Information on AKC Border Collie Puppies
AKC MEET THE BREEDS®: Border Collie
The workaholic of the dog world, the Border Collie is the world’s premier sheep herder, prized for its intelligence, extraordinary instinct and working ability. Medium-sized and athletic, the breed controls stock with stalking movement and an intense gaze known as "eye." The Border Collie coat can be rough or smooth and includes any color in bi-color, tri-color, merle, sable, or solid patterns.
A Look Back
In the border country between Scotland and England, Border Collies (first classified as the "Scotch Sheep Dog") were invaluable to shepherds by allowing them to maintain large flocks of sheep. The breed as we know it today has been around for more than 100 years. In the second half of the 19th century, Queen Victoria spotted a Border Collie and became an active enthusiast. At this point, the divergence between our modern Collie and the Border Collie began.
Right Breed for You?
This high-drive breed is extremely energetic and requires exercise beyond just a walk around the block or a romp in the yard. They thrive when they have a job to do and space to run. Due to their tendency to herd objects and people, they do best with mature, well-behaved children. They love their families, but may be somewhat reserved with strangers. They are seasonal shedders, and require regular brushing.
If you are considering purchasing a Border Collie puppy, learn more here.
- Herding Group; AKC recognized in 1995.
- Ranging in size from 18 to 22 inches tall at the shoulder.
- Sheep herder.
© The American Kennel Club, Inc.
Border Collie Breed Standard
Preamble - The Border Collie originated in the border country between
Scotland and England where the shepherds' breeding selection was based
on biddable stock sense and the ability to work long days on rugged terrain.
As a result of this selective breeding, the Border Collie developed the
unique working style of gathering and fetching the stock with wide sweeping
outruns. The stock is then controlled with an intense gaze known as "eye",
coupled with a stalking style of movement. This selective breeding over
hundreds of years developed the Border Collie's intensity, energy and
trainability which are features so important that they are equal to physical
size and appearance. The Border Collie has extraordinary instinct and
an uncanny ability to reason. One of its greatest assets is the ability
to work out of sight of its master without commands. Breeding based on
this working ability has made this breed the world's premier sheep herding
dog, a job the Border Collie is still used for worldwide.
General Appearance
The Border Collie is a well balanced, medium-sized dog of athletic appearance,
displaying style and agility in equal measure with soundness and strength.
Its hard, muscular body conveys the impression of effortless movement
and endless endurance. The Border Collie is extremely intelligent, with
its keen, alert expression being a very important characteristic of the
breed. Any aspect of structure or temperament that would impede the dog's
ability to function as a herding dog should be severely faulted. The Border
Collie is, and should remain, a natural and unspoiled true working sheep
dog whose conformation is described herein. Honorable scars and broken
teeth incurred in the line of duty are acceptable.
Size, Proportion, Substance
The height at the withers varies from 19" to 22" for males,
18" to 21" for females. The body, from prosternum to point of
buttocks, is slightly longer than the height at the withers with the length
to height ratio being approximately 10:9. Bone must be strong, medium
being correct but lighter bone is preferred over heavy. Overall balance
between height, length, weight and bone is crucial and is more important
than any absolute measurement. Dogs must be presented in hard working
condition. Excess body weight is not to be mistaken for muscle or substance.
Any single feature of size appearing out of proportion should be considered
a fault.
Head
Expression is intelligent, alert, eager, and full of interest. Eyes
are set well apart, of moderate size, oval in shape. The color encompasses
the full range of brown eyes, dogs having body colors other than black
may have noticeably lighter eye color. Blue eyes (with one, both or part
of one or both eyes being blue) in dogs other than merle, are acceptable
but not preferred. Eye rims should be fully pigmented, lack thereof considered
a fault according to degree. Ears are of medium size, set well
apart, one or both carried erect and/or semi-erect (varying from 1/4 to
3/4 of the ear erect). When semi-erect, the tips may fall forward or outward
to the side. Ears are sensitive and mobile. Skull is relatively
flat and moderate in width. The skull and muzzle are approximately equal
in length. In profile the top of the skull is parallel with the top of
the muzzle. Stop moderate, but distinct. The muzzle is strong,
tapering slightly to the nose. The underjaw is strong and well developed.
