GarLind Ridge Collies in Wisconsin
****The Collie****

I recently attended the National Collie Club of America's Breeders seminar. There was a wealth of information and resources given out there. The following information is from that seminar. I would like to thank all who worked so hard to have this information accessible to us. Thank you!

The Collie Standard, written and illustrated:

www.collieclubofamerica.org/the_standard.html

Judge/s Education Illustrated Guide to the Collie

www.collieclubofamerica.org/cca_judges_education.html

CCA National Specialty Winners

www.collieclubofamerica.org/specialty_show/national_winners.html

Collie Health Foudation

www.colliehealth.org/index.html

American Working Collie Association

www.awca.net

The American Kennel Club

www.akc.org/index.cfm

       AKC on the Collie

       www.akc.org/breeds/collie/index.cfm

      AKC (A Beginner’s Guide to Dog Showing )

      www.akc.org/events/conformation/beginners.cfm

Dodd Vaccine Protocols

  http://www.weim.net/emberweims/Vaccine.html

Drug Sensitivity

www.awca.net/drug.htm  or  http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts%2DVCPL/

Bracing puppy ears

http://www.burlywood.com/collies/ears.htm

www.home.comcast.net/~triumphshelties/tape/mole_skin_method.htm

www.geocities.com/wyndmystshelties/ear_pattern.htm

Conformation Training Tips

  DPCA Breeders Education:

www.dpca.org/BreedEd/conformation.htm

Collie color Inheritance Charts

www.blessedacrescollie.com/collie_color_chart.html

Teeth

www.dentalvet.com/patients/procare/12steps.htm

www.cactuscanyon.com/cleaning-dogteeth.htm

www.lcph.us/petdentistry.html

 Nails

www.planet-pets.com/clip_nails.htm

http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/ClientED/dog_nails.aspx

Dremeling nails:

http://homepages.udayton.edu/~merensjp/doberdawn/dremel/dremel.html

Desensitizing foot fettish

www.ownedbypugs.com/index.php/articles/archives/get_answers_to_important_questions_about_dog_nail_trimming

Ears, how to clean

http://www.animalsheltering.org/resource_library/magazine_articles/may_jun_2001/how_to_clean_-dogs_ears.html

www.wikihow.com/Clean-Your-Dog’s-Ears

Car Sickness:

www.akc.org/press_center/akc_syndicate/ask_AKC/0106.cfm

www.abcantra.com/carsick.html

Shampoos

www.k911.biz/Petsafety/DogShampoo.htm

www.dogshampoo.info/dog-shampoo-ingredients.php

Collie Publications

Collie Expressions: www.collieexpressions.com/

Colliesonline: www.colliesonline.com/

Alpine Publications for The Collie Concept by Robbie Roos

www.alpinepub.com/information.php/info_id/8

Dog News: www.dognews.com

Dog World: www.animalnetwork.com/DogWorldMag/

Country of Origin: The origin of the Collie (also known as the ‘Scottish Collie’), the prototypical Sheepdog, is wrapped in mystery. Even the origination of the name ‘Collie’ is unknown, but it may derive from the Gaelic word for ‘useful’. The first recorded evidence of the breed dates to around 1800, when both rough-coated and smooth-coated versions, used for sheepherding and guarding, arrived with Celts on the British Isles. They grew in popularity, and were brought to America in the late 1800’s to serve as sheepherders. The standard created for the Collie in 1886 remains unchanged today. You may have heard of a famous Collie by the name of ‘Lassie’. Lassie brought attention to the rough-coated Collie, helping them to become one of the most popular American breeds and proving that they are a great help when little Timmy falls down the well.

Size: The Collie has a shoulder height of 56-66 cm (22-26 in) and weighs 23-34 kg (50-75 lbs). Collies have a flat, wedged shaped head, long muzzle, almond shaped eyes, and small, tilted ears. They have thin, muscular bodies, low tails, wide chests and small, ovular feet. They are longer than they are tall.

Coat: The Collie can have a rough, straight, and long coat or a smooth, hard, and flat coat. Both coats have a soft undercoat and short, smooth hair on their head and legs. Acceptable colors for both types are tricolor, blue merle, white, or sable and white. If white, markings are preferred. Rough haired Collies have frilly, mane-like necks.

Character: The Collie is mild-mannered, gentle, and eager to work. Collies are noble and intelligent, but occasionally can be a bit stubborn. They are kind, affectionate, and serene. Collies make great companions.

