FCI Breed Standard
General
The border collie was developed to gather and control sheep in the hilly border country between Scotland and England. He is known for his intense stare or ‘eye,’ with which he controls his flock. He’s a dog with unlimited energy, stamina and working drive., all of which make him a premier herding dog, he’s still used today to herd sheep on farms and ranches around the world. The highly trainable and intelligent Border Collie also excels in various canine sports, including obedience, flyball, agility, tracking and disc dog competitions.
Appearance
Well proportioned, smooth outline showing quality, gracefulness and perfect balance, combined with sufficient substance to give impression of endurance. Any tendency to coarseness or weediness undesirable.
Characteristics & Temperament
The border collie is highly intelligent, with an instinctive tendency to work and is readily responsive to training. Its keen, alert and eager expression add to its intelligent appearance.
A Border collies temperament is stable, biddable and willing to please, steady with no sign of timidness or aggression. Any sign of aggression is uncharacteristic of this breed and should not be tolerated.
The border collie was developed to gather and control sheep in the hilly border country between Scotland and England. He is known for his intense stare or ‘eye,’ with which he controls his flock. He’s a dog with unlimited energy, stamina and working drive., all of which make him a premier herding dog, he’s still used today to herd sheep on farms and ranches around the world. The highly trainable and intelligent Border Collie also excels in various canine sports, including obedience, flyball, agility, tracking and disc dog competitions.
Appearance
Well proportioned, smooth outline showing quality, gracefulness and perfect balance, combined with sufficient substance to give impression of endurance. Any tendency to coarseness or weediness undesirable.
- Head & Skull - Skull fairly broad, occiput not pronounced. Cheeks not full or rounded. Muzzle, tapering to nose, moderately short and strong. Skull and foreface approximately equal in length. Stop very distinct. Nose black, except in brown or chocolate colour when it may be brown. In blues nose should be slate colour. Nostrils well developed.
- Eyes - Set well apart, oval shaped, of moderate size, brown in colour except in merles where one or both, or part of one or both, may be blue. Expression mild, keen, alert and intelligent.
- Ears - Medium size and texture, set well apart. Carried erect or semi erect and sensitive in use.
- Mouth - Teeth and jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
- Neck - Of good length, strong and muscular, slightly arched and broadening to shoulders.
- Forequaters - Front legs parallel when viewed from front, pasterns slightly sloping when viewed from the side. Bone strong but not heavy. Shoulders well laid back, elbows close to body.
- Hindquaters - Broad, muscular, in profile sloping gracefully to set on of tail. Thighs long, deep and muscular with well turned stifles and strong well let down hocks. From hock to ground, hindlegs well boned and parallel when viewed from rear.
- Body - Athletic in appearance, ribs well sprung, chest deep and rather broad, loins deep and muscular, but not tucked up. Body slightly longer than height at shoulder.
- Feet - Oval, pads deep, strong and sound, toes arched and close together. Nails short and strong.
- Tail - Moderately long, the bone reaching at least to hock, set low, well furnished and with an upward swirl towards the end, completing graceful contour and balance of dog. Tail may be raised in excitement, never carried over back.
- Movement - Free, smooth and tireless, with minimum lift of feet, conveying impression of ability to move with great stealth and speed.
- Colour - Variety of colours permissible. White should never predominate.
- Height - Dogs 48-53cm, Bitches 46-50cm
- Faults - Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect on health & welfare of the dog. Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles full descended into the scrotum.
Characteristics & Temperament
The border collie is highly intelligent, with an instinctive tendency to work and is readily responsive to training. Its keen, alert and eager expression add to its intelligent appearance.
A Border collies temperament is stable, biddable and willing to please, steady with no sign of timidness or aggression. Any sign of aggression is uncharacteristic of this breed and should not be tolerated.