A good friend emailed this to me…..

I wanted to send you this my friend
found the original Scottish Collie standard. You know the Scotts, the
people who actually invented the breed,  in 1890, The Collie Club of
Scotland drafted the first breed standard.

Under "eyes", it states:

Eyes, of fair size, but not prominent, are placed rather close together,
and set obliquely in the head, which gives that cunning foxy expression so
characteristic of the breed. Colour, any shade of brouwn, the darker the better,
yellow eyes being a great fault. Dogs of a mirled colour should have a mirled
or china eye, and sometimes both eyes are of this colour.

Note — It does not say, "dogs of a blue mirle colour", but simply "dogs of
a mirle colour" may posess mirled or china (blue) eyes.

Under "colour", (relating to the dog and not the eyes) it states"

Any colour.

It would seem the whole idea of being "hung up on blue eyes" is an
affectation of our own society — not that of The Founding Fathers!
When specifically referring to an eye colour they did not want to see on
a Collie –  merle or otherwise, The Founding Fathers agreed it was "yellow" !

Conversely, the CCofA's  Breed Standard of today states:

In blue merles, dark brown eyes are preferable, but either or both
eyes may be merle or china in color without specific penalty.

It would seem most reasonable that, rather than devise an entire new
class for the show Collie, one very unnecessary word should be removed
from this revised edition of the standard — the word "blue".  Thus it would
read;

In merles, dark brown eyes are preferable, but either or both
eyes may be merle or china in color without specific penalty.

Of course, I well understand that "simple" and "reasonable" and even
an ACCURATE regard for the wishes of The Founding Fathers are
things we can only hope to attain in modern society.  : )

Myth/Arguement: If we change the standard here in the United States to include the Sable Merle we are opening up to other things too, like DQ's.  The Canadian Standard was changed and it is felt that the standard is the worse for it.

This reply was posted by VS.

This is not Canada. Apparently in Canada if you change your standard your required to use their standardized formatting. While the AKC is also using some new form of standardized formatting, it does not apply to clubs as old as the CCA . The statement below is taken direct from the AKC guidelines :

11.   Breeds recognized prior to 1989 may make a revision to the breed standard without reformatting.

Some things you're not letting happen right now because the timing isn't perfect for you. Some you're not letting happen because you are very aware of where you are. But all things, as they are happening, are happening in perfect order. And if you will relax and begin saying, "Everything in its perfect time. Everything is unfolding. And I'm enjoying where I am now, in relationship to where I'm going. Content where I am, and eager for more," that is the perfect vibrational stance.

 — Abraham
Excerpted from the workshop in Kansas City, KS on Wednesday, September 17th, 2003

I found this on the White Collie Club site. Very interesting.  The  Standard has been changed before and it will change again. It seems that the best way for change in the standard is to have people that are higher up in the organization to be FOR the change! Unless of course the standard review committee does not squash the idea of adding the Sable Merle to the standard and the actual membership gets to vote on the matter.

Here is the full link http://colliedog.org/InternationalWhiteCollieClub/InternationalWhiteCollieClub/AR-JamesAMcGlynn-Marvel.html 

 I believe we are fortunate that McGlynn did not limit his efforts on behalf of the
white Collie to breeding only.  In 1949, McGlynn served as a consultant in the
re-writing of the Collie Standard, which gave the White Collie official recognition
for the first time.  Next, McGlynn wrote an excellent article on the White collie for
the 1950 CCA Yearbook.  Mickey's efforts on behalf of the white Collie were
numerous as Vivian Ivey points out in her article on the "White Collie Breeders
Association" (part of The Collie Record, White Collie Issue, editor Claudia P.
Schroder), that the first edition of the White Collie Club Bulletin was published in
November 1948, and the club itself was officially organized the following year under the
leadership of its founder, J.A. McGlynn.  The Association, "for the purpose of
popularizing, publicising and promoting improvement in the quality of the color.

