GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: 51-61cm (20”-24”).
Colour: Sable/white, tricolour or blue merle.
Coat: Rough variety - harsh straight outercoat with a soft furry under coat.
Short hair on the head, ears and lower legs, and an abundant mane on the neck and feathering on the rear of hindquarters.
Smooth variety - short harsh outercoat.
Gait: Fore and hindlegs move out soundly with elbows, hocks and feet turning neither in nor out.
These herding dogs combine beauty of structure with working abilities.
The barely perceptible stop is set midway in the long wedge shaped head and the semi erect ears are placed high on the skull. The beautiful obliquely set almond shaped eyes are normally dark, but in the case of blue merles, one, both or part of the eye may be china blue or blue flecked. The neck runs into a slightly long body with a deep chest. Fore pasterns must be springy and the hindquarters well angulated. The long plumed tail may be raised in action or when excited.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
Collies are excellent guard dogs having been originally bred to herd and guard sheep - instincts they have never lost. They best respond to firm kind training and discipline, but may become stubborn if subjected to harsh treatment. In domestic situations, they are gentle and friendly with no trace of aggression and make excellent companions for people of all ages.
Minimal trimming is needed, but in the Rough variety regular grooming with a pin brush that reaches through to the undercoat is necessary.
HISTORY
Herding is one of the earliest occupations for dogs. Thus, it is not surprising that the Collie’s ancestry goes back some 2,000 years to the days of the Romans. In northern Scotland where sheep raising was an important industry during the 16th and 17th centuries, the farmers developed the distinctive type of sheep herder that we know as the Collie. Generally it was the Rough coated Collie that was used for working with sheep. 

GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: 51-61cm (20”-24”).
Colour: Sable/white, tricolour or blue merle.
Coat: Rough variety - harsh straight outercoat with a soft furry under coat.
Short hair on the head, ears and lower legs, and an abundant mane on the neck and feathering on the rear of hindquarters.
Smooth variety - short harsh outercoat.
Gait: Fore and hindlegs move out soundly with elbows, hocks and feet turning neither in nor out.
These herding dogs combine beauty of structure with working abilities.
The barely perceptible stop is set midway inthe long wedge shaped head and the semi erect ears are placed high on the skull. The beautiful obliquely set almond shaped eyes are normally dark, but in the case of blue merles, one, both or part of the eye may be china blue or blue flecked. The neck runs into a slightly long body with a deep chest. Fore pasterns must be springy and the hindquarters well angulated. The long plumed tail may be raised in action or when excited.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
Collies are excellent guard dogs having been originally bred to herd and guard sheep - instincts they have never lost. They best respond to firm kind training and discipline, but may become stubborn if subjected to harsh treatment. In domestic situations, they are gentle and friendly with no trace of aggression and make excellent companions for people of all ages.
Minimal trimming is needed, but in the Rough variety regular grooming with a pin brush that reaches through to the undercoat is necessary.
HISTORY
Herding is one of the earliest occupations for dogs. Thus, it is not surprising that the Collie’s ancestry goes back some 2,000 years to the days of the Romans. In northern Scotland where sheep raising was an important industry during the 16th and 17th centuries, the farmers developed the distinctive type of sheep herder that we know as the Collie. Generally it was the Rough coated Collie that was used for working with sheep. 

GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: 63.5-68.5cm (25”-27”)
Colour: Black or liver. 
Coat: A mass of small crisp curls. Smooth hair on head, pasterns and feet.
Gait: Fore and hindlegs propel well out.
These upstanding dogs are eye catching with their distinctive coats. The large dark eyes are set midway in a strong well proportioned smooth coated head. In contrast to the head, the pendant ears are covered with small tight curls. Among the tallest in the gundog group, in order that these dogs reach the ground easily, means the neck must be proportionately longer than the shorter legged retrievers. A strong body, deep chest for adequate heart and lung room, strong well angulated fore and hindquarters are required. The tapering tail is carried out when the dog is moving.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
These retrievers with their weatherproof coats, excel in working on land or in water. The jaws must be wide so the dog can balance the game between its jaws without crushing the prey and marking the skin - this is known as a ‘soft’ mouth. It is surprising  this breed is not more popular, as besides being most intelligent and lovable, they reputedly have an impish sense of humour. Although amenable to training, Curly Coated Retrievers have the ability to think on their own and use their own initiative. Their naturally oily coat requires little care and like a duck, easily shakes off water. No trimming is required, and only periodic brushing is needed to remove dead hair during seasonal shedding.
HISTORY
This breed is believed to be one of the oldest of the retrieving breeds. Originally evolved for the job of retrieving ducks from English marshlands, it is presumed Curly Coated Retrievers are the result of crosses during the 16th century between an English water spaniel, the liver coloured Irish Water Spaniel, a retrieving setter and the Poodle. Due to their affinity with water, some believe that later, the smaller St. ]ohn’s Newfoundland also may have played a part in the evolvement of the breed.