would not hesitate to withhold the awards.

"I would advise any inexperienced but aspiring judges of this breed to attend a few sheepdog trials at either local or international level. Watch these dogs at work and observe their general behaviour outside the ring. You will then begin to appreciate fully how and why each part of the Standard fits the dog. He has been purpose-bred for many generations, so 'get your eye in' for the correct anatomical construction and the distinctive movement which is very important. Ignore type at this stage, for there is considerable variance here, although the top winners almost all conform to a certain type. It would be a pity if people whose only experience of this breed was limited to watching them perform in obedience rings or at exemption shows, should accept appointments to judge them. Should this happen then in no time the worst fears of those opposed to showing Border Collies would be realized. In saying this my only aim is to try to preserve the qualities for which this breed is famous. Type, quality and temperament cannot be written into any Standard but they are very important in the general make-up of the breed. A judge can only base his assessment on what he sees in front of him, so it is up to those owners who feel they have the correct type and the right temperament in their dogs to exhibit them at these first shows."

THE BORDER COLLIE STANDARD - Effective March 2, 2004

Click here to go to Standard page.

1.25.05 - NOTE: THIS SECTION IS CURRENTLY BEING UPDATED
A STRUCTURAL DISCUSSION OF THE BORDER COLLIE (based on the 1995 Unrevised AKC Standard)

Index for Discussion: Overall Discussion | General Appearance Discussion
Size, Proportion, Substance Discussion | Head (Eyes, Ears, Skull, Bite) Discussion
Neck, Topline, Body, Tail Discussion | Forequarters Discussion | Hindquarters Discussion
Coat Discussion | Color Discussion | Gait Discussion | Temperament Discussion
Evaluating the Border Collie

Overall Discussion
Border Collies have been selected through the centuries not for their appearance, but for their function. The selection pressures placed on this breed were those of a working dog, a dog expected to sustain interest and enthusiasm while herding sheep over the hills and dales of Great Britain and Scotland, all day, every day of the year. These dogs had to be responsive to human direction, while maintaining enough independence to act quickly on their own when the circumstances demanded it. These pressures have produced a breed with a widely varied phenotype, which will be admittedly difficult to evaluate on a conformation-only basis. The Border Collie Society of America hopes that this variety will not be discouraged or penalized in the conformation ring as it is almost as characteristic of the breed as its world-renowned herding ability.

Quotations from the AKC Standard of Perfection will appear in italics, and discussions of those points will appear in regular type.

Return to Index for Discussion

General Appearance Discussion
The Border Collie is a well balanced, medium-sized dog of athletic appearance, displaying grace and agility in equal measure with substance and stamina. While substance is important, Border Collies should never appear blocky or rugged. They should always present the impression of dog who is light on its feet and agile.

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Size, Proportion, Substance Discussion
The height at the withers varies from 19" to 22" for males, 18" to 21" for females. Actually, height in this breed varies much more than this. Note that there is no disqualification for size on either end of the scale. The body, from point of shoulder to buttocks, is slightly longer than the height at the shoulders.  An important word in this sentence is "slightly". Border Collies should not be square, nor so long as to appear weak over the loins or back.  The length of body is found in the ribcage, and never in a long, weak loin.  The most important criteria is that the dogs should be well balanced, with all parts in proportion to each other: Overall balance between height, length, weight and bone is crucial and is more important than any absolute measurement.

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Head Discussion
Eyes: Blue eyes are a fault except in merles, where one or both, or part of one or both eyes may be blue. While blue eyes may be a fault, they are not a serious one. Many excellent dogs who are not phenotypically merle have one or two blue eyes. The color of the eye does not seem to affect herding ability, so has not been selected for by the people who developed the breed.

Ears are of medium size, set well apart, carried erect and/or semi-erect (varying from 1/4 to 3/4 of the ear erect). The tips may fall forward or outward to the side. The and/or portion of the preceding statement is quite important. The ears may appear in a combination of carriages, such as one ear prick and the other semi-prick, falling to the side. Ear carriage does not affect herding ability, has not been selected for, and so a variety of ear types will be seen. The most important thing about ear carriage is that the ear should never be hanging or pendulous. There must be some support in the base of the ear, to bring it at least even with the top of the skull. Ears are sensitive and mobile. In addition, the ears are quite expressive and contribute a great deal to the dog's total expression.

Skull: Muzzle moderately short, strong and blunt, tapering to nose. While the muzzle tapers slightly, it should never appear snipey or wedge-like.

Nose: Nose color matches the primary body color.  Nose color should be black except in the red coloration (or red merle) when it may be brown, and in the blue or blue merle when it may be slate gray.  Nose should be fully pigmented.

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Neck, Topline, Body, Tail Discussion
Topline is level, with slight arch over the loin and croup gradually sloped downward. While these statements may seem contradictory, they can be explained as follows: The shoulder and hips should be the same height in a dog standing erect. There may be a slight muscular arch in the loin, falling to the same height at the hip as at the shoulder, slightly sloping from the hip through the croup to a tail set on low. The back should never appear roached. Dogs with well laid back shoulders may have a slight dip in the topline behind the withers, but this should not be pronounced.

Body: Rib cage well sprung. However, the rib cage must narrow toward its most ventral point in order to allow room for the forelegs to move freely. Loins moderately deep, muscular, slightly arched with no tuck-up. While this statement appears in the standard, some tuck up is necessary in order for the dog to be agile and fast. However, it should never be so extreme as to appear "whippety".

Tail: While concentrating at a given task, the tail is carried low and used for balance. Although the standard cites a gay tail as a fault, it is important to note that the tail is carried low only when the dog is working intensely. This work attitude will not usually be observed in a conformation ring. A dog which stands or moves with its tail tucked against its body is signifying poor temperament. At rest the tail should either hang down straight or be held aloft - both equally acceptable.

