Collie (Smooth)

General Information - Collie (Smooth)

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History

The Smooth can be traced to the Celts who had a dog called a "collie" which translated into English meant a "useful dog". The short haired aggressive herding dog of the invading Romans was bred to the Celtic Collie and later interbred with the North African gentler herding dog to give the foundation ancestry of today's Smooth Collie. In the middle ages, the Smooths tails was docked which signified it was exempt of taxes due to it being a "tool of trade". Queen Victoria was a great admirer of the Smooth Collie and bred them in her kennels at Balmoral. During this period, the Rough (Lassie) Collie was interbred with the Smooth Collie for commercial and show purposes: a practice continued in several countries today, but not permitted by the NZKC. In 1778 and 1840 Smooths were imported for the Australian Cattle Dog. In 1975 two Smooths were reintroduced into Australia and in 1980 two descendants from these two were imported into New Zealand. Since then there have been several more both Australian and English dogs imported. Today in New Zealand the breed is in the hands of a few dedicated Smooth Collie enthusiasts, but remains a very minor breed.

Temperament

The Collie is a very intelligent, friendly dog breed, who makes an excellent children's companion and gets along well with other household dogs. Suspicious of strangers, the Collie makes a good watchdog.

Upkeep

A good walk or jog on leash or a fun play session is needed every day. Herding is an excellent exercise. The collie can live outdoors in temperate to cool climates, but it is such a family-oriented dog that it is far happier indoors. The coat of the smooth variety needs minimal care.

Collie (smooth)

A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be careful to avoid obvious conditions and exaggerations, as well as being mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.

Breed Standard - Collie (smooth)

Characteristics: To enable the Collie to fulfil a natural bent for sheepdog work, its physical structure should be on the lines of strength and activity, free from cloddiness and without any trace of coarseness. Expression, one of the most important points in considering relative values, is obtained by the perfect balance and combination of skull and foreface, size, shape, colour and placement of eye, correct position and carriage of ears. Temperament should be gay and friendly, never nervous or aggressive.

General Appearance: The Collie should instantly appear as gifted with its intelligence, alertness and activity. The Collie should stand with dignity, and his movements, governed by perfect anatomical formation, with no part out of proportion, should be smooth and graceful. The Collie should give the appearance of a dog capable of working.

Head and Skull: The head properties are of great importance and must be considered in proportion to the size of the dog. When viewed from both front and profile the head should bear a general resemblance to a well:blunted, clean wedge, being smooth in outline. The skull should be flat. The sides should taper gradually and smoothly from the ears to the end of the black nose, without prominent cheek bones or pinched muzzle. Viewed in profile the top of the skull and the top of the muzzle should lie in two parallel, straight planes of equal length, divided by a slight but perceptible “stop” or break. A mid-point between the inside corners of the eyes (which is the centre of a correctly placed “stop”) should be the centre of balance in length of head. The end of the smooth, well-rounded muzzle should be blunt, but not square. The underjaw should be strong, clean cut, and the depth of the skull from the brow to the underpart of the jaw should never be excessive (deep through). Whatever the colour of the dog, the nose must be black.

Eyes: Are a very important feature and should give a sweet expression to the dog. They should be of medium size, set somewhat obliquely, of almond shape and of dark brown colour, except in the case of blue merles when one or both eyes may be wall or jewelled. Expression full of intelligence with a quick, alert look when listening.

Ears: Should be moderately large, wider at the base, and placed not too close together nor too much on the side of the head. When in repose they should be carried thrown back, but when on the alert brought forward and carried semi-erect, that is, with approximately two-thirds of the ear standing erect, the top third tipping forward naturally, below the horizontal.

Mouth: The teeth should be of good size, with the lower incisors fitting closely behind the upper incisors; a very slight space not to be regarded as a serious fault.

Neck: Should be muscular, powerful, of fair length and well arched.

Forequarters: The shoulders should be sloped and well angulated. The forelegs should be straight and muscular, neither in nor out at the elbows, with a moderate amount of bone. The forearm somewhat fleshy with pasterns showing flexibility without weakness.

Body: Should be a trifle long compared with the height, back level and firm with a slight rise over the loins; ribs well-sprung; chest deep and fairly broad behind the shoulders.

Hindquarters: The hind legs should be muscular at the thighs, clean and sinewy below, with well bent stifles. Hocks well let-down and powerful.

Feet: Should be oval with soles well padded. Toes arched and close together. Hind feet slightly less arched.

Gait: Movement is a distinct characteristic of the breed. A sound dog is never out at elbow, yet it moves with its front feet comparatively close together. Plaiting, crossing or rolling are highly undesirable. The hind legs, from the hock joint to the ground, when viewed from the rear, should be parallel, powerful and full of drive. Viewed from the side the action should be smooth. A reasonably long stride is desirable and this should be light and appear quite effortless.

Tail: Should be long with the bone reaching at least to the hock joint. To be carried low when the dog is quiet but with a slight upward swirl at the tip. It may be carried gaily when the dog is excited, but never over the back.

Coat: A very important feature of the Smooth Collie's coat is its short, flat top coat of harsh texture, with a very dense undercoat.

Colour: The three recognised colours are sable and white, tricolour and blue merle.

• Sable: Any shade from light gold to rich mahogany or shaded sable. Light straw or cream colour is highly undesirable.
• TriColour: Predominantly black with rich tan markings about the legs and head. A rusty tinge in the top coat is highly undesirable.
• Blue Merle: Predominantly clear, silvery blue, splashed and marbled with black. Rich tan markings to be preferred, but their absence should not be counted as a fault. Large black markings, slate colour, or a rusty tinge either of the top or undercoat are highly undesirable.
• White Markings: All the above may carry the typical white Collie markings to a greater or lesser degree. The 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.

All white or predominantly white is most undesirable.
Dogs 20.4 - 29.4 kg (45 - 65 lb). Bitches 18.1 - 24.9 kg (40 - 55 lb).

Faults: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness of the fault should be in exact proportion to its degree.

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

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 the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.