Rough Collie breed standards compared
Each column is one club's published standard. An empty cell means the club says nothing on that point in our records.
Clubs compared: FCI, AKC, UKC, KC, CKC.
Size
| Measure | FCI | AKC | UKC | KC | CKC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Height at the withers, male | 56–61 cm | 61–66 cm | 61–66 cm | 56–61 cm | 61–66 cm |
| Height at the withers, female | 51–56 cm | 55.9–61 cm | 55.9–61 cm | 51–56 cm | 56–61 cm |
| Weight, male | No ruling | 27.2–34 kg | 27.2–34 kg | No ruling | 27.3–34 kg |
| Weight, female | No ruling | 22.7–29.5 kg | 22.7–29.5 kg | No ruling | 22.8–29.5 kg |
| Skull to muzzle | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Conformation
| Form | FCI | AKC | UKC | KC | CKC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| StopSlight | Standard (“Stop: Slight, but perceptible.”) | Standard (“divided by a very slight but perceptible stop or break”) | Standard (“joined by a very slight, but perceptible, stop”) | Standard (“divided by a slight, but perceptible stop or break”) | Standard (“divided by a very slight but perceptible stop or break”) |
| BiteScissors bite | Standard (“A perfect, regular and complete scissor bite”) | Standard (“The teeth are of good size, meeting in a scissors bite.”) | Standard (“A full complement of strong, white teeth meet in a scissors bite.”) | Standard (“perfect, regular and complete scissor bite”) | Standard (“Teeth: The teeth are of good size, meeting in a scissors bite.”) |
| BiteOvershot | No ruling | Fault (“Overshot or undershot jaws are undesirable”) | Fault (“Serious Fault: Overshot bite.”) | No ruling | Fault (“Overshot or undershot jaws are undesirable”) |
| BiteUndershot | No ruling | Fault (“the latter being more severely penalized”) | Fault (“Very Serious Fault: Undershot bite.”) | No ruling | Fault (“the latter being more severely penalized”) |
| Eye shapeAlmond | Standard (“of almond-shape and dark brown colour”) | Standard (“They are almond-shaped, of medium size”) | Standard (“The eyes are medium in size, almond in shape”) | Standard (“of almond-shape and dark brown colour”) | No ruling |
| Ear carriageSemi-erect | Standard (“carried semi-erect, that is, with approximately two-thirds of ear standing erect”) | Standard (“carried about three-quarters erect, with about one-fourth of the ear tipping”) | Standard (“they are carried about three-quarters erect”) | Standard (“carried semi-erect, that is, with approximately two-thirds of ear standing erect”) | Standard (“carried about three-quarters erect, with about one-fourth of the ear tipping”) |
| Ear carriageErect (prick) | No ruling | Fault (“A dog with prick ears or low ears ... is penalized accordingly.”) | Fault (“Faults: Prick or low ears.”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| Ear setLow | No ruling | Fault (“A dog with prick ears or low ears ... is penalized accordingly.”) | Fault (“Faults: Prick or low ears.”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| Neck shapeArched | Standard (“Muscular, powerful, of fair length, well arched.”) | Standard (“carried upright with a slight arch at the nape”) | Standard (“fairly long and well-arched”) | Standard (“Muscular, powerful, of fair length, well arched.”) | No ruling |
| ToplineLevel | No ruling | Standard (“The back is strong and level”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Tail lengthLong | Standard (“Long with bone reaching at least to hock joint.”) | No ruling | Standard (“Long, reaching to the hock joint.”) | Standard (“Long with bone reaching at least to hock joint.”) | No ruling |
| Tail carriageLow (hanging) | Standard (“Carried low when quiet”) | No ruling | Standard (“Carried low when the dog is quiet”) | Standard (“Carried low when quiet”) | No ruling |
| HocksWell let down | Standard (“Hock joint: well let down and powerful.”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“Hocks well let down and powerful.”) | No ruling |
| HocksCow-hocked | No ruling | No ruling | Fault (“Clean and sinewy below the thighs, never cow-hocked.”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| FeetOval | Standard (“Forefeet: Oval; soles well padded.”) | No ruling | Standard (“The feet are comparatively small, oval in shape”) | Standard (“Oval; soles well padded.”) | No ruling |