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Forequarters Discussion
Pasterns slightly sloping when viewed from side. The pasterns must still be strong and completely support the weight of the dog. This is important in a dog that must be moving constantly in the execution of its duties. However, bear in mind that a straight, erect pastern may indicate a straight shoulder, which is not desirable.

Hindquarters Discussion
The thighs are long, broad, deep and muscular, with well-turned stifles and strong hocks, well let down. This is very important. The tibia bone (from stifle to hock) is slightly longer in proportion than in most other breeds. The hocks are well let down but not too short. This structure profoundly influences the dog's speed and turning ability. When viewed from the rear, hind legs are well-boned, straight and parallel or are very slightly cowhocked. Please note that slight cowhocks are considered proper structure, and do not detract from the dog's function. The best way to tell if a dog is too cowhocked is by evaluating its movement. If the dog's structure interferes with its movement, the structure is not correct.

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Coat Discussion
Two varieties are permissible. Yes, there are two varieties! Neither type is preferred over the other. The rough coat is medium to long, texture from flat to slightly wavy. There can be some variety in the type of rough coat presented. This variety is acceptable. The best way to determine if a coat is too wavy is to decide if the coat will hold water. If the coat is not weatherproof, it is not correct. The smooth coat is short over entire body. "Short" is a relative term. The coat may be up to 1" in length, or slightly longer, and may well have longer coat present in the feathering and ruff. It is very important that no foreign substance (such as chalk) appear in the coat. The coat should never appear sculpted or trimmed, except around the feet and the back of the pastern, which may be trimmed for functionality.

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Color Discussion
The Border Collie appears in many colors, with various combinations of patterns and markings. Color is irrelevant to herding ability, and should not be a factor of any significance in the evaluation of the dog. There is no requirement for the "traditional" markings to be present. Any combination of colors and/or markings is acceptable. The sole exception being all white.  Truly all-white dogs are rare. A dog with a white base color and any colored spots or mask is acceptable, as long as colored areas are seen around both eyes.  This does not discount a white-faced or split-faced dog with a predominantly colored body, which is also an acceptable combination of markings.  Color and markings are always secondary to physical evaluation and gait. This is the most important statement in this section, and should always be remembered when judging the breed.

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Gait Discussion
The topline does not shift as he conveys an effortless glide. When the dog moves, the back remains firm and strong with minimal shift. He moves with great stealth. This should not be interpreted as a creeping motion. When livestock are not present, a Border Collie should move in an upright fashion, the head and neck carried level with or slightly below the level of the back. When viewed from the side, the stride should cover maximum ground, with minimum speed. Border Collies should not be shown racing around the ring, but at a good, solid trot. They should exert minimum effort in their movement. Viewed from the front, the action is forward and true, without weakness in shoulders, elbows, or pasterns. The foreleg forms a single column of support from the foot to the shoulder. Viewed from behind, the quarters thrust with drive and flexibility, with hocks moving close together but never touching. The hind action in the Border Collie is closer than many other herding breeds, but the hind legs must not rub together. This movement is close even at slow speeds. When being presented, the Border Collie should move into a natural stance with little or no assistance from the handler. In final assessment, gait is an essential factor, confirming physical evaluation. This is a very important statement, and should be adhered to firmly.

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Temperament Discussion
Affectionate towards friends. Ideally, a Border Collie should view everyone as a friend. However, they may occasionally be a little bit reserved or non-demonstrative, but when approached the dog should stand its ground with minimal restraint. The dog should move confidently and easily, and never be spooky. A dog which stands or moves with its head ducked and/or tail tucked tight against its body is signifying poor temperament, and should be faulted.

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EVALUATING THE BORDER COLLIE
The following scale of points is suggested to assist you in evaluating the Border Collie:

• 20 pts - General Conformation and Appearance

• 10 pts - Head

  • 4 pts - Shape

  • 2 pts - Eyes

  • 2 pts - Ears

  • 2 pts - Teeth

• 24 pts - Body

  • 5 pts - Neck and Shoulders

  • 5 pts - Chest, Back, and Loin

  • 4 pts - Tail

  • 5 pts - Forequarters

  • 5 pts - Hindquarters

• 3 pts - Coat

• 3 pts - Color

• 30 pts - Gait

• 10 pts - Temperament

TOTAL 100 pts 

TIBIA CONFIGURATION

In Border Collies, the tibia bone is slightly longer than in some other breeds of dog. Over-angulation of either stifle or hock joint can slow down movement.

Return to Index for Discussion

SUGGESTED READINGS

• Border Collies, Iris Combe; 1978. Publisher: Faber & Faber, London. Available from Hi-Ridge Farm.

• Key Dogs From The Border Collie Family, Vol I & II, Sheila Grew. Private Publisher, available from Hi-Ridge Farm and Border Corner.

• A Lifetime With The Working Collie, Arthur N. Allen; 1979. Publisher: Private. Available from Arthur N Allen, Rte 3, McLeansboro, IL 62859.

• The Versatile Border Collie, Barbara Beaumont Swan; 1981. Publisher: Nimrod Press, Ltd. (Private), Berkshire, England.

• The Versatile Border Collie, Janet Larson; 1987. Publisher: Alpine Publications, Inc., Loveland, CO.

Sources for Books:

• Border Corner, Woodruff Lane, Marysville, CA 95901, Phone (916) 742-0202.

• Direct Book Services, P.O. Box 2778, Wenatchee, WA 98807-2778, Phone (800) 776-2665.

• Hi-Ridge Farm, RR #, Napanee, Ontario, Canada 57R 3K8

Page Updated 10/22/2007

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