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Structure
 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.
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.
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. The comparatively
small feet are approximately oval in shape.
 “In
judging, it never really becomes a question of type versus
soundness as the two are so closely related. The skeletal
structure, which serves as the framework of the dog, determines
the angles and proportions that create both the silhouette
and movement. A correct structural foundation is fundamental
to both type and soundness. The ideal Collie silhouette,
with its harmonious proportions and graceful curves is
a result of structure, as is the smooth, effortless gait
described in the standard. Without structure and soundness
you can’t have type and without type you don’t have a
Collie.”
--
Tom Coen, Macdega
“Effortless
movement of the Collie should be as rewarding to the observer
as is the head and expression. The Collie is often described
as a ‘head breed,’ but we should not tolerate severe structural
faults which would impede its function as a working dog.”
--
Bobbee Roos, Wickmere
 “The
Collie is slightly longer than tall and has the balanced,
well-angulated front and rear that enables the dog to
move easily and cover ground effortlessly. This does not
mean that the breed must speed about the ring. Fast usually
does not indicate correct movement in any breed. Correct
movement means covering ground easily and effortlessly
with no useless movement. There is beauty in motion.”
--
Barbara Schwartz, Impromptu
“On days when we would move sheep to the loading pens
some ten miles away, the collies would cover fifty or
more miles to the sheeps’ ten. Our collies worked at a
constant trot, a gait the properly proportioned, sound
dog can maintain for a whole day if weather and conditions
are right. He must have near-perfect balance and strength
to keep this up.
The
features that make a collie a beautiful animal in the
showring also make him a sound, agile, graceful and functional
dog at work. Without doubt, the serious breeder must ascribe
due importance to structure. Proper balance cannot be
obtained with disregard for any part of the anatomy. Balance
is the key word.”
--
Glen Twiford, Wind-Call
“First,
in order to consider the Collie in movement, one must
study and evaluate the entire conformation. Without the
proper balance of its parts, the Collie will not move
freely and correctly. The set of the neck and the head
carriage are quite as important as the set of the tail
and its carriage.”
--
Trudy B. Mangels, Brandwyne
“Soundness is vital to the utility of the Collie. Movement
demonstrates a Collie’s ability to perform the task for
which it was originally bred. There is no sight more beautiful
than a sound Collie moving as it herds sheep or goes around
the ring. Proper movement completes the picture of true
breed type. If type is the integrity of our breed preserved,
movement has to be closely related to type. I believe
that a judge has to appreciate form as it relates to type
and form as it relates to function.”
--
Carmen Leonard, Lisara
Download
the two-page guide, Collie Structure (113k/PDF)
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