Bearded Collie Breed Standard (UK)

General Appearance

General Appearance: Lean active dog, longer than it is high in an approximate proportion of 5 to 4, measured from point of chest to point of buttock. Bitches may be slightly longer. though strongly made, should show plenty of daylight under body and should not look too heavy. Bright, enquiring expression is a distinctive feature.

Characteristics

Alert, lively, self-confident and active.

Temperament Steady, intelligent working dog, with no signs of nervousness or aggression.
Head & Skull Head in proportion to size. Skull broad, flat and square, distance between stop and occiput being equal to width between orifices of ears. Muzzle strong and equal in length to distance between stop and occiput. Whole effect being that of a dog with strength of muzzle and plenty of brain room. Moderate stop. Nose large and square, generally black but normally following coat colouor in blues and browns. Nose and lips of solid colour without spots or patches. Pigmentation of lips and eye rims follows nose colour.
Eyes Toning with coat colour, set widely apart and large, soft and affectionate, not protruding. Eyebrows arched up and forward but not so long as to obscure eyes.
Ears Of medium size and drooping. When alert, ears lift at base, level with, but not above top of skull, increasing apparent breadth of skull.
Mouth Teeth large and white. Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite preferred, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Level bite tolerated but undesirable.
Neck Moderate length, muscular and slightly arched.
Forequarters Shoulders sloping well back, legs straight and vertical with good bone, covered with shaggy hair all round. Pasterns flexible without weakness.
Body Length of back comes from length of ribcage and not that of loin. Back level and ribs well sprung but not barrelled. Loin strong and chest deep, giving plenty of heart and lung room.
Hindquarters Well muscled with good second thighs, well bent stifles and low hocks. Lower leg falls at right angle to ground and, in normal stance, is just behind a line vetically below point of buttocks.
Feet Oval in shape with soles well padded. Toes arched and close together, well coveered with hair, including between pads.
Tail Set low, without kink or twist, and long enough for end of bone to reach at least point of hock. Carried low with an upward swirl at tip whilst standing or walking, may be extended at speed. Never carried over back. Covered with abundant hair.
Gait/Movement Supple, smooth and long reaching, covering ground with minimum of effort.
Coat Double with soft, furry and close undercoat. Outercoat flat, harsh, strong and shaggy, free from wooliness and curl, though slight wave permissible. Length and density of hair sufficient to provide a protective coat and to enhance shape of dog, but not enough to obscure natural lines of body. Coat must not be trimmed in any way. Bridge of nose sparsely covered with hair slightly longer on side just to cover lips. From cheeks, lower lips and under chin, coat increases in length towards chest, forming typical beard.
Colour Slate grey, reddish fawn, black, blue, all shades of grey, brown and sandy with or without white markings. When white occurs it appears on foreface, as a blaze on skull, on tip of tail, on chest, legs and feet and, if round the collar, roots of white hair should not extend behind shoulder. White should not appear above hocks on outside of hind legs. Slight tan markings are acceptable on eyebrows, inside ears, on cheeks, under root of tail and on legs where white joins main colour.
Size Ideal height: Dogs 53-56cms. (21-22ins.); Bitches 51-53cms. (20-21ins.). Overall quality and proportions should be considered before size but excessive variations from the ideal height should be discouraged.
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 IT'S EFFECT UPON THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THE DOG
Note: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.


Printed by kind permission of the Kennel Club. For more information visit their website at www.the-kennel-club.org.uk

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