FEDERATION CYNOLOGIQUE INTERNATIONALE (AISBL) SECRETARIAT GENERAL: 13, Place Albert 1er B – 6530 Thuin (Belgique)

15.09.2021/EN

FCI-Standard N° 296

COLLIE (SMOOTH)

M.Davidson, illustr. NKU Picture Library

ORIGIN: Great Britain.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE OFFICIAL VALID STANDARD: 27/07/2021.

UTILIZATION: Sheepdog.

FCI-CLASSIFICATION:
Group 1 Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs (except Swiss Cattle Dogs).
Section 1 Sheepdogs.
Without working trial.

GENERAL APPEARANCE:
Appears as gifted with intelligence, alertness and activity. Stands with dignity governed by perfect anatomical
formation, with no part out of proportion, giving appearance of working capability. 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 and shape, colour and
placement of eye, correct position and carriage of ears.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS:
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.

Body slightly long compared with height.

BEHAVIOUR AND TEMPERAMENT: Friendly disposition with no trace of nervousness or aggressiveness.

HEAD:
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.

A mid-point between inside corners of eyes (which is centre of a correctly placed stop) is centre of balance in length
of head.

CRANIAL REGION:
Skull: Flat. Sides taper gradually and smoothly from ears to end of nose. Depth of skull from brow to underpart of jaw
never excessive (deep through).

Stop: Slight, but perceptible. The mid-point between inside corner of eyes is centre of a correctly placed stop or
break.

FACIAL REGION:
Nose: Always black.

Muzzle: End of smooth, well rounded muzzle blunt, never square. Muzzle not pinched.

Jaws/teeth: 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. Underjaw strong, clean cut.

Cheek: Cheek bones not prominent.

Eyes:
Very important feature, giving sweet expression. Medium size (never very small), set somewhat obliquely, of almond-shape
and dark brown colour, except in 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:
Moderately large, wider at base, and placed not too close together nor too much on side of head. When 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.

NECK: Muscular, powerful, of fair length, well arched.

BODY:

Back: Level and firm.

Loin: With slight rise.

Chest: Deep and fairly broad behind shoulders. Ribs well sprung.

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

LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS:

General appearance: Forelegs straight and muscular. Moderate bone.

Shoulder: Sloping shoulders, well laid back. Good return of upper arm placing elbow below withers.

Elbow: Turning neither in nor out.

Forearm: Somewhat fleshy.

Metacarpus (Pasterns): Showing flexibility without weakness.

Forefeet: Oval soles well padded. Toes arched and close together.

HINDQUARTERS:

Thigh: Muscular. Hindlegs clean and sinewy below thighs.

Stifle: Well bent.

Metatarsus (Rear pasterns): Well let down and powerful.

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

GAINT / MOVEMENT:
Distinctly characteristic of this breed. A sound dog is never out at 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, parallel. Hindlegs powerful and full of drive. Viewed from side, action is smooth. A reasonably long stride
is desirable and should be light and appear quite effortless.

SKIN: Fine-grained, smooth, warm to the touch.

COAT:

Hair: Short, flat, top coat of harsh texture, with very dense undercoat. Not trimmed or clipped.

Colour: Three recognized colours: Sable and white, Tricolour and Blue Merle.

• Sable: Any shade of light gold to rich mahogany or shaded sable.
Light straw or cream colour 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 in top or undercoat are highly
undesirable.

All colours above may carry typical white Collie markings to a greater or lesser degree. Following markings are
favourable: white collar, full or part; white front, legs and feet; white tail tip. A blaze may be carried on muzzle or
skull. White markings not to extend behind withers or above the hock. All white or predominantly white is most
undesirable.

SIZE AND WEIGHT:
Height at withers:
Males: 56-61 cm
Females: 51-56 cm

Weight:
Males: 20,5-29,5 kg
Females: 18,0-25,0 kg

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 and on its
ability to perform its traditional work.

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS:
• Aggressive or overly shy dogs.
• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities.

N.B.:
• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation, should be used for breeding.

The latest amendments are in bold characters.

SURFACE ANATOMY