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Greater Brighton Collie Club
Breed Standard
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Illustrated Standard (from Collie Club of America breed study)
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Ideal Female
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Ideal Male
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Head Study
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Written Breed Standard (from American Kennel Club)
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General Character
The Collie is a lithe, strong, responsive, active dog, carrying no useless timber, standing naturally straight and firm. The
deep, moderately wide chest shows strength, the sloping shoulders and well-bent hocks indicate speed and grace,
and the face shows high intelligence. The Collie presents an impressive, proud picture of true balance, each part being
in harmonious proportion to every other part and to the whole. Except for the technical description that is essential to
this Standard and without which no Standard for the guidance of breeders and judges is adequate, it could be stated
simply that no part of the Collie ever seems to be out of proportion to any other part. Timidity, frailness, sullenness,
viciousness, lack of animation, cumbersome appearance and lack of over-all balance impair the general character
Head
The head properties are of great importance. When considered in proportion to the size of the dog the head is inclined
to lightness and never appears massive. A heavy-headed dog lacks the necessary bright, alert, full-of-sense look that
contributes so greatly to expression. Both in front and profile view the head bears a general resemblance to a well-
blunted lean wedge, being smooth and clean in outline and nicely balanced in proportion. On the sides it tapers
gradually and smoothly from the ears to the end of the black nose, without being flared out in backskull (cheeky) or
pinched in muzzle (snipy). In profile view the top of the backskull and the top of the muzzle lie in two approximately
parallel, straight planes of equal length, divided by a very slight but perceptible stop or break. A mid-point between the
inside corners of the eyes (which is the center of a correctly placed stop) is the center of balance in length of head
The end of the smooth, well-rounded muzzle is blunt but not square. The underjaw is strong, clean-cut and the depth
of skull from the brow to the under part of the jaw is not excessive. The teeth are of good size, meeting in a scissors
bite. Overshot or undershot jaws are undesirable, the latter being more severely penalized. There is a very slight
prominence of the eyebrows. The backskull is flat, without receding either laterally or backward and the occipital bone
is not highly peaked. The proper width of backskull necessarily depends upon the combined length of skull and muzzle
and the width of the backskull is less than its length. Thus the correct width varies with the individual and is dependent
upon the extent to which it is supported by length of muzzle. Because of the importance of the head characteristics,
prominent head faults are very severely penalized
Eyes
Because of the combination of the flat skull, the arched eyebrows, the slight stop and the rounded muzzle, the foreface
must be chiseled to form a receptacle for the eyes and they are necessarily placed obliquely to give them the required
forward outlook. Except for the blue merles, they are required to be matched in color. They are almond-shaped, of
medium size and never properly appear to be large or prominent. The color is dark and the eye does not show a yellow
ring or a sufficiently prominent haw to affect the dog's expression. The eyes have a clear, bright appearance,
expressing intelligent inquisitiveness, particularly when the ears are drawn up and the dog is on the alert. In blue
merles, dark brown eyes are preferable, but either or both eyes may be merle or china in color without specific penalty.
A large, round, full eye seriously detracts from the desired sweet expression. Eye faults are heavily penalized.
Ears
The ears are in proportion to the size of the head and, if they are carried properly and unquestionably break naturally,
are seldom too small. Large ears usually cannot be lifted correctly off the head, and even if lifted, they will be out of
proportion to the size of the head. When in repose the ears are folded lengthwise and thrown back into the frill. On the
alert they are drawn well up on the backskull and are carried about three-quarters erect, with about one-fourth of the
ear tipping or breaking forward. A dog with prick ears or low ears cannot show true expression and is penalized
accordingly
Neck
The neck is firm, clean, muscular, sinewy and heavily frilled. It is fairly long, carried upright with a slight arch at the
nape and imparts a proud, upstanding appearance showing off the frill.
Body
The body is firm, hard and muscular, a trifle long in proportion to the height. The ribs are well-rounded behind the well-
sloped shoulders and the chest is deep, extending to the elbows. The back is strong and level, supported by powerful
hips and thighs and the croup is sloped to give a well-rounded finish. The loin is powerful and slightly arched.
