The
Bearded
Collie Club of NSW
...
The Official Breed Standard of the ...
...
Australian A.N.K.C. - Bearded Collie ...
Pre
1987 Kennel Club, London
GENERAL APPEARANCE - A lean active dog, longer than it is high in
an approximate proportion of 5-4, measured from point of chest to point
of buttock. Bitches may be slightly longer. The breed, though strongly
made, should show plenty of daylight under the body and should not look
too heavy. A bright, enquiring expression is a distinctive feature of
the breed.
CHARACTERISTICS - The Bearded Collie should be alert, lively,
self confident and active.
TEMPERAMENT - The temperament should be that of a steady
intelligent working dog, with no signs of nervousness or aggression.
HEAD AND SKULL - The head should be in proportion to the size of
the dog. The skull broad and flat and square, the distance between stop
and occiput being equal to the width between the orifices of the ears.
The muzzle strong and equal in length to the distance from the stop to
the occiput, the whole effect being that of a dog with strength of
muzzle and plenty of brain room. The stop should be moderate. The nose
large and square, generally black but normally following the coat colour
in blues and browns. The nose and lips should be of solid colour without
spots or patches. Pigmentation of lips and eye rims should follow nose
colour.
EYES - The eyes should tone with coat in colour, be set widely
apart and be large, soft and affectionate, but not protruding. The
eyebrows arched up and forward but not so long as to obscure the eyes.
EARS - The ears of medium size and drooping. When the dog is
alert, the ears should lift at the base level with, but not above, the
top of the skull, increasing the apparent breadth of the skull.
MOUTH - The teeth large and white, the incisors of the lower jaw
fitting tightly behind those of the upper jaw. However, a pincer bite is
acceptable.
NECK - Moderate length, muscular and slightly arched.
FOREQUARTERS - The shoulders should slope well back; a line drawn
through the centre of the shoulder blade should form a right angle (90
degrees) with the humerus. The shoulder blades at the withers should be
separated only by the vertebrae but should slope outwards from there
sufficiently to accommodate the desired spring of rib. Legs straight and
vertical, with good bone, and covered with shaggy hair all round.
Pasterns flexible without weakness.
BODY - The length of the back should come from the length of the
ribcage and not that of the loin. The back level and ribs well sprung
but not barrelled. The loins should be strong and the chest deep, giving
plenty of heart and lung room.
HINDQUARTERS - Well muscled with good second thighs, well bent
stifles and low hocks. The lower leg should fall at a right angle to the
ground and, in normal stance, should be just behind a line vertically
below the point of the buttock.
FEET - Oval in shape with the soles well padded. The toes arched
and close together, well covered with hair including the pads.
TAIL - Set low, without kink or twist, and long enough for the
end of the bone to reach at least the point of the hock. Carried low
with an upward swirl at the tip whilst standing or walking, but may be
extended at speed. Never carried over the back. Covered with abundant
hair.
GAIT/MOVEMENT - Movement should be supple, smooth and long
reaching, covering the ground with the minimum of effort.
COAT - Double with the undercoat soft, furry and close. Outer
coat flat, harsh, strong and shaggy, free from woolliness and curl,
though a slight wave is permissible. Length and density of the hair
should be sufficient to provide a protective coat and to enhance the
shape of the dog, but not enough to obscure the natural lines of the
body. The coat must not be trimmed in any way. On the head, the bridge
of the nose should be sparsely covered with hair which is slightly
longer on the sides just to cover the lips. From the cheeks, the lower
lips and under the chin, the coat should increase in length towards the
chest, forming the typical beard.
COLOUR - Slate grey, reddish fawn, black, blue, all shades of
grey, brown and sandy, with or without white markings. Where white
occurs, it should only appear on the foreface, as a blaze on the skull,
on the tip of the tail, on the chest, legs and feet and, if round the
collar, the roots of the white hair should not extend behind the
shoulder. White should not appear above the hocks on the outside of the
hind legs. Slight tan markings are acceptable on the eyebrows, inside
the ears, on the cheeks, under the root of the tail, and on the legs
where white joins the main colour.
SIZE - Ideal height at the shoulder:
Dogs 53-56 cm (21-22 ins)
Bitches 51-53 cm (20-21 ins)
Overall quality and proportions should be considered before size but
excessive variation 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.
NOTE - Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles
fully descended into the scrotum.
Working Dog Group A.N.K.C. © January 1998
http://www.ankc.aust.com/bearded.html
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