THE COLLIE DOG

The muzzle must be of fair length, tapering to the nose, and must not show weakness or be snipy or lippy. Whatever the colour of the dog might be, the nose must be black. Your teeth must be of good size, level and sound; very slight unevenness is permissible. The jaws sterile cut and strong. The eyes are a very important feature, and give expression to the puppy furniture; they ought to be of moderate size, set somewhat obliquely, of almond shape, and of a brownish shade except in the case of merles, when the eyes are often (one or both) white and blue or china; saying full of intelligence, with a fast alert look when listening. The ears should be small and reasonably wide at the bottom, and placed not too close together but on the cover of the skull and not on the face of the head.
The throat ought to be muscular, strong and of fair length, and somewhat arched. The body should be powerful, with well sprung ribs, chest deep, fairly broad behind the shoulders, which should be sloped, loins very powerful. The puppy needs to be straight ahead. The fore-legs must be straight and muscular, neither in nor out at elbows, with a reasonable amount of bonethe fascia somewhat fleshy, the pasterns showing flexibility .
Little is known with certainty of the origin of this Collie, but his cunning and his outward appearance would seem to indicate a relationship with the wild dog. Buffon was of opinion that he was the true dog of nature, the inventory and model of the whole canine species. He considered that the Sheepdog superior in wisdom and instinct to all other strains, which, with a character in which education has comparatively small share, he's the only creature born perfectly trained for the support of man.
The Collie dog makes an excellent sporting dog, and can be trained to do the work of the Pointer and the Setter, as well as that of the Water Spaniel and the Retriever. He can be trained to do the duties of other breeds. He's smart at searching, having an superb nose, is a good vermin-killer, and a most faithful watch, shield, and companion.
At the displays this kind of dog is always at the top of the class. He is considered the most tractable, and is surely the very agile. Secondly to this type in favour is the smooth-coated variety, a very hard, useful puppy, well adapted for hill work and generally very fleet of foot. He isn't so sweet in temper because the black and white, and is slow to make friends. There isn't a more adorable and beautiful dog to be seen compared to show Collie of the present period. Produced from the old working type, he's now virtually a different breed.
The skull ought to be flat, moderately broad between the ears, and gradually tapering towards the eyes. There should just be a small depression at stop. The width of skull depends upon upon combined length of skull and muzzle; and the whole has to be considered in relation to the size of the dog. The cheek should not be complete or prominent.
Generally character he's a lithe busy puppy, his deep torso revealing lung electricity, his neck strength, his sloping shoulders and well bent hocks indicating speed, and his expression elevated intellect. He must be a fair length on the leg, giving him more of a racy than a cloddy look. In a few words, a Collie should show endurance, activity, and intellect, with free and accurate action. In height dogs should be 22 ins. To 24 inches. At the shoulders, bitches 20 ins. To 22 ins. The weight for dogs is 45 to 65 lbs., bitches 40 to 55 lbs. The smooth collie only is different from the rough in its own coat, which should be hard, compact and quite smooth.