Markings
| Marking | FCI | AKC | UKC | KC | CKC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collar | Standard (“Following markings are favourable – white collar, full or part”) | No ruling | Standard (“a full or partial white collar”) | Standard (“Following markings are favourable – white collar, full or part”) | No ruling |
| Bib | Standard (“white shirt, legs and feet”) | No ruling | Standard (“white shirtfront”) | Standard (“white shirt, legs and feet”) | No ruling |
| Socks | Standard (“white shirt, legs and feet”) | Alternate (“white markings usually on the chest, neck, legs, feet and the tip of the tail”) | Standard (“white shirtfront, legs, feet”) | Standard (“white shirt, legs and feet”) | No ruling |
| Chest patch | No ruling | Alternate (“white markings usually on the chest, neck, legs, feet and the tip of the tail”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| White tail tip | Standard (“white tail tip”) | Alternate (“white markings usually on the chest, neck, legs, feet and the tip of the tail”) | Standard (“a white tail tip”) | Standard (“white tail tip”) | No ruling |
| Blaze | Alternate (“A blaze may be carried on muzzle or skull”) | Alternate (“A blaze may appear on the foreface or”) | Alternate (“A blaze may appear on the muzzle and/or skull”) | Alternate (“A blaze may be carried on muzzle or skull”) | No ruling |
| Tan points | Standard (“Rich tan markings preferable, but absence should not be penalised”) | No ruling | Standard (“rich tan markings on the head and legs”) | Standard (“Rich tan markings preferable”) | No ruling |
Rough Collie colors and patterns
What each club's breed standard says about every Rough Collie color and pattern. Point at a ruling to see the club's own wording.
Breed standards describe the Rough Collie in Black, White, Blue, and Tan. Standard patterns: Solid, Tricolor, Merle, Piebald, Sable, and Tan point.
| Color or pattern | FCI | AKC | UKC | KC | KUSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | Standard (“Tricolour: predominantly black”) | Standard (“Black White & Tan”) | Standard (“Tri-color: predominately black”) | Standard (“Tricolour: predominantly black”) | Standard (“Tricolour: predominantly black”) |
| White | Standard (“All should carry typical white Collie markings”) | Standard (“White”) | Standard (“White: predominately white”) | Standard (“All should carry typical white Collie markings”) | Standard (“All should carry typical white Collie markings”) |
| Blue | Standard (“Blue Merle: predominantly clear, silvery blue”) | Standard (“Blue Merle”) | Standard (“blue merle”) | Standard (“Blue Merle: predominantly clear, silvery blue”) | Standard (“Blue Merle: predominantly clear, silvery blue”) |
| Tan | Standard (“rich tan markings about legs and head”) | Standard (“Black White & Tan”) | Standard (“rich tan markings on the head and legs”) | Standard (“rich tan markings about legs and head”) | Standard (“rich tan markings about legs and head”) |
| Slate | Fault (“Large black markings, slate colour, or rusty tinge either of top or undercoat are highly undesirable”) | Not recognized | Not recognized | Fault (“Large black markings, slate colour, or rusty tinge either of top or undercoat are highly undesirable”) | Fault (“Large black markings, slate colour, or rusty tinge either of top or undercoat are highly undesirable”) |
| Rust | Fault (“A rusty tinge in top coat highly undesirable”) | Not recognized | Not recognized | Fault (“A rusty tinge in top coat highly undesirable”) | Fault (“A rusty tinge in topcoat highly undesirable”) |
| Cream | Fault (“Light straw or cream coloured highly undesirable”) | Not recognized | Not recognized | Fault (“Light straw or cream coloured highly undesirable”) | Fault (“Light straw or cream coloured highly undesirable”) |
| Albino | Not recognized | Not recognized | Disqualifying (“Albinism”) | Not recognized | Not recognized |
| Patterns | |||||
