BREED CHARACTER:

● Not only collie looks elegant and imposing but also because of its character, collie is considered as nobility of dogs. The collie is intelligent, sensitive and acute very much. The collie has harmonious and peaceful character. It is also faithful, frank and always affectionate. The collie loves children and watches over them carefully. It has a considerable amount of perseverance, so it is tolerant as to various children’s behavior, for the collie is attentive and loving. The collie belongs to one of the best dogs to keep at home. The collie has a strongly developed sense of family; the collie is happy where all the family is gathered. This kind of dog is never nervous or aggressive. Because collie is faithful to its owner and family, it is still very capable of a watchdog. It behaves carefully to foreign people and distinguished whether is should accept them or not. The collie is joyful - the collie has sense of humor.

The collie belongs to kind of dogs that are less difficult to keep, it learns easily, quickly and joyfully. However it does not like receiving rough treatment physically and psychologically, the collie immediately understands when you show it your unpleasant look. When you go for a walk with it, the collie shows its loyalty to the owner by not running far from him, it always observes him. The collie does not demand unceasing attention; this fact is different from other kind of dogs. There is no ground of truth if one is too much afraid taking care of its coat.

The collie is created very friendly and conscious. It can be faithful to every one who knows and accepts it.

source: Dr. Stanislava Zubrická
kennel Zelené Tuje

BREED HISTORY:

● Unfortunately, the Collie's exact origins are shrouded in mystery. Over the years, it has been the subject of much research and speculation. The famous 18th century naturalist Buffoon, held the opinion that the Collie was one of the oldest breeds in the canine family. However, it has never been proven that the Collie was in fact a descendant of the ancient sheepdog. The origin of the word "Collie" is as obscure as the breed itself. Though several new theories have recently been advanced, on the origin of the breed and its name, due to the lack of irrefutable data, nothing can be proven without a doubt. What we do know, is that in the 19th century, the Collie was used extensively as a herding dog and hailed from the highlands of Scotland and Northern England. Some sources claim that the Collie's original ancestors were brought to the British Isles by Roman conquerors in the middle of the first century. One of the most important Collies, a dog named Old Cockie, became recognized in 1868. All show Collies trace back to Old Cockie through his sable and white grandson Charlemagne, whose pedigree shows the only two sables: Maude, his dam, and her sire, Old Cockie. Old Cockie live fourteen years as a cherished and pampered companion of Mr. James Bissell. He was born in the late 1860s, and it is one of the first well-known collies and it is also believed that he introduced the genes for the gorgeous sable colors present in the collie. Old Cockie was the sire of Maude, who was bred to Trefoil to produce a dog named Ch Charlamagne. Born in 1879, Charlamagne became the grandsire to Ch Metchley Wonder, a top winning Collie who was purchased for such a high price that the sale made headlines.

Trefoil, Honpipe a Hulakin was another famous collies. Three males (all tricolored) from the late 1800s that became the foundation of the collie breed as we know them today. They were bred by S.E. Shirley. Trefoil, who can be traced back in the lines of many purebred collies today, sired Charlemagne who first appeared in the show ring in 1877 and went on to become a champion and make a large impact on the breed as well.

Whatever the origins, by the late 1800's the Collie was firmly implanted in the British Isles as the Herding dog of choice! However the true popularity of the breed came about during the 1860's when Queen Victoria visited the Scottish Highlands and fell in love with the breed. Several.
 

After the industrial revolution, dog ownership became fashionable, and these early collies were believed to have been crossed with the Borzoi (Russian Wolfhound) to get a more "noble" head, which is today one of the true characteristics of the Rough Collie. Other crosses occurred with the Irish Setter and Labrador Retriever. The Irish Setter cross is the only one that could have genetically resulted in the introduction of the sable colour to the Rough Collie breed.

Collies returned with her to her Balmoral kennels. From that point on Collies became very fashionable. The show Collie as we know it today, was developed by a handful of dedicated English breeders during the late 1880's in the district of Birmingham.
 

