The Border Collie Today ~ a controversial view

In 1975 a proposal was issued to the Kennel Club in Great Britain for the recognition of the Border Collie as a separate breed. This proposal was presented to the Kennel Club together with a breed standard based upon the Australian Standard that existed at that time.

Following lengthy discussions between the Kennel Club and The International Sheepdog Society the Interim Breed Standard was issued in 1976.

During 1979 the Southern Border Collie Club was formed.  Representatives of the breed clubs and the International sheepdog Society met on several occasions with the Kennel Club to discuss and put forward any necessary amendments to the Standard, until the one here in Great Britain was agreed upon and is as it stands today.

The temperament of the Border Collie should be one of keen, alert responsive and intelligent. It should not be nervous or aggressive. Nervousness is a most serious fault. An aggressive or vicious Border Collie is usually traceable to bad handling or it may be a heredity defect. The majority of Border Collies have wonderful natures; they have a sense of responsibility to their owners and are uncritical companions!

The Border Collie is a herding dog. All its natural qualities are present at birth. If any of them are lacking in the physical or temperamental department, it cannot be put there. The general appearance should be of an intelligent, athletic-looking type, well balanced, with a strong, but not heavy-boned skeleton. Its framework should be adequate to hold the heart and lungs needed to carry out its specific task. Strong tissue and well-developed muscles should hold this together. However, the one thing all Border Collies should have in common is soundness.

If we bear in mind the task which the Border Collie was designed, overall balance is essential. The Border Collie should be slightly longer than it is high i.e. it should be measured from the point of shoulder to point of buttock for length and from point of wither to ground for height.

The quality, texture and general appearance of the outer covering is all a matter of personal choice and opinion. However, to my mind's eye, a Border Collie in the full beauty of its winter coat, brushed until it shines with health, vitality and cleanliness is certainly something to behold!

A Border Collies coat should never be "Woolly", the hair should be straight and silky with a dense undercoat, designed to be weatherproof. There are disadvantages to a "shaggy-coat", it will collect mud or snow, be more subject to skin trouble and will provide an excellent cover for fleas and ticks.

    CH. LOCHEIL LOOK NORTH (ISDS)

    Breeder/Owner Mrs H Turner

"Nap" showing all the necessary attributes of a working Border Collie. Well proportioned head, eye keen and alert, ears forward. Well laid shoulder, loins strong, tail set low and carried low with a slight upward swirl to the tip. Well developed muscles for speed and endurance. Body with sufficient substance for stamina - a complete picture of gracefulness and harmony - coat gleaming and healthy.

The Border Collie works or moves with his head low. A short neck will spoil this balance. A well laid back shoulder makes for speed and reduces the chances of damage to the dog's legs when he stops or is on hard ground. A broad chest and short legs mean a slow dog. A herding dog should never look clumsy, his lines should be graceful and in perfect harmony combined with sufficient substance to give the impression of endurance. His loins should be strong, and length from hip to hock is essential for pace and stamina. Good muscle development in this region should continue down the second thigh to the foot, where it is needed to support and propel the weight of the body. His tail should be set low and carried low when working. A tail carried high or crooked in an adult shows a sign of weakness.

My interpretation of the Breed Standard  

Sh.Ch. Corinlea Faro at Blacdimonz (ISDS)

 Owners: Bob and Viv Davidson.  Breeder: Karen Dalglish

The Border Collie illustrated opposite shows a well proportioned male in his prime, returning from exercise and in a natural relaxed stance. His all appearance is one of quality and balance exhibiting all the true breed characteristics.

Whether the Border Collie is a work or show dog, overall balance is essential, in order to carry out the task he is designed for. This Border Collie as a good broad skull with no "doming his cheeks are not full or rounded, his muzzle moderately short and strong. Although his ears are not semi erect or erect they are well placed. He has an excellent fore chest; front legs are parallel with slightly sloping pasterns. His elbows are tucked well in and his bone appears strong but not heavy. The hindquarters give the appearance of being broad and muscular. Thighs long and deep with well turned stifle and well let down hocks. The hind legs are well boned and parallel, hocks not bowed or cowed. The body is quite athletic in appearance with well sprung ribs and deep chest, the body is also slightly longer than height to shoulder. The back shows a level top line sloping gracefully to a well set tail.

