All Border Collies Forums

Okay, this might be a bit of a weird question, but does anyone have a bc with a very pointy head? Izzy has the most bizarre head shape of any dog I've ever met. Narrow head, but the top of it takes a dramatic dip in the center, and the skull itself - especially at the back 'point' - is incredibly hard. He's accidentally banged his head into me a few times when he's been playing and it hurt!! But it's his head shape that I find unique. Since Izzy is the first border collie I've ever had, and I had never really met any others, I'm wondering if this type of head shape is typical of some border collie lines. I do know there can be a lot of variation, but is this one of them? Or do I just have a weird dog?

I've tried to get a picture of it, but it's kind of hard to capture how dramatic it is (to me, anyway). Here's a photo though, that sort of gives you a bit of the idea:




Oh, and one I'm just throwing in for fun

There used to be a weimeraner at my work that had a similar had shape to Izzy. He had the dip on the top of his head and then a big bump behind that, it was quite strange!

The hair on Harveys head is SUPER long so I cant really tell if it is AS dramatic but he has a rather large bump on his head!

Ben has one too, Shep & Shadow don't. I actually thought Ben's was an actual injury because when we first got him he had a scabby head where he'd tried to jump into a car as the boot was being shut and it'd got his head!

Its called an Occipital Peak. Its more common in hounds

Oh, now I see...I managed to google 'occipital peak' and all sorts of info came up, mostly about what a bad fault this is in collies, and should be avoided. *sigh*...there goes Mr. Izzy's chance to be a superstar showdog at Westminster. I got a defective collie!

Quote:Ben has one too, Shep & Shadow don't. I actually thought Ben's was an actual injury because when we first got him he had a scabby head where he'd tried to jump into a car as the boot was being shut and it'd got his head!

Oh, poor Ben...that must've hurt!

Well everything about Harvey is a fault! Curly tail, Occipital peak, too tall.... lmao!

Socks has a bump on her head, but not that big!

Finn's got a funny head shape too but I only really notice it when his ears are down right low! If they're super perky I don't see it as much but I can feel it! He bumps his head a lot, which worries me, but it wouldn't suprise me if that had something to do with his funny head!

Herman has one too. In fact, last year he took a header playing shovel with my hubby. He went after the snow, slipped off the pile and landed on his head. We were very concerned because it was the first time we noticed it. And it never went away. lol Maybe that's his problem as well!! ??
Poor Herman.... lol

Oh, I noticed this with Izzy as he started growing. It's very prominent...you run your hand over his head and it feels like a bony ski slope. And while you can see it in the pic, it feels much more pronounced when you touch it. Of course after Katy posted that it's called an occipital peak I googled it, and then later it dawned on me that I did know a dog with a head like this....a (very) long time ago my brother had a gorgeous Irish setter named Chance, and her head was much the same. I'd totally forgotten about her. And of course, after seeing so many dogs in the forum with beautiful broad heads, I was beginning to think that poor Izzy was a little weirdo. Glad to know he's not. Well, okay...he is...but at least his head's not too odd...

(02-06-2012 10:18 AM)izzysmom Wrote: [ -> ]Oh, I noticed this with Izzy as he started growing. It's very prominent...you run your hand over his head and it feels like a bony ski slope. And while you can see it in the pic, it feels much more pronounced when you touch it. Of course after Katy posted that it's called an occipital peak I googled it, and then later it dawned on me that I did know a dog with a head like this....a (very) long time ago my brother had a gorgeous Irish setter named Chance, and her head was much the same. I'd totally forgotten about her. And of course, after seeing so many dogs in the forum with beautiful broad heads, I was beginning to think that poor Izzy was a little weirdo. Glad to know he's not. Well, okay...he is...but at least his head's not too odd...

Haha how funny! I guess everyone has a little weirdo! I have never had a sane pet .
My friend's Irish Setter is the same and funnily enough my Uncles GSD/BC cross had one, wonder if it was the BC or the GSD that was in him that gave him the bump!?
Oh well, guess we can't all have smooth headed doggies

We notice this allot with the doodles that come in for grooms. One client asks us to leave the top knot so her husband doesn't complain about his big bump.