English Borsetter Collie

The Border Collie is a well-balanced, medium-sized herding dog that displays gracefulness, power, and agility in equal measure. Males typically stand 19 to 22 inches at the shoulder, while females range from 18 to 21 inches. Weight varies from 30 to 55 pounds depending on size and build, with the breed standard emphasizing that dogs should be presented in hard working condition without excess body weight. The body is slightly longer than tall, creating an athletic silhouette that conveys the impression of effortless movement and endless endurance essential for their demanding herding work in rugged terrain. The head is proportionate to the body with a moderately broad, slightly rounded skull and a muzzle of approximately equal length, tapering slightly to the nose. The stop is moderate but distinct, creating a gentle transition between skull and muzzle. The eyes are perhaps the most striking feature, being oval-shaped, set well apart, and displaying an alert, keen, intelligent expression that defines the breed and captivates observers. Eye color is typically brown, though blue eyes are acceptable in merle-coated dogs. The ears are medium-sized, set well apart, and may be carried erect, semi-erect, or tipped forward, though they should be sensitive and mobile, reflecting the breed's constant alertness to their surroundings. Border Collies come in two coat varieties, both featuring weather-resistant double coats. The rough coat is medium length with feathering on the forelegs, chest, haunches, and underside, while the smooth coat is short over the entire body with minimal feathering. Neither coat type is preferred over the other in competition. The breed appears in virtually all colors and color combinations, including black and white (most common), red and white, tricolor, blue merle, red merle, and solid colors. White markings may be clear or ticked, though heavy patches of color on the body are undesirable. The tail is moderately long, reaching at least to the hock, set low, and carried low when concentrating or working intensely.

The English Setter is a graceful, elegant sporting dog that combines beauty with athletic function in its medium-sized, well-balanced frame. Males typically stand 25 to 27 inches at the shoulder and weigh 65 to 80 pounds, while females are slightly smaller at 23 to 25 inches and 45 to 55 pounds. The body is slightly longer than tall, creating a rectangular outline that provides the reach and endurance necessary for a working gun dog covering extensive ground in the field. Field-bred setters are often somewhat smaller and lighter than their show counterparts, reflecting their focused working purpose and athletic demands. The head is long and lean, carried high with a noble expression that reflects the breed's centuries of refined breeding for both beauty and function. The skull is oval when viewed from above with a well-defined stop and a muzzle of good depth and length, approximately equal to the skull length. The eyes are large, nearly round, and dark brown in color, set far apart with a gentle, intelligent expression that epitomizes the breed's sweet temperament and kind nature. The ears are set low, at or below eye level, hanging in neat folds close to the head with moderately thin leather and silky feathering that contributes significantly to the breed's elegant appearance. The coat is the English Setter's crowning glory, lying flat and silky without curl, with good length and heavy feathering on the ears, chest, belly, back of the legs, and tail. The characteristic belton coloring refers to the unique flecked pattern where darker hairs intermingle with the white base coat, creating speckled markings that range from light ticking to heavier roan patterns. Color varieties include blue belton (black and white), orange belton, lemon belton, liver belton, and tricolor (blue belton with tan points on face and legs). The tail forms a smooth continuation of the topline, carried nearly level with the back when moving, with a silky flag of feathering that flows beautifully in motion.