The original breed standard - 1881

The skull:  of the Collie should be quite flat and rather broad, with fine tapering muzzle of fair length, and mouth the least bit overshot; the eyes widely apart, almond shaped and obliquely set in the head; the skin of the head tightly drawn, with no folds at the corners of the mouth; the ears as small as possibly, semi-erect when surprised or listening, at other times thrown back and buried in the „ruff“.

The neck: should be long, arched and muscular; the shoulders also long, sloping and fine at the withers; the chest to be deep and narrow at the front, but of fair breadth behind the shoulders.

The back: to be short and level, with the loin rather long, somewhat arched and powerful, brush long, „with upward swirl“ at the end and normally carried low .

The forelegs: should be perfectly straight with fair amount of flat bone; the pasterns rather long, springy and slightly lighter of bone than the rest of the leg; the foot with toes well arched and compact, soles very thick.

The hindquarters: drooping slightly, should be very long from the hip bones to the hocks, which should be neither turned inwards nor outwards, with stifles well bent. The hip bones should be wide and rather ragged.

The coat: except on legs and head, should be as abundant as possible; the outer coat straight, hard and rather stiff; the under coat furry and so dense that it would be difficult to find the skin. The „ruff“ and „frill“ especially should be very full. There should be but little „feather“ on the forelegs and none below the hocks on the hind legs.

Colour: Immaterial.

Symmetry: The dog should be a fair length on the leg and his movements wiry and graceful. He should not be too small; height of dogs from 22 in. to 24 in., of bitches from 20 in. to 22 in.

The Greyhound type is very objectionable, as there is no brain room in the skull and with this there are to be found a fatuous expression and a long, powerful jaw.

The Setter type is also to be avoided, with its pendulous ear, full soft eye, heavily feathered legs and straight short flag.

The Smooth Collie only differs from the Rough in its coat, which should be hard, dense and quite smooth.

SCALE OF POINTS
Head and Expression 15
Ears 10
Neck and Shoulders 10
Legs and Feet 15
Hindquarters 10
Back and Loins 10
Brush 5
Coat with Frill 20
Size 5
GRAND TOTAL 100