Collie (Smooth) - 1988

GENERAL APPEARANCE: Appears as gifted with intelligence, alertness and activity. Stands with dignity governed by perfect anatomical formation, with no part out or proportion, giving appearance of working capability.

CHARACTERISTICS: Physical structure on lines of strength and activity, free from cloddiness and with no trace of coarseness. Expression most important. In considering relative values it is obtained by prefect balance and combination of sull and foreface, size, shape, colour and placement of eyes, correct position and carriage of ears. 

TEMPERAMENT: Gay and friendly, never nervous or aggressive.  

HEAD & SKULL: Head properties are of great importance, must be considered in proportion to size of dog. Viewed from front or side, the head resembles a well-blunted clean wedge, being smooth in outline. Skull flat. Sides taper gradually and smoothly from ears to end of black nose, without prominent cheek bones or pinched muzzle. Viewed in profile, top of skull and top of muzzle lie in two parallel straight lines of equal length divided by a slight, but perceptible “stop” or break. A mid-point between inside corner of eyes (which is centre of a correctly placed “stop”) is centre of balance in length of head. End of smooth well-rounded muzzle blunt, never square. Underjaw strong, clean cut. Depth of skull from brown to underpart of jaw, never excessive (deep through). Nose always black. 

EYES: Very important feature giving sweet expression. Medium size (never very small) set somewhat obliquely, of almond shape and dark brown colour, except in the case of blue merles when eyes are frequently (one or both, or part of one or both) blue or blue-flecked. Expression full of intelligence, with quick, alert look when listening. 

EARS: Moderately large, wider at base, and placed not too close together, not too much on side of head. When in repose carried thrown back, but on alert brought forward and carried semi-erect, that is, with approximately two-thirds of ear standing erect, top third tipping forward naturally, below horizontal. 

MOUTH: Teeth of good size. Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. Upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to jaw. 

NECK: Muscular, powerful, of fair length, well arched. 

FOREQUATERS: Shoulders sloping and well-angulated. Forelegs straight and muscular, neither in nor out at elbows, with moderate amount of round bone. Forearm somewhat fleshy, pasterns showing flexibility without weakness. 

BODY: Slightly long compared with height, black firm with slight rise over loins, ribs well sprung, chest deep, fairly broad behind shoulders.

HINDQUATERS: Hindlegs muscular at thighs, clean and sinewy below, with well bent stifles- Hocks well let down and powerful. 

FEET: Oval, soles well padded. Toes arched and close together. Hind feet slightly less arched.

TAIL: Long with bone reaching at least to hock joint. Carried low when quiet but with slight upward “swirl” at tip. May be carried gaily when excited, but never over back. 

GAIT/MOVEMENT: Movement is distinctly characteristic of this breed. A sound dog is never out at the elbow, yet moves with front feet comparatively close together. Plaiting, crossing or rolling are highly undesirable. Hind legs from joint to ground when viewed from rear, parallel. Hind legs powerful and full of drive. Viewed from side, action is smooth. A reasonably long stride is desirable and should be light and appear quite effortless. 

COAT: Short, flat, top coat of harsh texture, with very dense undercoat. Not trimmet or clipped. 
COLOUR: Three recognised colours: sable and white, tricolour and blue merle.
Sable: any shade of light gold to rich mahogany or shaded sable. Light straw or cream coloured highly undesirable. 
Tricolour: predominately black with rich tan markings about legs and head. A rusty tinge in top coat highly undesirable.
Blue merle: predominately clear, silvery blue, splashed and marbled with black. Rich tan markings, preferred, but absence should not be penalised. Large black markings, slate colour, or rusty tinge either on top or undercoat are highly undesirable.
White markings: all above should carry typical white Collie markings to a greater or lesser degree. Following markings are favourable – white collar, full or part, white shirt, legs and feet, white tail tip. A blaze may be carried or muzzle or skull or both.

SIZE: Dogs, 56-51 cm (22-24in.) at shoulder. Bitches, 51-56 cm (20-22 ins) at shoulder. Weight: Dogs, 20.5-29.5 kg (45-65 lbs.). Bitches 18.0-25.0 kg (40-55 lbs).

FAULTS: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault is regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

NOTE: Male animas should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.