BREED STANDARD:

FCI standard number 156,

date of publishing valid standard 19.10.1988

Country of origin: Great Britain

Usage: shepherd's and accompanying dog

Classification: 1. group FCI

General Appearance: Appears as dog of great beauty, standing with impassive dignity, with no part out of proportion to whole.

Characteristics: Physical structure on lines of strength and activity, free from cloddiness and with no trace of coarseness. Expression most important. In considering relative values it is obtained by perfect balance and combination of skull and foreface, size, shape, colour and placement of eyes, correct position and carriage of ears.

Temperament: Friendly disposition with no trace of nervousness or aggressiveness. A great companion dog, friendly, happy and active, good with children and other dogs.

Head and Skull: Head properties of great importance, must be considered in proportion to size of dog. Viewed from front or side, head resembles a well-blunted clean wedge, being smooth in outline. Skull flat. Sides taper gradually and smoothly from ears to end of black nose, without prominent cheek bones or pinched muzzle. Viewed in profile, top of skull and top of muzzle lie in two parallel straight lines of equal length divided by a slight, but perceptible stop or break. A mid-point between inside corner of eyes (which is centre of a correctly placed stop) is centre of balance in length of head. End of smooth, well rounded muzzle blunt, never square. Under jaw strong, clean cut. Depth of skull from brow to underpart of jaw never excessive (deep through). Nose always black.

Eyes: Very important feature giving sweet expression. Medium size (never very small) set somewhat obliquely, of almond-shape and dark brown colour, except in the case of blue merles when eyes are frequently (one or both, or part of one or both) blue or blue-flecked. Expression full of intelligence, with quick, alert look when listening.

Ears: Small, not too close together on top of skull, nor too far apart. In repose carried thrown back, but on alert brought forward and carried semi-erect, that is, with approximately two-thirds of ear standing erect, top third tipping forward naturally, below horizontal.

Mouth: Teeth of good size. 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: Muscular, powerful, of fair length, well arched.

Forequarters: Shoulders sloping and well angulated. Forelegs straight and muscular, neither in nor out at elbows, with moderate amount of round bone.

Body: Slightly long compared with height, back firm with a slight rise over loins; ribs well sprung, chest deep, fairly broad behind shoulders.

Hindquarters: Hindlegs muscular at thighs, clean and sinewy below, with well bent stifles. Hocks well let down and powerful.

Feet: Oval; soles well padded. Toes arched and close together. Hind feet slightly less arched.

Tail: Long with bone reaching at least to hock joint. Carried low when quiet but with slight upward swirl at tip. May be carried gaily when excited, but never over back.

Gait/Movement: Distinctly characteristic in this breed. A sound dog is never out at the elbow, yet moves with front feet comparatively close together. Plaiting, crossing or rolling are highly undesirable. Hindlegs from hock joint to ground when viewed from rear to be parallel but not too close; when viewed from side, action is smooth. Hindlegs powerful with plenty of drive. A reasonably long stride is desirable and should be light and appear effortless.

Coat: Fits outline of body, very dense. Outer coat straight and harsh to touch, undercoat soft, furry and very close almost hiding the skin; mane and frill very abundant, mask and face smooth, ears smooth at tips, but carrying more hair towards base, front legs well feathered, hindlegs above hocks profusely feathered, but smooth below hock joint. Hair on tail very profuse.

Colour: Sable and white, Tricolour and Blue Merle:

Sable: any shade of light gold to rich mahogany or shaded sable. Light straw or cream coloured highly undesirable.

Tricolour: predominantly black with rich tan markings about legs and head. A rusty tinge in top coat highly undesirable.

Blue Merle: predominantly clear, silvery blue, splashed and marbled with black. Rich tan markings preferred, but absence should not be penalised. Large black markings, slate colour, or rusty tinge either of top or undercoat are highly undesirable.

All should carry typical white Collie markings to a greater or lesser degree. 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: Height: dogs: 56-61 cms (22-24 ins) at shoulder; bitches: 51-56 cms (20-22 ins).

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 upon the

health and welfare of the dog.

Note: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.