Temperament: The Collie is excellent with children, and if properly socialized can get along well with other household pets. Collies are very well-mannered, obedient, and passive. They may be suspicious of strangers, and can tend to nip as puppies. Collies are devoted to their family and protective of those they love.

Care: The coat of the smooth-haired Collie only needs brushing periodically. The rough-haired Collie needs to brushed or combed every other day, more often when shedding. Collies have a life span of 8-12 years. They can live outdoors in cool climates, but they prefer indoor life with the family. Collies should be tested for eye and hip problems.

Training: The Collie has a well-deserved reputation of being easy to train. Collies are eager to learn and obey. They are sensitive to the tone of the trainer's voice, so good results can be achieved through positive reinforcement. If Collies are trained too harshly they may become afraid or refuse to cooperate. Collies are quickly housetrained.

Activity: A Collie needs a good daily walk or jog on the leash, or a chance to run around and indulge in physical play. Collies can tolerate apartment life if sufficiently exercised outdoors. They should be provided plenty of water and shade when exercised in hot weather as they are sensitive to heat.

Information from the AKC on the majestic collie:
Information on AKC Collie Puppies Collie Breed Standard Herding Group Rough General Character The Collie is a strong, responsive, active dog, carrying no useless timber, standing naturally straight and firm. The deep, moderately wide chest shows strength, the sloping shoulders and well-bent hocks indicate speed and grace, and the face shows high intelligence. The Collie presents an impressive, proud picture of true balance, each part being in harmonious proportion to every other part and to the whole. Except for the technical description that is essential to this Standard and without which no Standard for the guidance of breeders and judges is adequate, it could be stated simply that no part of the Collie ever seems to be out of proportion to any other part. Timidity, frailness, sullenness, viciousness, lack of animation, cumbersome appearance and lack of over-all balance impair the general character. Head The head properties are of great importance. When considered in proportion to the size of the dog the head is inclined to lightness and never appears massive. A heavy-headed dog lacks the necessary bright, alert, full-of-sense look that contributes so greatly to expression. Both in front and profile view the head bears a general resemblance to a well-blunted lean wedge, being smooth and clean in outline and nicely balanced in proportion. On the sides it tapers gradually and smoothly from the ears to the end of the black nose, without being flared out in backskull (cheeky) or pinched in muzzle (snipy). In profile view the top of the backskull and the top of the muzzle lie in two approximately parallel, straight planes of equal length, divided by a very slight but perceptible stop or break. A mid-point between the inside corners of the eyes (which is the center of a correctly placed stop) is the center of balance in length of head.

The end of the smooth, well-rounded muzzle is blunt but not square. The underjaw is strong, clean-cut and the depth of skull from the brow to the under part of the jaw is not excessive. The teeth are of good size, meeting in a scissors bite. Overshot or undershot jaws are undesirable, the latter being more severely penalized. There is a very slight prominence of the eyebrows. The backskull is flat, without receding either laterally or backward and the occipital bone is not highly peaked. The proper width of backskull necessarily depends upon the combined length of skull and muzzle and the width of the backskull is less than its length. Thus the correct width varies with the individual and is dependent upon the extent to which it is supported by length of muzzle. Because of the importance of the head characteristics,
prominent head faults are very severely penalized

Eyes
Because of the combination of the flat skull, the arched eyebrows, the slight stop and the rounded muzzle, the foreface must be chiseled to form a receptacle for the eyes and they are necessarily placed obliquely to give them the required forward outlook. Except for the blue merles, they are required to be matched in color. They are almond-shaped, of medium size and never properly appear to be large or prominent. The color is dark and the eye does not show a yellow ring or a sufficiently prominent haw to affect the dog's expression. The eyes have a clear, bright appearance, expressing intelligent inquisitiveness, particularly when the ears are drawn up and the dog is on the alert. In blue merles, dark brown eyes are preferable, but either or both eyes may be merle or china in color without specific penalty. A large, round, full eye seriously detracts from the desired sweet expression. Eye faults are heavily penalized.

Ears
The ears are in proportion to the size of the head and, if they are carried properly and unquestionably break naturally, are seldom too small. Large ears usually cannot be lifted correctly off the head, and even if lifted, they will be out of proportion to the size of the head. When in repose the ears are folded lengthwise and thrown back into the frill. On the alert they are drawn well up on the backskull and are carried about three-quarters erect, with about one-fourth of the ear tipping or breaking forward.
A dog with prick ears or low ears cannot show true expression and is penalized accordingly.

Neck
The neck is firm, clean, muscular, sinewy and heavily frilled. It is fairly long, carried upright with a slight arch at the nape and imparts a proud, upstanding appearance showing off the frill.