This article from 

The White Collie Chronicle  Dec. 2006

& Collie Cues, issue 2 , 1981

Spitfire He is one of the smaller puppies but he doesn't let that slow him down.  In fact, I think it helps.  When one of his moose siblings is latched onto Mom, he needles his way through them like a bullet and gets what he wants.  He is a feisty little guy.

Shamoo – She's the largest female

Kaboom – This guy is still huge.  He weighs 1 pound, 4 ounces.  The smallest puppy weights 14 ounces.  He seems to be a little reactive to new situations.  When he's picked up, he starts to cry and carry on.  Once he's petted for a minute, he does settle down.  My gut feeling is that he needs a lot of picking up, but I don't want to over stress him.  He was the first out of the box.  He crawled over his sibling heap and fell/crawled over the front rail.

Lefty – Not much to say about her.  She seems to be a little more passive of the puppies, but I have not seen much of a difference between she and Soozie.  I'm sure that differences will start to emerge as they get older.

Soozie – She's not the loudest puppy anymore.  She still has a lot to say, but now the other puppies do, too.

Here is a list that was just started. It is an OPEN list for all to discuss, debate, educate, and LEARN more about the Sable Merle. This list was started so as not to overwhelm other lists with this issue and because I was kicked off the CCA closed list….. NOT NICE!!!  The only rule to this list is BE NICE!!!!

Quoting from page 132 of Collie Concept, 2nd edition, 1988

"It is important that we should be aware and understand that there is a variation in the genetic color inheritance factor in many breeds and other species.  When it is understood how the color pattern produces, then our tolerance level increases."

"A rare commodity is an open mind and the willingness to try the unfamiliar and take a calculated risk, if necessary, to produce quality if the virtues are present in the prospective pair, regardless of color.  Dedicated breeders who are interested in the welfare and progress of a breed do not want to see a radical, convulsive revolution; but I have never understood the stigma attached to sable/blue merle breeding or a blue to blue.  We are bridled and restrained by heresay, but years of experience and exposure encourages some fanciers to delve into the more mysterious unions that require depth of thought and planning.  A sable merle can unfold a prismatic combination, all in one package."

"If several daring breeders had not tried the unconventional unions decades ago, we would not have had some of the outstanding specimens.  It might have been many more years before we learned that a sable to blue merle breeding can produce an attractive silvery blue.  The gamble in the sable to blue merle breeding is that a sable merle can have blue eyes.  If (continued on page 133)"

"… you are and adventurous sort, ther is nothing in the Standard to prevent exhibition of a blue-eyed sable merle.  Your dog may be penalized and thusly top awards may be elusive, but there is no disqualification.  The only disqualifications are the American Kennel Club rules for all breeds for the presence of monorchidism or cryptorchidism."

"Many Fanciers have questioned whether the Standard could be changed to accept sable merles as an additonal color rather than reading as four colors, and to possibly allow blue eyes, eliminating any discrimination.  This could possibly come to pass within a few years."

"A few daring breeders have gambled and kept "defective whites" from a blue merle to blue merle union and learned, to the amazement of many, that they are NOT impaired in sight or hearing.  This courageous experiment by a few breeders had been a progressive step in several ways.  We have learned that not all white merles are "defective," having passed an ophthalmic examination, with sometimes, better visual acuity ratings than other colored members of the breed and the bonus is, blue merles have increased in popularity with exhibitors and the pet buying public.  For those wanting to increase the probable percentage of blue merles in a litter there are white merles of quality to incorporate into a color/breeding program.  An interesting side light to this color situation is that in some instances the sable/merles and white/merles are the select quality individuals in a litter.  Is nature conveying a subtle message to breeders?"

"The Standard explicitly allows four colors buy predjudice prevails.  It is a wise exhibitor who knows which judges to avoid and where to invest the entry fee when a particular color is the judge's favorite."

"True Collie expression is inevitable regardless of color or because of the head properties.  You should see and feel the same sense of awareness that the Collie has a unique countenance whether it is a tri, blue, sable or white."

