The Collie Standard, Collie Rough
 
General Appearance:

The Collie should instantly appeal as a dog of great beauty, standing with impassive dignity, with no part out in proportion to the whole.
 
Characteristics:
 
To enable the Collie to fulfill a natural bent for sheepdog work, its physical structure should be on the lines of strenght and activity, free from cloddiness and without any trace of coarseness. Expression, one of the most important points in considering relative values, is obtained by the perfect balance and combination of skull and foreface, size, shape, colour and placement of eye, correct position and carriage of ears.
 
Temperament:
The collie should have a friendly disposition wit no trace of nervousness or aggressiveness
 
 
Head and Skull:
The head properties are of great importance and must be considered  in proportion to the size of the dog. When viewed from front or side, the head resembles a well-blunted, clean wedge, being smooth in outline. Skull flat, the sides should taper gradually and smoothly from the ears to the end of the black nose., without prominent cheekbones or pinched muzzle. Viewed in profile, the top of the skull and the top of the muzzle lie in two parallell, straight lines of equal lenght, devided by a slight but perceptible "stop" or break. A mid-point between the inside corners of the eyes (which is the centre of the correctly placed stop), is the centre of balance in the lenght of head. The end of the smooth, well-roundedn muzzle is blunt, never square. The underjaw is strong, clean -cut and the depth of the skull, from the brow to the underpart of the jaw, must never be excessive (deep through). Whatever the colour of the dog, the nose must be black.
 
Eyes:
These are a very important feature and give a sweet expresssion to the dog. They should be of medium size (never very small), set somewhat obliquely, of almond shape and of dark brown colour, except in the case of blue merles when the eyes (one or both, or part of one or both) are frequently blue or blue flecked.Expression full of intelligence, with a quick alert look when listening.
 
Ears:
These should be small and not too close together on top of the skull, nor too far apart. When in repose, they should be carried thrown back, but when on the alert, brougt forward and carried semi-errect, that is, with approximately two-thirds of the ear standing erect, the top third tipping forward naturally, below the horizontal.
 
Mouth:
The teeth should be of good size, with scissor bite.
 
Neck:
The neck should be muscular, powerful, of fair lenght and well arched.
 
Forequarters:
The shoulder should be sloped and well angulated. The forelegs should be straight and muscular, neither in nor out at elbows, with a moderate amount of bone.
 
Body:
The body should be slightly longcompared to height, back firm with a slight rise over the loins; ribs well sprung, chest deep and fairly braod behind the shoulders.
 
Hindquarters:
The hind legs should be muscular at the tighs, clean and sinewy below with well-bent stifles. Hocks well let down and powerful.
 
Feet:
These should be oval in shape with soles well padded, toes arched and close together. The hind feet slightly less arched.
 
Gait:
Movement is a distinct characteristic of this breed. A sound dog is never out at elbow, yet it moves with its front feet comparatively close together. Plaiting, crossing or rolling are highly undesirable. The hind legs, from hock joint to the ground, when viewed from the rear should be parallell but not too close. When viewed from the side the action is smooth. The hind legs should be powerful with plenty of drive. A reasonably long stride is desirable and this should be light and appear quite effortless.
 
Tail:
The tail should be long with the bone reaching at least to the hock joint. To be carried low when the dog is quiet, with a slight upward swirl at the tip. It may be carried gaily when the dog is excited, but not over the back.
 
Coat:
The three recognized colours are sable and white, tricolour and blue merle.

Sable: Any shade from light gold to rich mahogany or shaded sable. Light straw or cream is highly undesirable.

Tricolour: Predominantely black with rich tan markings about the legs and head. A rusty tinge on the top of coat is highly undesirable.

Blue Merle: Predominantely clear, silvery blue, splashed and marbled with black. Rich tan markings to be preferred but their absence not to be penelized. Large black markings, slate colour, or a rusty tinge either of the top or the undercoat are highly undesirable.

White markings: All the above should carry the typical white Collie markings to a greater or lesser degree. The following markings are favourable: white collar, full or part, white shirt, legs and feet, white tail tip. A blaze may be carried on muzzle or skull or both.
 
Size:
Dogs 22-24 inches (56-61 cm at shoulder
Bitches- 20-22 inches (51-56 cm.
Ideal weight have been deleted.
 
Faults:
Any departure from the fregoing 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 animals should have two apparently normal testicles descended into the scrotum.