“Un collie che lavora usa la sua coda come timone per equilibrarsi quando gira, perciò essa serve a fargli mantenere l’equilibrio mentre, ad esempio, cambia bruscamente direzione mentre fa muovere le pecore nella direzione desiderata. È ovvio che più lunga è la coda e meglio svolgerà il suo compito.”
(Conoscere il Collie, viaggio dentro lo standard di razza, Lucio Rocco, Largo Libro editore 2023)
As Lucio Rocco published his book about the breed standard asked us for some photos of Hayden.
The standard calls for the Collie’s tail to be long, carried low and with a slight upward curve.
Hayden represents very well this characteristic of the breed. We are very proud that he was chosen as an example for his tail. His photo is on page 141 of the book, in chapter 11, The Tail.
I always thought that the tail is one of the most characteristic traits of the breed.
Perhaps you remember, from my presentation, the Pampas grass bush that is also the grave of my beloved Harold and Giselle. The plumes, moving free in the wind, will always remind me of their tails wagging happily.
I never thought, however, that in the dawn of time, our collie ancestor, in the Highlands, after having sheltered his flock and chosen a corner maybe protected from the rain and the wind but certainly not from the cold, curled up on himself and used his long, bushy tail to warm his paws and muzzle.
Thank you, Lucio, for sharing with us your immense knowledge about the breed.