Then there are photos on pages 134-135 of all colors, including sable merles …

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This is a letter from Tom Coen to the CCA board members.

Dear Board Members,

As chairman of the proposed Standard Review Committee I want to update you on what has transpired to this point and let you know our tentative plans for the future.  Let me reiterate that this is a committee charged with the task of reviewing the standard, according to AKC recommendations.  The specific wording from AKC is: "I recommend that a committee be formed to investigate and assess the situation including surveying the membership and educating the membership in regard to the issue."

First, I think that some background information is in order.  After being informed of the situation in which a judge withheld a reserve award from a sable merle Collie I (as Judges Ed. Chairman) immediately called the judge to discuss the matter.  It was a lengthy conversation in which the judge told me, among other things, she didn't expect a standard change and that a directive from the Parent Club would certainly be sufficient.  The Judges Education Committee began work right away on expanding the existing directive. When it was completed we were told by AKC that our efforts had resulted in "a clear, concise directive for judges." 

We then asked that it be published in the next (Dec.) AKC Judges Newsletter that is sent to all AKC judges.  The directive is on the CCA website under Judges Education and it is included in the packet that is sent to all new applicants for Collies published in the AKC Gazette.  I sent the directive to the judge in question and asked her to please let me know if this clarified the issue for her.  To date, we have received no response.

Acting as the contact person speaking with the AKC's breed standard issues staff liaison, I have learned a lot.  First, when asking about establishing an open class for sable merles, we were informed, "In that this is not a color with a pattern that can be readily identified, it is not recommended to attempt to establish an additional class."  In short, judges are concerned with evaluating phenotype or how the dog "appears" and not all sable merles are identifiable as such.  Secondly, when a standard is opened for the revision of one issue any number of special interests wanting other changes may come forth.  For instance, we have heard murmurs that there are some people who would like the standard size of Collies changed to be smaller.

Regarding the AKC's recommendation that "It would be prudent of the club to establish a means of educating the breeders" we have developed the following tentative plans:

1) Gather statistics and historical information regarding sable merles.  Among other things, this would include champions finished, ROM's, CCA winners, etc. Just FYI, so far we have learned that over two hundred sable merles have finished their titles.

2) Survey the membership regarding this issue.  We will begin with those people

who serve as our Breed Mentors.  Their having qualified as mentors indicates significant experience, commitment and contribution to the Collie (the Mentor Application with qualifications is on the CCA website.)  We also plan to send an in depth questionnaire to a diverse group of twelve individuals for their input, with the intent of sharing their responses with the membership at large.  This group will include successful long time and newer current breeders who have expressed their concern about this issue, a veterinarian who is a Collie breeder, and a geneticist who is a long time Collie breeder.  We are hoping that the following will accept our invitation to contribute:  Nancy Arnstruther, Dr. Cindi Bossart, Mike Cheatham, Marcy Fine, Jim Frederiksen, Tim Garrison, Amy Gau, Marcia Keller, Barb Linder, Glen Twiford, Adria Weiner, and Dorothy Welsh.

3) Consult with a geneticist to clarify the mode of inheritance of the merle gene and to clarify any color/pattern issues concerning the sable merle.          

4) Consult with a veterinarian concerning health ramifications regarding the sable merle.  It is high time that any misinformation or misconceptions concerning this issue be cleared up.           

5) We propose a program to share the educational information that we have gathered be held on Tuesday afternoon, April 7, 2009 at the CCA in Springfield.  We have obtained permission to use the same room where the Breeders Education seminar will be held that morning.  This program will be open to the entire CCA membership.

As a committee we feel strongly about an informed, educated membership.  This subject requires careful thought and is not to be taken lightly.  Rational, intelligent discussion rather than emotional polarization is our choice of how to proceed.

Tom Coen

Permission is given to crosspost in its entirety only . Please do send to your members.

Diana showed Cole to Best of Variety both days!! Cole looked great in the groups but nothing.