Bearded Collie
HISTORICAL SUMMARY
There is mention of a breed resembling the Bearded Collie in Scottish records dating back to around the sixteenth century. He was already well known in Scotland and the North of England, where he was a sheep-herding breed. Around five hundred years ago, the dogs, which are also thought to be forerunners of the Polish Lowland Sheepdog, were abandoned in the Scottish lands and crossed with native herding dogs.
Country of Origin: Great Britain.
GENERAL APPEARANCE L : Slim and active dog. Although strongly built, it should show plenty of light under the torso and shouldn't feel too heavy. Smart, curious expression is a distinctive feature of the breed.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS :
• Longer than tall, by an approximate ratio of 5 to 4, measured from the tip of the sternum to the tip of the ischium.
• Females may be slightly longer.
• The distance between the stop and the occiput must be equal to the width between the ear holes.
BEHAVIOR AND TEMPERAMENT: Alert, vivacious, self-confident and active. Safe, intelligent working dog with no sign of nervousness or aggression.
HEAD : In proportion to its size. The overall impression is that of a dog with a strong muzzle and plenty of brain space.
CRANIAL REGION
skull : Wide, flat and square.
Stop: Moderate
FACIAL REGION
Truffle : Large and square, usually black, but usually harmonizing with the coat color of blue and brown dogs. The truffle is solid color, without blemishes or marks.
Muzzle : Strong and of length equal to the distance between the stop and the occiput.
lips : Solid color, no stains or marks. Its pigmentation follows the color of the truffle.
Jaws and Teeth : Big white teeth. The jaws are strong, preferably with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite. Pincer biting is tolerated but undesirable.
eyes : In harmony with the coat color; set well apart and large, with a sweet and affectionate expression, without being protruding. The pigmentation of the eyelids follows the color of the nose. The eyebrows are arched upwards and forwards, without, however, being long enough to cover the eyes.
Ears : Medium in size and outstanding. When alert, the ears rise at the base and are level with the top of the skull, but not exceeding it, increasing the appearance of the skull's width.
NECK : Of moderate length, muscular and slightly arched
TRUNK
Back : Level
Loin : Strong
chest : Deep, giving plenty of room to accommodate the heart and lungs. Ribs well sprung, but not barrel-shaped.
TAIL: Set on low, without being bent or twisted, long enough for the last caudal vertebra to reach at least the point of the hock. Carried low and with the tip curved upwards, when the dog is still or moving. It can be extended when in speed. Never carried on the back. Coated with abundant fur.
MEMBERS
PREVIOUS : Straight and vertical limbs, with good bone, fully covered with abundant hair.
Shoulders : Well leaned back.
Metacarpals : Flexible, without weakness.
Paws : Oval, with good pads. Fingers arched and close together, well covered with hair, even between the pads.
HINDQUARTERS : Well muscled.
Knees : Well angled.
legs : Good
Hocks : bass.
Metatarsals : The lower leg descends at a right angle to the floor and, in a normal position, should be just behind the vertical line below the point of the sit-up.
Paws : Oval, with good pads. Fingers arched and close together, well covered with hair, even between the pads.
GAIT /MOVEMENT : Elastic, smooth and long-reaching, covering the ground with a minimum of effort.
COAT
By : Double, with a soft and dense undercoat. The covering coat is flat, rough, strong and bristly; it is neither woolly nor curly, although a slight wave is permissible. The coat is long and dense enough to provide good protection and to enhance the dog's silhouette, but not long enough to hide the natural lines of the body. Under no circumstances should the coat be clipped. The bridge of the nose is rarely covered by slightly longer hairs on the sides, so as to cover the lips. From the cheeks, lower lip and below the chin, the length of the hair increases towards the chest, forming your typical beard.
COLOR
Slate grey, reddish fawn, black, blue, all shades of grey, brown and sand, with or without white markings. When it has white, it appears on the snout, as a mark on the head, on the tip of the tail, on the chest, on the limbs and on the paws; in the case of a white collar, the roots of the white hairs should not extend behind the shoulders. White should not appear above the hocks on the outside of the hind legs. Slight brown markings are permissible on the eyebrows, on the inside of the ears, on the cheeks, under the root of the tail and on the limbs, where the white meets the main color of the coat.
SIZE : Males: 53 to 56 cm.
Females: 51 to 53 cm.
FAULTS
Any deviation from the terms of this standard should be considered a fault and penalized in exact proportion to its severity and its effects on the health and well being of the dog. and on their ability to perform their traditional work.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS
• Aggressiveness or excessive shyness.
• Any dog that shows any sign of physical or behavioral anomaly must be disqualified.
GRADES
• Males must have both testicles, of normal appearance, well let down and accommodated in the scrotum.
• Only clinically and functionally healthy dogs with typical breed conformation should be used for breeding.