Breed Notes So much sad news around recently, so I will take you back to a time when we did attend shows, regularly enjoyed each other’s company, meeting up to look at the latest litter, we also read pedigrees and articles on the breed! So, clearing out at Antoc, I came across this article, written by mum, Aileen Speding, which is still very relevant today and I have reproduced it here: ARE WE HEADING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION? When it comes to heads, there seems to be a Great Divide between the “Ancient & Modern”. Rarely nowadays does one see a true, classic collie head on the Roughs, although they are still to be found on many Smooth Collies. Watch these self same people when they are judging, and they examine the head on the grown dog in the same manner, often kneeling in front of the exhibit to get a closer look Compare this to the longer-established breeder/judges who pick up the puppy, smooth down the puppy fluff on the skull, and examine the head in profile, first of all. At 8-10 weeks the skull will be rounded but the balance of the head can be assessed, a short well rounded muzzle with a strong chin and under jaw, a well defined stop, and the length of skull and foreface to be approximately equal and even at this age the skull and muzzle should be on two parallel planes. Looking at the head from the front, the eyes and ears are obviously important and the placement of both will remain un-altered even though the rest of the head will develop and change. The eyes may change in size and colour but their placement will remain the same, so the ideal to look for is an almond shaped obliquely set eye, the outer corner of which should slope upwards to the outer corner of the ear. The space between the eyes, where the stop will develop [ should not be too wide or deep, otherwise the head will be too broad and develop into a “Two-piece Head”. So what is the desired expression? This is difficult to describe and will often depend on the show temperament of the dog itself. How often do we see our hopeful at home, arching the neck, pulling up the ears and looking “down it’s nose” with that alert yet dreamy expression that is so difficult to describe, but spine-tingling when seen, and yet this self same collie will stand in the ring with complete disinterest, doing just enough to frustrate the handler and get a minor placing, Other collies, who may look quite ordinary outside the ring and on their benches, have the ability to project their show personality in the ring and to the judge, to produce this elusive expression. Breeders and exhibitors, who place too much emphasis on expression, often appear to disregard the other requirements of a correct head and need to re-read and understand the Breed Standard. Flat Skull means just that. In profile it should be completely flat, without any odd rises or dips above the eyes and on handling should be completely level, reasonably wide between the ears, tapering cleanly towards the eyes and not rounded either lengthways or sideways. Too many heavily coated collies have a tendency to produce hair on the skull and ears which is too long. The fask and mask should be smooth, almost velvet-like in texture and the ears should be smooth at the tips with a little more hair at the base to soften the expression. The modern fashion for brushing up the hair up into what experienced judge termed a “Bonnet” does little chance to enhance a correct head but can cover a multitude of imperfections! Viewed from the front or side head resembles a well-blunted clean wedge being smooth in outline. The interpretation of this required wedge is very important in considering the head as a whole, as it combines all the requirements of the standard. Imagine it as a shape of a clean polished door wedge, not a large wedge of cheddar cheese. The head must present a lean clean appearance and should never be short and chunky, deep through or two-pieced. The equally important stop must be part of this clean wedge. A head, which when viewed in profile is one continuous line, or rises between the eyes is incorrect, or is dished in front of the eyes, is also incorrect. The stop, is a slight depression below the eyebrows and between the eyes, and is a little step up from the level line of the muzzle and the level line of the skull. These two lines, if prolonged, should be parallel, close together but should NEVER meet. Recognising the correct stop is not easy, the ridge of the eyebrow can sometimes be mistaken for the stop and ia dip in the muzzle, starting below the eyes and gradually rising to the skull is also incorrect Under Jaw Strong, and clean cut. Too Many collies have narrow weak under jaws with small teeth crowded into a small place, these collies tend to lose their teeth in early life and have gum problems so breeding for the correct strong jaw with teeth of good size is a very positive advantage. We are often accused in a rather derogatory way of being a “Head Breed”, but without the correct head, much of the required “Great Beauty and Impassive Dignity” is lost. A short thick head is so often accompanied by a short thick body, giving too square appearance and a “Spitz” like look to both head and body, and an overlong exaggerated head will often be found on a leggy, long-backed, shallow chested animal. Balance is what we are looking for to give the correct overall picture and a Collie with a good head, so often, has all the other essentials as well. Properly reared, exercised and trained, should help fulfill one’s dreams, a Top Winning Collie Carole Smedley
|
