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The
head properties are of great importance. When considered
in proportion to the size of the dog the head is inclined
to lightness and never appears massive. A heavy-headed
dog lacks the necessary bright, alert, full-of-sense look
that contributes so greatly to expression. Both in front
and profile view the head bears a general resemblance
to a well-blunted lean wedge, being smooth and clean in
outline and nicely balanced in proportion. On the sides
it tapers gradually and smoothly from the ears to the
end of the black nose, without being flared out in backskull
(cheeky) or pinched in muzzle (snipy). In profile view
the top of the backskull and the top of the muzzle lie
in two approximately parallel, straight planes of equal
length, divided by a very slight but perceptible stop
or break. A mid-point between the inside corners of the
eyes (which is the center of a correctly placed stop)
is the center of balance in length of head. The end of
the smooth, well-rounded muzzle is blunt but not square.
The underjaw is strong, clean-cut and the depth of skull
from the brow to the under part of the jaw is not excessive.
The teeth are of good size, meeting in a scissors bite.
Overshot or undershot jaws are undesirable, the latter
being more severely penalized. There is a very slight
prominence of the eyebrows. The backskull is flat, without
receding either laterally or backward and the occipital bone is not highly peaked. The proper width of backskull
necessarily depends upon the combined length of skull
and muzzle and the width of the backskull is less than
its length. Thus the correct width varies with the individual
and is dependent upon the extent to which it is supported
by length of muzzle. Because of the importance of the
head characteristics, prominent head faults are very severely
penalized.
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“Just
as in the judging of Collies in the show ring, one must
start evaluating the puppies in a litter by considering
first the head. The Collie Standard is based upon the
consideration of the head first because so much of the
beauty of the breed lies in the closeness to perfection
of the head qualities.”
--
Gustave Sigritz, Cherrivale
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“The Collie
is a herding dog, and we want a sound animal which is
built right and moves effortlessly. However, the Collie
is called a head breed for a reason. The Standard is emphatic
that head properties and expression are important, and
prominent head faults are to be severely penalized - so
to evaluate the Collie, you must pay attention to head
and expression.”
--
Marcia Keller, Marnus
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“When judging
the Collie, or any breed for that matter, the overall
picture, type or outline is of primary importance. Being
able to understand how the parts go together is more important
than any one part. Having said that, it is important to
note that the Collie is a breed with major emphasis on
head characteristics. The head is what sets the Collie
apart from other dogs. The round, smooth muzzle, flat
backskull, almond eyes and semi-erect ears combine in
a unique expression, which is initially important.”
--
George Horn,Gin Geor
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“It follows,
then, that judges must emphasize head and expression qualities
in their evaluation. The Collie Standard insists that
Collie judges be ‘head hunters.’ Alva Rosenberg understood
this perfectly; to watch him go over a head was no different
than watching Bobbee Roos or Mrs. Long do so. Unfortunately,
today few who adjudicate our breed know how to examine
the head properly or take the time to compare expression.”
--
Dr. William K. Brokken, MD, Foremost
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“All the parts
of the Collie head are important to the whole. The good
breeders of today, and the good judge, will not tolerate
extreme faults, or defects, in head structure. The best
heads are those which belong to the best producers, and
these are the specimens we are seeking to select in the
show ring. The head is the feature which distinguishes
the superior from the ordinary. In no other breed of dogs
is the head as important in evaluating superiority as
it is in Collies.”
--
Trudy B. Mangels, Brandwyne
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Download
the two-page guide, The Collie Head (613k/PDF)
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