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General Appearance – The Australian Shepherd is an intelligent working dog of strong
herding and guarding instincts. He is a loyal companion and has the stamina to work all day. He is well balanced, slightly longer than tall of medium size and bone, with colour that offers variety and individuality. He
is attentive and animated, lithe and agile, solid and muscular without cloddishness. He has a coat of moderate length and coarseness. He has a docked or natural bobbed tail.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Size – The preferred height for males is 20-23 inches and females 18-21 inches. Quality
is not to be sacrificed in favour of size.
Proportion - Measuring from the breastbone to the rear of thigh and from top of the
withers to the ground the Aussie is slightly longer than tall.
Substance – Solidly built with moderate bone. Structure
in the male reflects masculinity without coarseness. Bitches appear feminine without being slight of bone.
Head – The head is clean cut, strong and dry. Overall
size should be in proportion to the body. The muzzle is equal in length or slightly shorter than the back skull. Viewed from the side the topline of the back skull and muzzle tapers little from base to nose and
is rounded at the tip.
Expression – Showing attentiveness and intelligence, alert and eager. Gaze should be keen but friendly.
Eyes – are brown, blue, amber or any variation or combination thereof, including flecks
and marbling. Almond shaped, not protruding nor sunken. The blue merles and blacks have black pigmentation on eye rims. The red merles and reds have liver (brown)
pigmentation on eye rims.
Ears – triangular of moderate size and leather, set high at head. At full attention they break forward and over, or to the side as a rose ear. Prick ears and hanging ears are a severe fault.
Skull – Top flat to slightly domed, but may show a slight occipital protuberance. Length and width are equal. Moderate well defined stop.
Nose – Blue merles and blacks have black pigmentation on the nose and lips. Red merles and reds have liver (brown) pigmentation on nose and lips. On the merles it is permissible to have small pink spots, however they should not exceed 25% of the nose on dogs over one year of age which is a
serious fault.
Teeth – A full complement of strong white teeth should meet in a scissors bite or may
meet in a level bite.
Disqualification – Undershot or overshot greater than 1/8 inch. Loss of contact caused by short centre incisors in an otherwise correct bite shall not be judged undershot. Teeth broken or missing by accident shall not be penalized.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck – is strong of moderate length slightly arched at the crest, fitting well into the
shoulders.
Topline – Back is straight and strong, level and firm from withers to hip joints. The croup is moderately sloped.
Chest – is not broad but is deep with the lowest point reaching the elbow. The ribs are well sprung and long, neither barrel chested nor slab-sided. The underline shows a moderate tuckup.
Tail – is straight, docked or naturally bobbed, not to exceed four inches in length.
Forequarters
Shoulders – shoulder blades are long, flat, fairly close set at the withers and well
laid back. The upper arm, which should be relatively the same length as the shoulder blade, attaches at an approximate right angle to the shoulder line with forelegs dropping straight, on a perpendicular to the ground.
Legs – straight and strong. Bone is
strong, oval rather than round, pastern is of medium length and very slightly sloped. Front dewclaws may be removed.
Feet – are oval, compact with close knit, well-arched toes. Pads are thick and resilient.
Hindquarters – the width of the hindquarters is equal to the width of the forequarters
at the shoulders. The angulation of the pelvis and upper thigh corresponds to the angulation of the shoulder blade and upper arm forming an approximate right angle. Stifles are clearly defined, hock joints
moderately bent. The hocks are short, perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other when viewed from the rear.
Feet – are oval, compact with close knit, well arched toes. Pads are thick and resilient.
Coat – hair is of medium texture, straight to wavy, weather resistant and of medium
length. The undercoat varies in quantity with variations in climate. Hair is short and smooth on the head, ears, front of forelegs and below the hocks. Backs of
forelegs and britches are moderately feathered. There is a moderate mane and frill, more pronounced in dogs than in bitches. Non-typical coats are severe faults.
Colour – Blue merle, black, red merle, red – all with or without white markings
and/or tan (copper) points, with no order of preference. The hairline of white collar does not exceed the point of withers at the skin. White is acceptable on the neck (either in part or as a full collar) chest, legs, muzzle underparts, blaze on head and
white extension from underpart up to four inches measuring from a horizontal line at the elbow. White on the head should not predominate and the eyes must be fully surrounded by colour and pigment. Merles
characteristically become darker with increasing age.
Disqualifications – white body splashes, which means white on body between withers and
tail, on sides between elbows and back of hindquarters on all colours.
Gait – A smooth, free and easy gait. He
exhibits great agility of movement with a well-balanced, ground covering stride. Fore and hind legs move straight and parallel with the centre line of the body. As speed increases, the feet (front and rear)
converge towards the centre line of gravity of the dog while the back remains firm and level. The Aussie must be agile and able to change direction or alter gait instantly.
Temperament – An intelligent active dog with an even disposition, he is good natured,
seldom quarrelsome. They may be somewhat reserved in initial meetings.
Faults – any display of shyness, fear or aggression is to be severely penalized.
Disqualifications – Undershot or overshot greater than 1/8 inch. White body splashes (see colour).
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