Noticeably fat dogs, or dogs in poor flesh, or with skin disease, or with no undercoat are out of condition and are
moderately penalized accordingly
Legs
The forelegs are straight and muscular, with a fair amount of bone considering the size of the dog. A cumbersome
appearance is undesirable. Both narrow and wide placement are penalized. The forearm is moderately fleshy and the
pasterns are flexible but without weakness. The hind legs are less fleshy, muscular at the thighs, very sinewy and the
hocks and stifles are well bent. A cowhocked dog or a dog with straight stifles is penalized. The comparatively small
feet are approximately oval in shape. The soles are well padded and tough, and the toes are well arched and close
together. When the Collie is not in motion the legs and feet are judged by allowing the dog to come to a natural stop in
a standing position so that both the forelegs and the hind legs are placed well apart, with the feet extending straight
forward. Excessive "posing"is undesirable
Gait
Gait is sound. When the dog is moved at a slow trot toward an observer its straight front legs track comparatively close
together at the ground. The front legs are not out at the elbows, do not "crossover," nor does the dog move with a
choppy, pacing or rolling gait. When viewed from the rear the hind legs are straight, tracking comparatively close
together at the ground. At a moderate trot the hind legs are powerful and propelling. Viewed from the side the
reasonably long, "reaching" stride is smooth and even, keeping the back line firm and level.
As the speed of the gait is increased the Collie single tracks, bringing the front legs inward in a straight line from the
shoulder toward the center line of the body and the hind legs inward in a straight line from the hip toward the center line
of the body. The gait suggests effortless speed combined with the dog's herding heritage, requiring it to be capable of
changing its direction of travel almost instantaneously.
Tail
The tail is moderately long, the bone reaching to the hock joint or below. It is carried low when the dog is quiet, the end
having an upward twist or swirl. When gaited or when the dog is excited it is carried gaily but not over the back.
Coat
The well-fitting, proper-textured coat is the crowning glory of the rough variety of Collie. It is abundant except on the
head and legs. The outer coat is straight and harsh to the touch. A soft, open outer coat or a curly outer coat,
regardless of quantity is penalized. The undercoat, however, is soft, furry and so close together that it is difficult to see
the skin when the hair is parted. The coat is very abundant on the mane and frill. The face or mask is smooth. The
forelegs are smooth and well feathered to the back of the pasterns. The hind legs are smooth below the hock joints.
Any feathering below the hocks is removed for the show ring. The hair on the tail is very profuse and on the hips it is
long and bushy. The texture, quantity and the extent to which the coat "fits the dog" are important points.
Color
The four recognized colors are "Sable and White," "Tri-color," "Blue Merle" and "White." There is no preference among
them. The "Sable and White" is predominantly sable (a fawn sable color of varying shades from light gold to dark
mahogany) with white markings usually on the chest, neck, legs, feet and the tip of the tail. A blaze may appear on the
foreface or backskull or both. The "Tri-color" is predominantly black, carrying white markings as in a "Sable and White"
and has tan shadings on and about the head and legs. The "Blue Merle" is a mottled or "marbled" color predominantly
blue-grey and black with white markings as in the "Sable and White" and usually has tan shadings as in the "Tri-color."
The "White" is predominantly white, preferably with sable, tri-color or blue merle markings.
Size
Dogs are from 24 to 26 inches at the shoulder and weigh from 60 to 75 pounds. Bitches are from 22 to 24 inches at
the shoulder, weighing from 50 to 65 pounds. An undersize or an oversize Collie is penalized according to the extent to
which the dog appears to be undersize or oversize.
Expression
Expression is one of the most important points in considering the relative value of Collies. Expression, like the term
character is difficult to define in words. It is not a fixed point as in color, weight or height and it is something the
uninitiated can properly understand only by optical illustration. In general, however, it may be said to be the combined
product of the shape and balance of the skull and muzzle, the placement, size, shape and color of the eye and the
position, size and carriage of the ears. An expression that shows sullenness or which is suggestive of any other breed
is entirely foreign. The Collie cannot be judged properly until its expression has been carefully evaluated.
Smooth
The Smooth Variety of Collie is judged by the same Standard as the Rough Variety, except that the references to the
quantity and distribution of the coat are not applicable to the Smooth Variety, which has a short, hard, dense, flat coat
of good texture, with an abundance of undercoat.
Approved May 10, 1977
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