 |
AKC BREED STANDARD FOR THE BORDER
COLLIE |
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
Standard Revision Effective March 2, 2004