United Pet Club

Border 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.

Size

Size
MeasureFCIAKCUKCKC
Altura a la cruz, male53 cm48.3–55.9 cm53.3 cm53 cm
Altura a la cruz, femaleNo ruling45.7–53.3 cmNo rulingNo ruling
Relación altura-longitudNo ruling0.9No rulingNo ruling
Relación cráneo-hocico1111
Ángulo escapulohumeralNo ruling90°No rulingNo ruling

Conformation

Conformation
FormFCIAKCUKCKC
StopPronunciadoEstándar (“Stop: Very distinct.”)No rulingNo rulingEstándar (“Stop very distinct.”)
StopModeradoNo rulingEstándar (“Stop moderate, but distinct.”)No rulingNo ruling
MordidaMordida en tijeraEstándar (“perfect, regular and complete scissor bite”)Estándar (“A full complement of strong healthy teeth should meet in a scissors bite.”)Estándar (“full complement of strong teeth that meet in a scissors bite”)Estándar (“perfect, regular and complete scissor bite”)
DenticiónDentición completaNo rulingEstándar (“A full complement of strong healthy teeth”)Estándar (“a full complement of strong teeth”)No ruling
Porte de las orejasErguidas (tiesas)Alternativo (“Carried erect or semi-erect and sensitive in use.”)Alternativo (“one or both carried erect and/or semi-erect”)Alternativo (“May be carried drop, semi-erect or prick”)Alternativo (“Carried erect or semi-erect and sensitive in use.”)
Porte de las orejasSemierguidasAlternativo (“Carried erect or semi-erect and sensitive in use.”)Alternativo (“one or both carried erect and/or semi-erect”)Alternativo (“May be carried drop, semi-erect or prick”)Alternativo (“Carried erect or semi-erect and sensitive in use.”)
Porte de las orejasCaídas (colgantes)No rulingNo rulingAlternativo (“May be carried drop, semi-erect or prick, and need not be matching.”)No ruling
Forma de los ojosOvaladosEstándar (“Set wide apart, oval shaped, of moderate size”)Estándar (“Eyes are set well apart, of moderate size, oval in shape.”)Estándar (“moderate in size, and oval in shape”)Estándar (“Set wide apart, oval-shaped, of moderate size”)
Línea superiorHorizontalNo rulingEstándar (“Back is level with a slight muscular rise over the loin”)No rulingNo ruling
Inserción de la colaBajaEstándar (“set on low, well-furnished”)Estándar (“The tail is set on low”)Estándar (“Set on low, well furnished with hair”)Estándar (“set on low, well-furnished”)
Porte de la colaBaja (colgante)No rulingEstándar (“The ideal tail carriage is low when the dog is concentrating”)No rulingNo ruling
Porte de la colaEnroscada sobre el dorsoNo reconocido (“never carried over back.”)No rulingNo reconocido (“never carried over the back.”)No reconocido (“never carried over back.”)
Longitud de la colaMediaEstándar (“Moderately long, the bone reaching at least to hock”)Estándar (“moderately long with the bone reaching at least to the hock”)Estándar (“Moderately long, reaching at least to the hock joint”)Estándar (“Moderately long, the bone reaching at least to hock”)
Retracción del vientreNinguna (línea inferior recta)Estándar (“Loins: Deep and muscular but not tucked up.”)No rulingEstándar (“The loin is deep and muscular, not tucked up.”)Estándar (“loins deep and muscular, but not tucked up”)
Retracción del vientreModeradaNo rulingEstándar (“Underline should have a slight but distinct tuck up.”)No rulingNo ruling
PiesOvaladosEstándar (“Forefeet: Oval, pads deep, strong and sound”)Estándar (“Feet are compact, oval in shape”)Estándar (“Oval in shape, with deep pads and tight, well arched toes.”)Estándar (“Oval, pads deep, strong and sound”)
CorvejonesBien descendidosEstándar (“Hock joint: Strong, well let down.”)Estándar (“strong well let down hocks”)No rulingEstándar (“strong well let down hocks”)
PechoProfundoEstándar (“Chest: Deep and rather broad, ribs well sprung.”)Estándar (“a deep, moderately broad chest”)Estándar (“a deep, rather broad chest”)Estándar (“chest deep and rather broad”)
Forma del hocicoAfiladoEstándar (“Muzzle: Tapering to nose, moderately short and strong.”)Estándar (“The muzzle is strong, tapering slightly to the nose.”)Estándar (“Tapering to the nose, moderately short and strong.”)Estándar (“Muzzle, tapering to nose, moderately short and strong.”)

