APPEARANCE

The general appearance of the Border Collie is medium-size with an athletic appearance. He shows grace, and agility with a hard muscular body conveying effortless movement and endurance. He is energetic, eager and alert. His hallmark is intelligence.

HEAD

His expression is intelligent, alert, eager, and full of interest. His eyes are set well apart, oval, moderate size, and usually brown. The ears are medium size, set well apart and erect or semi-erect. The skull is broad. The skull and the foreface are almost equal in length. The muzzle is short, strong, and tapers to the nose. The nose matches the primary body color.

NECK AND BODY

The neck is strong and muscular, slightly arched and broadens to the shoulders. The chest is deep and broad. The loins are moderately deep, muscular, and arched with no tuck up. The tail is set low, moderately long, and may have an upward swirl to the tip.

FOREQUARTERS

Forelegs well-boned and parallel when viewed from front.. The shoulders are long and angled to the upper arm. The elbows are neither in nor out. The dewclaws may be removed. The feet are compact, oval in shape, pads deep and strong, toes moderately arched and close together.

HINDQUARTERS

They are broad and muscular and slope to the tail. The thighs are long, broad, deep and muscular. The dewclaws may be removed. The feet are compact, oval in shape, pads deep and strong, toes moderately arched and close together.

COAT

The coat is soft and dense, weather resistant and a double coat. In puppies, the coat is short, soft, dense, and water resistant. It becomes the undercoat in adult dogs. The rough coat is medium to long, with texture of flat to wavy. It is short on the face and feathered on the legs. The smooth coat is short over the entire body, although it may feather on the legs or chest.

COLOR

The colors vary on Border Collies. There are various combinations of patterns and markings. The most common is black with or without the white blaze, collar, stockings and tail tip. Dogs may be solid, bi-color, tri-color, merle, or sable.

TEMPERAMENT

The Border Collie is intelligent, alert, and responsive. He is affectionate towards friends and may be reserved toward strangers. He is an intensive worker and eager to learn and please. He thrives on human companionship.