Body
The body is firm, hard and muscular, a trifle long in proportion to the height. The ribs are well-rounded behind the well-sloped shoulders and the chest is deep, extending to the elbows. The back is strong and level, supported by powerful hips and thighs and the croup is sloped to give a well-rounded finish. The loin is powerful and slightly arched. Noticeably fat dogs, or dogs in poor flesh, or with skin disease, or with no undercoat are out of condition and are moderately penalized accordingly.

Legs
The forelegs are straight and muscular, with a fair amount of bone considering the size of the dog. A cumbersome appearance is undesirable. Both narrow and wide placement are penalized. The forearm is moderately fleshy and the pasterns are flexible but without weakness. The hind legs are less fleshy, muscular at the thighs, very sinewy and the hocks and stifles are well bent. A cowhocked dog or a dog with straight stifles is penalized. The comparatively small feet are approximately oval in shape. The soles are well padded and tough, and the toes are well arched and close together. When the Collie is not in motion the legs and feet are judged by allowing the dog to come to a natural stop in a standing position so that both the forelegs and the hind legs are placed well apart, with the feet extending straight forward. Excessive "posing"is undesirable.

Gait
Gait is sound. When the dog is moved at a slow trot toward an observer its straight front legs track comparatively close together at the ground. The front legs are not out at the elbows, do not "crossover," nor does the dog move with a choppy, pacing or rolling gait. When viewed from the rear the hind legs are straight, tracking comparatively close together at the ground. At a moderate trot the hind legs are powerful and propelling. Viewed from the side the reasonably long, "reaching" stride is smooth and even, keeping the back line firm and level.

As the speed of the gait is increased the Collie single tracks, bringing the front legs inward in a straight line from the shoulder toward the center line of the body and the hind legs inward in a straight line from the hip toward the center line of the body. The gait suggests effortless speed combined with the dog's herding heritage, requiring it to be capable of changing its direction of travel almost instantaneously.

Tail
The tail is moderately long, the bone reaching to the hock joint or below. It is carried low when the dog is quiet, the end having an upward twist or swirl. When gaited or when the dog is excited it is carried gaily but not over the back.

Coat
The well-fitting, proper-textured coat is the crowning glory of the rough variety of Collie. It is abundant except on the head and legs. The outer coat is straight and harsh to the touch. A soft, open outer coat or a curly outer coat, regardless of quantity is penalized. The undercoat, however, is soft, furry and so close together that it is difficult to see the skin when the hair is parted. The coat is very abundant on the mane and frill. The face or mask is smooth. The forelegs are smooth and well feathered to the back of the pasterns. The hind legs are smooth below the hock joints. Any feathering below the hocks is removed for the show ring. The hair on the tail is very profuse and on the hips it is long and bushy. The texture, quantity and the extent to which the coat "fits the dog" are important points.

Color
The four recognized colors are "Sable and White," "Tri-color," "Blue Merle" and "White." There is no preference among them. The "Sable and White" is predominantly sable (a fawn sable color of varying shades from light gold to dark mahogany) with white markings usually on the chest, neck, legs, feet and the tip of the tail. A blaze may appear on the foreface or backskull or both. The "Tri-color" is predominantly black, carrying white markings as in a "Sable and White" and has tan shadings on and about the head and legs. The "Blue Merle" is a mottled or "marbled" color predominantly blue-grey and black with white markings as in the "Sable and White" and usually has tan shadings as in the "Tri-color." The "White" is predominantly white, preferably with sable, tri-color or blue merle markings.

Size
Dogs are from 24 to 26 inches at the shoulder and weigh from 60 to 75 pounds. Bitches are from 22 to 24 inches at the shoulder, weighing from 50 to 65 pounds. An undersize or an oversize Collie is penalized according to the extent to which the dog appears to be undersize or oversize.

Expression
Expression is one of the most important points in considering the relative value of Collies. Expression, like the term character is difficult to define in words. It is not a fixed point as in color, weight or height and it is something the uninitiated can properly understand only by optical illustration. In general, however, it may be said to be the combined product of the shape and balance of the skull and muzzle, the placement, size, shape and color of the eye and the position, size and carriage of the ears. An expression that shows sullenness or which is suggestive of any other breed is entirely foreign. The Collie cannot be judged properly until its expression has been carefully evaluated.

Smooth

The Smooth Variety of Collie is judged by the same Standard as the Rough Variety, except that the references to the quantity and distribution of the coat are not applicable to the Smooth Variety, which has a short, hard, dense, flat coat of good texture, with an abundance of undercoat

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