Markings

Markings
MarkingFCIAKCUKCKC
Marcas fuegoNo rulingNo rulingAlternativo (“may be accompanied by tan points”)No ruling

Cropping, docking and other procedures

Cropping, docking and other procedures
ProcedureFCIAKCUKCKC
Extirpación de los espolonesNo rulingAlternativo (“Dewclaws may be removed.”)No rulingNo ruling

The law on these procedures differs by country. A listing here says nothing about whether one is legal where you live.

Border Collie colors and patterns

What each club's breed standard says about every Border Collie color and pattern. Point at a ruling to see the club's own wording.

Breed standards describe the Border Collie in Negro, Blanco, Gris, Azul, Lila, Pizarra, Marrón, Seal, Fuego, Rojo, Dorado, Limón y Crema. Standard patterns: Unicolor, Bicolor, Tricolor, Atigrado, Merle, Roano, Sable, Con fuego y Atigrado inverso.

Pelaje: rulings by club
Color or patternFCIAKCUKCKCKUSA
NegroEstándar (“variety of colours permissible”)Estándar (“Black”)Estándar (“black”)Estándar (“Black & White”)Estándar (“variety of colours permissible”)
BlancoEstándar (“white should never predominate”)Estándar (“White & Black”)Estándar (“may have white trim”)Estándar (“white should never predominate”)Estándar (“white should never predominate”)
GrisEstándar (“variety of colours permissible”)Estándar (“all colors or combination of colors and/or markings”)Estándar (“gray”)Estándar (“variety of colours permissible”)Estándar (“variety of colours permissible”)
AzulEstándar (“variety of colours permissible”)Estándar (“Blue”)Estándar (“blue merle”)Estándar (“Blue & White”)Estándar (“variety of colours permissible”)
LilaEstándar (“variety of colours permissible”)Estándar (“Lilac”)Estándar (“all colors or combination of colors and/or markings permissible”)Estándar (“Lilac”)Estándar (“variety of colours permissible”)
PizarraEstándar (“variety of colours permissible”)Estándar (“all colors or combination of colors and/or markings”)Estándar (“all colors or combination of colors and/or markings permissible”)Estándar (“Slate”)Estándar (“variety of colours permissible”)
MarrónEstándar (“brown or chocolate colour”)Estándar (“all colors or combination of colors and/or markings”)Estándar (“brown dogs”)Estándar (“Brown & White”)Estándar (“brown or chocolate colour”)
SealEstándar (“variety of colours permissible”)Estándar (“Seal”)Estándar (“all colors or combination of colors and/or markings permissible”)Estándar (“Seal”)Estándar (“variety of colours permissible”)
FuegoEstándar (“variety of colours permissible”)Estándar (“all colors or combination of colors and/or markings”)Estándar (“tan points”)Estándar (“Black White & Tan”)Estándar (“variety of colours permissible”)
RojoEstándar (“variety of colours permissible”)Estándar (“Red”)Estándar (“red”)Estándar (“Red & White”)Estándar (“variety of colours permissible”)
DoradoEstándar (“variety of colours permissible”)Estándar (“Gold”)Estándar (“all colors or combination of colors and/or markings permissible”)Estándar (“Gold”)Estándar (“variety of colours permissible”)
LimónEstándar (“variety of colours permissible”)Estándar (“all colors or combination of colors and/or markings”)Estándar (“lemon”)Estándar (“variety of colours permissible”)Estándar (“variety of colours permissible”)
CremaEstándar (“variety of colours permissible”)Estándar (“all colors or combination of colors and/or markings”)Estándar (“all colors or combination of colors and/or markings permissible”)Estándar (“Cream”)Estándar (“variety of colours permissible”)
AlbinoNo rulingNo rulingDescalificante (“albinism”)No rulingNo ruling
Patterns
UnicolorEstándar (“variety of colours permissible”)Estándar (“all colors or combination of colors and/or markings”)Estándar (“solid color”)Estándar (“variety of colours permissible”)Estándar (“variety of colours permissible”)
BicolorEstándar (“variety of colours permissible”)Estándar (“White & Black”)Estándar (“bi-color”)Estándar (“Black & White”)Estándar (“variety of colours permissible”)
TricolorEstándar (“variety of colours permissible”)Estándar (“White Markings, Tan Points”)Estándar (“tri-color”)Estándar (“Black Tricolour”)Estándar (“variety of colours permissible”)
AtigradoEstándar (“variety of colours permissible”)Estándar (“Brindle”)Estándar (“all colors or combination of colors and/or markings permissible”)Estándar (“variety of colours permissible”)Estándar (“variety of colours permissible”)
MerleEstándar (“variety of colours permissible”)Estándar (“Blue Merle”)Estándar (“merle”)Estándar (“Blue Merle”)Estándar (“variety of colours permissible”)
RoanoEstándar (“variety of colours permissible”)Estándar (“White Ticked”)Estándar (“white markings may be clear white or ticked to any degree”)Estándar (“variety of colours permissible”)Estándar (“variety of colours permissible”)
SableEstándar (“variety of colours permissible”)Estándar (“Sable”)Estándar (“sable”)Estándar (“Sable”)Estándar (“variety of colours permissible”)
Con fuegoEstándar (“variety of colours permissible”)Estándar (“Tan Points”)Estándar (“may be accompanied by tan points”)Estándar (“Black White & Tan”)Estándar (“variety of colours permissible”)
Atigrado inversoEstándar (“variety of colours permissible”)Estándar (“Brindle”)Estándar (“all colors or combination of colors and/or markings permissible”)Estándar (“variety of colours permissible”)Estándar (“variety of colours permissible”)
Doble merleNo rulingNo rulingNo rulingNo rulingNo ruling
Ojos: rulings by club
Color or patternFCIAKCUKCKCKUSA
AzulEstándar (“except in merles where one or both or part of one or both may be blue”)Estándar (“blue eyes in dogs other than merle are not preferred”)Estándar (“except in merles where one, or both, or a part of one, may be blue”)Estándar (“except in merles where one or both or part of one or both may be blue”)Estándar (“except in merles where one or both or part of one or both may be blue”)
MarrónEstándar (“brown in colour”)Estándar (“any eye color is acceptable”)Estándar (“brown in color”)Estándar (“brown in colour”)Estándar (“brown in colour”)
Patterns
Ojos disparesEstándar (“one or both ... may be blue”)Estándar (“any eye color is acceptable”)Estándar (“one, or both ... may be blue”)Estándar (“one or both ... may be blue”)Estándar (“one or both ... may be blue”)
Heterocromía sectorialEstándar (“part of one or both may be blue”)Estándar (“any eye color is acceptable”)Estándar (“a part of one, may be blue”)Estándar (“part of one or both may be blue”)Estándar (“part of one or both may be blue”)
Nariz: rulings by club
Color or patternFCIUKCKCKUSA
NegroEstándar (“black”)Estándar (“black”)Estándar (“nose black”)Estándar (“nose black”)
PizarraEstándar (“in blues nose should be slate colour”)Estándar (“in blue dogs, where it should be slate”)Estándar (“in blues nose should be slate colour”)Estándar (“in blues, nose should be slate colour”)
HígadoEstándar (“except in brown or chocolate colour when it may be brown”)Estándar (“in brown dogs where it may be brown”)Estándar (“except in brown or chocolate colour when it may be brown”)Estándar (“except in brown or chocolate colour, when it may be brown”)