A domed, blocky or very narrow skull is faulty according to degree, as
is cheekiness and a snipey muzzle. Nose color matches the primary
body color. Nostrils are well developed. Lack of nose pigmentation is
a fault according to degree. Bite: Teeth and jaws are strong, meeting
in a scissors bite. Complete dentition is required. Missing molars or
pre-molars are serious faults as is an undershot or overshot bite.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck is of proportional length to the body, strong and muscular,
slightly arched and blending smoothly into the shoulders. Topline:
Back is level from behind the withers to the slightly arched, muscular
loins, falling to a gently sloping croup. Body is athletic in appearance
with a deep, moderately broad chest reaching no further than the point
of the elbow. The rib cage is moderately long with well sprung ribs. Loins
moderately deep and short, muscular, slightly arched and with a slight
but distinct tuck up. The tail is set on low and is moderately long with
the bone reaching at least to the hock. The ideal tail carriage is low
when the dog is concentrating on a given task and may have a slight upward
swirl at the end like a shepherd's crook. In excitement, it may be raised
proudly and waved like a banner, showing a confident personality. A tail
curled over the back is a fault.
Forequarters
Forelegs should be parallel when viewed from front, pasterns slightly
sloping when viewed from side. Because sufficient length of leg is crucial
for the type of work the breed is required to do, the distance from the
wither to the elbow is slightly less than from the elbow to the ground
and legs that are too short in proportion to the rest of the body are
a serious fault. The shoulder blades are long, well laid back and well-angulated
to the upper arm. Shoulder blades and upper arms are equal in length.
There is sufficient width between the tops of the shoulder blades to allow
for the characteristic crouch when approaching and moving stock. The elbows
are neither in nor out. Feet are compact, oval in shape; pads deep and
strong, toes moderately arched and close together with strong nails of
moderate length. Dewclaws may be removed.
Hindquarters
Broad and muscular, in profile sloping gracefully to the low set tail.
The thighs are long, broad, deep and muscular. Stifles are well turned
with strong hocks that may be either parallel or very slightly turned
in. Dewclaws should be removed. Feet, although slightly smaller, are the
same as front.
Coat
Two varieties are permissible, both having close-fitting, dense, weather
resistant double coats with the top coat either straight or wavy and coarser
in texture than the undercoat which is soft, short and dense. The rough
variety is medium in length without being excessive. Forelegs, haunches,
chest and underside are feathered and the coat on face, ears, feet, fronts
of legs is short and smooth. The smooth variety is short over entire body,
is usually coarser in texture than the rough variety and may have slight
feathering on forelegs, haunches, chest and ruff. Neither coat type is
preferred over the other. Seasonal shedding is normal and should not be
penalized. The Border Collie's purpose as an actively working herding
dog shall be clearly evident in its presentation. Excess hair on the feet,
hock and pastern areas may be neatened for the show ring. Whiskers are
untrimmed. Dogs that are overly groomed (trimmed and/or sculpted) should
be penalized according to the extent.
Color
The Border Collie appears in all colors or combination of colors and/or
markings. Solid color, bi-color, tri-color, merle and sable dogs are to
be judged equally with no one color or pattern preferred over another.
White markings may be clear white or ticked to any degree. Random white
patches on the body and head are permissible but should not predominate.
Color and markings are always secondary to physical evaluation and gait.
Gait
The Border Collie is an agile dog, able to suddenly change speed and direction
while maintaining balance and grace. Endurance is its trademark. The Border
Collie's most used working gaits are the gallop and a moving crouch (stealth)
which convert to a balanced and free trot, with minimum lift of the feet.
The head is carried level with or slightly below the withers. When shown,
Border Collies should move on a loose lead and at moderate speed, never
raced around the ring with the head held high. When viewed from the side
the trot is not long striding, yet covers the ground with minimum effort,
exhibiting facility of movement rather than a hard driving action. Exaggerated
reach and drive at the trot are not useful to the Border Collie. The topline
is firm. Viewed from the front, action is forward and true without wasted
motion. Viewed from the rear, hindquarters drive with thrust and flexibility
with hocks turning neither in nor out, moving close together but never
touching. The legs, both front and rear, tend to converge toward the center
line as speed increases. Any deficiency that detracts from efficient movement
is a fault.
Temperament
The Border Collie is energetic, intelligent, keen, alert, and responsive.
An intense worker of great tractability, it is affectionate towards friends
but may be sensibly reserved towards strangers. When approached, the Border
Collie should stand its ground. It should be alert and interested, never
showing fear, dullness or resentment. Any tendencies toward viciousness,
nervousness or shyness are very serious faults.
Faults
Any deviation from the foregoing should be considered a fault, the seriousness
of the fault depending upon the extent of the deviation.
Approved: January 13, 2004
Effective: March 2, 2004