| Solid | Fault (“All white or predominantly white is highly undesirable”) | Standard (“predominantly white, preferably with sable, tri-color or blue merle markings”) | Standard (“predominately white, preferably with sable, tri-color or blue merle markings”) | Fault (“All white or predominantly white is highly undesirable”) | Fault (“All white or predominantly white is highly undesirable”) |
| Tricolor | Standard (“Tricolour”) | Standard (“Black White & Tan”) | Standard (“tri-color”) | Standard (“Tricolour”) | Standard (“Tricolour”) |
| Merle | Standard (“Blue Merle”) | Standard (“Blue Merle”) | Standard (“blue merle”) | Standard (“Blue Merle”) | Standard (“Blue Merle”) |
| Piebald | Fault (“All white or predominantly white is highly undesirable”) | Standard (“White”) | Standard (“predominately white, preferably with sable, tri-color or blue merle markings”) | Fault (“All white or predominantly white is highly undesirable”) | Fault (“All white or predominantly white is highly undesirable”) |
| Sable | Standard (“Sable: any shade of light gold to rich mahogany or shaded sable”) | Standard (“Sable”) | Standard (“sable”) | Standard (“Sable: any shade of light gold to rich mahogany or shaded sable”) | Standard (“Sable: any shade of light gold to rich mahogany or shaded sable”) |
| Tan point | Standard (“rich tan markings about legs and head”) | Standard (“Black & Tan Markings”) | Standard (“rich tan markings on the head and legs”) | Standard (“rich tan markings about legs and head”) | Standard (“rich tan markings about legs and head”) |
| Double merle | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Color or pattern | FCI | AKC | UKC | KC | KUSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | Standard (“blue merles when eyes are frequently (one or both, or part of one or both) blue”) | Standard (“either or both eyes may be merle or china in color without specific penalty”) | Standard (“the Blue Merle, which may have blue, or blue flecked, eyes (one or both)”) | Standard (“blue merles when eyes are frequently (one or both, or part of one or both) blue”) | Standard (“blue merles when eyes are frequently (one or both, or part of one or both) blue”) |
| Dark brown | Standard (“dark brown colour”) | Standard (“The color is dark”) | Standard (“dark brown in color”) | Standard (“dark brown colour”) | Standard (“dark brown colour”) |
| Patterns | |||||
| Marbled | Standard (“blueflecked”) | Standard (“either or both eyes may be merle”) | Standard (“blue flecked”) | Standard (“blue-flecked”) | Standard (“blue-flecked”) |
| Odd-eyed | Standard (“one or both”) | Standard (“either or both eyes may be merle or china”) | Standard (“(one or both)”) | Standard (“one or both”) | Standard (“one or both”) |
| Sectoral | Standard (“part of one or both”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“part of one or both”) | Standard (“part of one or both”) |
| Color or pattern | FCI | AKC | UKC | KC | KUSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | Standard (“black nose”) | Standard (“the black nose”) | Standard (“Must be black”) | Standard (“Nose always black”) | Standard (“Nose always black”) |
What the rulings mean
- Standard
- Described by the club's breed standard.
- Fault
- Named by the club's breed standard as a fault: the animal can be shown but is penalized.
- Disqualifying
- The club's breed standard disqualifies an animal of this color or pattern.
- Not recognized
- The club does not accept this color or pattern for the breed.
Color changes
How a Rough Collie's colors can change over its life.
Blackchanges toRust
Coat · With body condition · can change back
Blackchanges toGray
Coat · Progressive
Blackchanges toBrown
Coat · In the sun · can change back
Whitechanges toRoan
Coat · With age · from 2 weeks
Tan pointchanges toSaddle
Coat · With age · from 6 to 156 weeks
Bluechanges toDark brown
Eyes · With age · from 2 weeks
Bluechanges toBrown
Eyes · With age · from 2 weeks
Bluechanges toLight brown
Eyes · With age · from 2 weeks
Bluechanges toAmber
Eyes · With age · from 2 weeks
Bluechanges toHazel
Eyes · With age · from 2 weeks
Bluechanges toYellow
Eyes · With age · from 2 weeks
Blackchanges toSnow nose
Nose · With the season · can change back
Blackchanges toPink
Nose · With the season · can change back
Sources
Each ruling comes from the club's published breed standard or color list.