What the rulings mean

Estándar
Described by the club's breed standard.
Descalificante
The club's breed standard disqualifies an animal of this color or pattern.

Color changes

How a Border Collie's colors can change over its life.

  • Negrochanges toÓxido

    Pelaje · Con el estado corporal · can change back

  • Negrochanges toGris

    Pelaje · Progresivo

  • Negrochanges toMarrón

    Pelaje · Al sol · can change back

  • Blancochanges toRoano

    Pelaje · Con la edad · from 2 weeks

  • Con fuegochanges toEnsillado

    Pelaje · Con la edad · from 6 to 156 weeks

  • Azulchanges toMarrón oscuro

    Ojos · Con la edad · from 2 weeks

  • Azulchanges toMarrón

    Ojos · Con la edad · from 2 weeks

  • Azulchanges toMarrón claro

    Ojos · Con la edad · from 2 weeks

  • Azulchanges toÁmbar

    Ojos · Con la edad · from 2 weeks

  • Azulchanges toAvellana

    Ojos · Con la edad · from 2 weeks

  • Azulchanges toAmarillo

    Ojos · Con la edad · from 2 weeks

  • Negrochanges toNariz de nieve

    Nariz · Con la estación · can change back

  • Negrochanges toRosa

    Nariz · Con la estación · can change back

Published standards