Border Collie Personality and Appearance Traits

Border Collie Personality Traits:

The character is tenacious, docile, sharp, alert, sensitive, neither vicious nor shy, smart, easy to train, gentle, loyal, obedient and so on. Naturally intelligent, able to observe words and expressions, and can really understand the master's instructions.

Characteristics of the Border Collie:

1. Body shape: The border collie is a very well-proportioned, medium-sized dog with a strong appearance. The height is between 43 and 53 centimeters, and the female is slightly lower than the male. Adults weigh between 14-20 kg.

2. Head: The two eyes are set wide apart, medium in size, and the ears are also medium in size, erect or semi-erect. The tips of the ears point to the front and sides, and the ears are sensitive and flexible. Skull Broad without overhanging occiput. The length of the skull is equal to the length of the foreface. The mandibles are well developed. The color from the nose to the forehead and around the mouth is white.

3. Neck: Good length, strong and muscular, slightly arched and widening gradually toward the shoulders.

4. Topline: Flat, slightly arched behind the loins.

5. Body: The appearance is strong. The chest is deep and moderately wide, showing a large chest volume. Chest reaches to the elbows. Ribs well sprung. Loin moderately deep, muscular, slightly arched, with no lift. Gradually tilt the hips back.

6. Tail: Set low, of medium length, with coccyx extending to hock joint. There is an upward vortex at the end. When concentrating on a task, the tail is carried low for balance. When excited, the tail may be raised to back level

7. Forequarters: Viewed from the front, the forelegs are well boned and parallel to each other. Viewed from the side, the ankles are slightly sloping. Shoulder blades and upper arms well angulated. Elbows turn neither in nor out. Feet compact, oval, with deep and firm pads, toes moderately arched and compact. Hindquarters Broad and muscular, with a gentle slope to the tail. Thighs long, broad, deep and muscular. Stifles well angulated, hocks strong and low. Viewed from the rear, the hindquarters are well boned, straight, parallel to each other and very slightly bovine. Feet compact, oval, with deep and firm pads, toes moderately arched and compact. Nails short and strong.

8. Coat: There are two types: coarse and short. Both types have a soft, dense, weather-resistant double coat. The puppies' coat is short, soft, dense and waterproof. Transforms into an undercoat as an adult. Shaggy: Medium length, flat, slightly wavy hair with short, smooth facial hair. The forelimbs are feathered. The hair on the hindpaws may be clipped short. With age, the coat will gradually become very wavy, which is not to be penalized. Short-haired type: The hair on the whole body is very short, the forelegs may be feathered, and the chest hair is full.

9. Color: The Border Collie comes in many colors, styles and markings. The most common color is black with (or without) white stripes, white collar, white socks, white tail tip, with (or without) tan markings. All body colors are permissible, with the exception of all white.