Here we have the same dog on the move at a walking pace. His head low showing excellent long arched neck, level top line and well carried tail, his overall appearance one of complete balance and harmony. Because of his well placed shoulder he has good forward extensions. Should his shoulder or upper arm be steep he would not be able to extend. The power to drive from behind is noticeable enabling the unique smooth, low stealthy movement of the Border Collie to be clearly visible, this is sheer poetry in motion.

The Border Collie is first and foremost a working dog and I feel that this beautiful breed's birthright should not be taken away from it. The Border Collie is unique in as much as it has retained its natural instincts. However, some ten years ago, the Border Collie began to change due to the fads and fancies of "The Show Fraternity" who were now looking for a more attractive Collie regardless of the qualities laid down in the Standard.

I feel any Border Collie breed standard can be open to misinterpretation and the influx of imports to the UK from New Zealand and Australia over the past decade has changed the Border Collie beyond all recognition. I ask myself when I judge "Can I really see this Border Collie doing a honest days work?" In the majority the answer would have to be a resounding NO. Gone is the balance, quality and overall appearance of the Border Collie. It no longer moves with stealth giving the graceful outline and free flowing gait. Movement should be free, smooth and tireless with minimum lift of feet. A badly constructed dog will high step, short step and have no power to drive from behind if his forequarters are not well laid back or his hindquarters lack angulations. We see heads held high on tight choke chains, high stepping or hackney movement at the front and choppy peddling movement at the rear. Pasterns are almost non-existent, flat feet are prevalent. We rarely see tight oval feet with deep strong pads, instead we have long pointed hare-type feet. Heads are becoming square and chiseled with round staring lifeless eyes giving no expression. Bitch's heads in particular are less feminine. Under jaw seems to be lacking in both sexes. There has always been a variation on ear carriage. We all like to see the perfect semi-erect ear carriage or for complete alertness fully erect ears, which I personally find very attractive. However, ear carriage too is changing. Ears are now placed close together in the Rough Collie fashion, which completely changes the Border Collie expression. The standard states ears should be set well apart. Legs are becoming very short and bone too heavy. Bodies are becoming heavy and long, with very "dippy" top lines. Croups are now squared off with very high set tails that are short and do not even reach to the hock, these are carried high. Stifles are becoming straighter. Short necks are common as are steep upper arms. Coats are heavy and woolly. The hair should be straight and silky with a dense undercoat, designed to be weather proof. The Border Collie is a slow maturing breed which should not reach its prime before 5-6 years of age unlike the ones we see in the show ring today which are looking fully mature and finished before 12 months of age.

Again I ask myself - "Can I see this type of Border Collie doing the work it was was bred for?" Fortunately or unfortunately the Border Collie Show Fraternity are changing the breed beyond all recognition.  I ask you "Do you really want a very pretty "Fluff-ball" that will only win in the conformation ring, or would you like to see the true Border Collie once again emerge doing the task it was designed for?" The Border Collie is a herding dog with all its natural qualities present at birth.

I have taken time out to sit and watch the Border Collie being judged both by Specialist judges and the All Rounder. In my opinion certain Specialist judges will be more thorough, looking for the finer points, and seeing beyond the prettily marked type that stands and is "showy". The Specialist judge will be eager to assess movement, balance and more importantly type and temperament. I have seen the All Rounder "judging" the handlers and putting up the well known faces and fashions taking no account of movement and even placing dogs that are lame or could not be approached to be assessed!! Unfortunately the balance here in the UK is more for the All Rounder and new regulations make it more difficult for the Specialist judge to gain Championship show status. It is therefore apparent the judges determine the type of Border Collie not the breeders. The breeders breed to accommodate the All Rounder who seem to dominate the show circuit.

Any breed standard is open to different interpretations, judging is about opinions, but the Standard should always be used as a guideline. Picture the Border Collie in your mind's eye, be consistent and judge the Border Collie as a whole.

Karen Dalglish, Corinlea Border Collies & Pyrenean Sheepdogs.

Thank you to Mrs Turner and Mr and Mrs Davidson for allowing me to use the photographs in this article. Credits to the late Bill Welsh for Faro's black and white photograph.