United Pet Club

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

Size
MeasureFCIAKCUKCKCCKC
Height at the withers, male56–61 cm61–66 cm61–66 cm56–61 cm61–66 cm
Height at the withers, female51–56 cm55.9–61 cm55.9–61 cm51–56 cm56–61 cm
Weight, maleNo ruling27.2–34 kg27.2–34 kgNo ruling27.3–34 kg
Weight, femaleNo ruling22.7–29.5 kg22.7–29.5 kgNo ruling22.8–29.5 kg
Skull to muzzle11111

Conformation

Conformation
FormFCIAKCUKCKCCKC
StopSlightStandard (“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 biteStandard (“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.”)
BiteOvershotNo rulingFault (“Overshot or undershot jaws are undesirable”)Fault (“Serious Fault: Overshot bite.”)No rulingFault (“Overshot or undershot jaws are undesirable”)
BiteUndershotNo rulingFault (“the latter being more severely penalized”)Fault (“Very Serious Fault: Undershot bite.”)No rulingFault (“the latter being more severely penalized”)
Eye shapeAlmondStandard (“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-erectStandard (“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 rulingFault (“A dog with prick ears or low ears ... is penalized accordingly.”)Fault (“Faults: Prick or low ears.”)No rulingNo ruling
Ear setLowNo rulingFault (“A dog with prick ears or low ears ... is penalized accordingly.”)Fault (“Faults: Prick or low ears.”)No rulingNo ruling
Neck shapeArchedStandard (“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
ToplineLevelNo rulingStandard (“The back is strong and level”)No rulingNo rulingNo ruling
Tail lengthLongStandard (“Long with bone reaching at least to hock joint.”)No rulingStandard (“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 rulingStandard (“Carried low when the dog is quiet”)Standard (“Carried low when quiet”)No ruling
HocksWell let downStandard (“Hock joint: well let down and powerful.”)No rulingNo rulingStandard (“Hocks well let down and powerful.”)No ruling
HocksCow-hockedNo rulingNo rulingFault (“Clean and sinewy below the thighs, never cow-hocked.”)No rulingNo ruling
FeetOvalStandard (“Forefeet: Oval; soles well padded.”)No rulingStandard (“The feet are comparatively small, oval in shape”)Standard (“Oval; soles well padded.”)No ruling

Markings

Markings
MarkingFCIAKCUKCKCCKC
CollarStandard (“Following markings are favourable – white collar, full or part”)No rulingStandard (“a full or partial white collar”)Standard (“Following markings are favourable – white collar, full or part”)No ruling
BibStandard (“white shirt, legs and feet”)No rulingStandard (“white shirtfront”)Standard (“white shirt, legs and feet”)No ruling
SocksStandard (“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 patchNo rulingAlternate (“white markings usually on the chest, neck, legs, feet and the tip of the tail”)No rulingNo rulingNo ruling
White tail tipStandard (“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
BlazeAlternate (“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 pointsStandard (“Rich tan markings preferable, but absence should not be penalised”)No rulingStandard (“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.

Coat: rulings by club
Color or patternFCIAKCUKCKCKUSA
BlackStandard (“Tricolour: predominantly black”)Standard (“Black White & Tan”)Standard (“Tri-color: predominately black”)Standard (“Tricolour: predominantly black”)Standard (“Tricolour: predominantly black”)
WhiteStandard (“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”)
BlueStandard (“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”)
TanStandard (“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”)
SlateFault (“Large black markings, slate colour, or rusty tinge either of top or undercoat are highly undesirable”)Not recognizedNot recognizedFault (“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”)
RustFault (“A rusty tinge in top coat highly undesirable”)Not recognizedNot recognizedFault (“A rusty tinge in top coat highly undesirable”)Fault (“A rusty tinge in topcoat highly undesirable”)
CreamFault (“Light straw or cream coloured highly undesirable”)Not recognizedNot recognizedFault (“Light straw or cream coloured highly undesirable”)Fault (“Light straw or cream coloured highly undesirable”)
AlbinoNot recognizedNot recognizedDisqualifying (“Albinism”)Not recognizedNot recognized
Patterns
SolidFault (“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”)
TricolorStandard (“Tricolour”)Standard (“Black White & Tan”)Standard (“tri-color”)Standard (“Tricolour”)Standard (“Tricolour”)
MerleStandard (“Blue Merle”)Standard (“Blue Merle”)Standard (“blue merle”)Standard (“Blue Merle”)Standard (“Blue Merle”)
PiebaldFault (“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”)
SableStandard (“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 pointStandard (“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 merleNo rulingNo rulingNo rulingNo rulingNo ruling
Eyes: rulings by club
Color or patternFCIAKCUKCKCKUSA
BlueStandard (“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 brownStandard (“dark brown colour”)Standard (“The color is dark”)Standard (“dark brown in color”)Standard (“dark brown colour”)Standard (“dark brown colour”)
Patterns
MarbledStandard (“blueflecked”)Standard (“either or both eyes may be merle”)Standard (“blue flecked”)Standard (“blue-flecked”)Standard (“blue-flecked”)
Odd-eyedStandard (“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”)
SectoralStandard (“part of one or both”)No rulingNo rulingStandard (“part of one or both”)Standard (“part of one or both”)
Nose: rulings by club
Color or patternFCIAKCUKCKCKUSA
BlackStandard (“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

Published standards