About the Breed
Breed Standard (as taken from the Canadian National Australian
Shepherd Association)
General Appearance
The Australian Shepherd is a well-balanced dog of medium size and bone. He is attentive and animated, showing strength and stamina combined with unusual agility. Slightly longer than tall, he has a coat of moderate length and coarseness with colouring that offers variety and individuality in each specimen. An identifying characteristic is his natural or docked bobtail. In each sex, masculinity or femininity is well defined.
Character
The Australian Shepherd is intelligent, primarily a working dog of strong herding and guarding instincts. He is an exceptional companion. He is versatile and easily trained, performing his assigned tasks with great style and enthusiasm. He is reserved with strangers but does not exhibit shyness. Although an aggressive, authoritative worker, viciousness toward people or animals is intolerable.
Head
Clean-cut, strong, dry and in proportion to the body. The topskull is flat to slightly rounded, its length and width each equal to the length of the muzzle which is in balance and proportioned to the rest of the head. The muzzle tapers slightly to a rounded tip. The stop is moderate but well defined. Teeth: A full complement of strong, white teeth meet in a scissors bite. An even bite is a fault. Teeth broken or missing by accident are not penalized. Disqualification: Undershot bites; overshot bites exceeding 1/8 inches (.32 cm). Eyes: Very expressive, showing attentiveness and intelligence. Clear, almond-shaped, and of moderate size, set a little obliquely, neither prominent nor sunken, with pupils dark, well-defined and perfectly positioned. Colour is brown, blue, amber, or any variation or combination including flecks and marbling. Ears: Set on high at the side of the head, triangular and slightly rounded at the tip, of moderate size with length measured by bringing the tip of the ear around to the inside corner of the eye. The ears, at full attention, break slightly forward and over from one-quarter (1/4) to one-half (1/2) above the base. Prick ears and hound-type ears are severe faults.
Neck and Body
The neck is firm, clean and in proportion to the body. It is of medium length and slightly arched at the crest, setting well into the shoulders. The body is firm and muscular. The topline appears level at a natural four-square stance. The chest is deep and strong with ribs well-sprung. The loin is strong and broad when viewed from the top. The bottom line carries well back with a moderate tuck-up. The croup is moderately sloping, the ideal being 30 degrees from the horizontal. Tail is straight, not to exceed 4 inches (10.2 cm), natural bobtail or docked.
Forequarters
The shoulder blades (scapula) are long and flat, close set at the withers, approximately two fingers width at a natural stance and are well laid back at an angle approximating forty-five (45) degrees to the ground. The upper arm (humerus) is attached at an approximate right angle to the shoulder line with forelegs dropping straight, perpendicular to the ground. The elbow joint is equidistant from the ground to the withers. The legs are straight and powerful. Pasterns are short, thick and strong, but still flexible, showing a slight angle when viewed from the side. Feet are oval shaped, compact, with close-knit, well-arched toes. Pads are thick and resilient; nails short and strong. Dewclaws may be removed.
Hindquarters
Width of hindquarters approximately equal to the width of the forequarters at the shoulders. The angulation of the pelvis and the upper thigh (femur) 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 metatarsi are short, perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other when viewed from the rear. Feet are oval shaped, compact, with close-knit, well-arched toes. Pads are thick and resilient; nails short and strong. Rear dewclaws are removed.
Coat
Of medium texture, straight to slightly wavy, weather resistant, of moderate length with an undercoat. The quality of undercoat varies with climate. Hair is short and smooth on the head, outside of ears, front of forelegs and below the hocks. Backs of forelegs are moderately feathered; breeches are moderately full. There is a moderate mane and frill, more pronounced in dogs than bitches. Non-typical coats are severe faults.
Colour
All colours are strong, clear and rich. The recognized colours are blue merle, red (liver) merle, solid black and solid red (liver) all with or without white markings and/or tan (copper) points with no order of preference. The blue merle and black have black pigmentation on nose, lips and eye-rims; the red (liver) merle and red (liver) have liver pigmentation on nose, lips and eye-rims. Butterfly nose should not be faulted under one year of age. On all colours, the areas surrounding the ears and eyes are dominated by colour other than white. The hairline of a white collar does not exceed the point of the withers.
Gait
Smooth, free and easy; exhibiting agility and 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, both front and rear, converge toward the centre line of gravity of the dog, while topline remains firm and level.
Size
Preferred height at the withers for males is 20-23 inches (50.8-58.4 cm); that for females is 18-21 inches (45.7-53.3 cm), however, quality is not to be sacrificed in favour of size.
Other Disqualifications
- Monorchidism and cryptorchidism.
- Other than recognized colours.
- White body splashes.
- Dudley nose.
- Undershot bite; overshot bites exceeding 1/8 inches
Shepherd Association)
General Appearance
The Australian Shepherd is a well-balanced dog of medium size and bone. He is attentive and animated, showing strength and stamina combined with unusual agility. Slightly longer than tall, he has a coat of moderate length and coarseness with colouring that offers variety and individuality in each specimen. An identifying characteristic is his natural or docked bobtail. In each sex, masculinity or femininity is well defined.
Character
The Australian Shepherd is intelligent, primarily a working dog of strong herding and guarding instincts. He is an exceptional companion. He is versatile and easily trained, performing his assigned tasks with great style and enthusiasm. He is reserved with strangers but does not exhibit shyness. Although an aggressive, authoritative worker, viciousness toward people or animals is intolerable.
Head
Clean-cut, strong, dry and in proportion to the body. The topskull is flat to slightly rounded, its length and width each equal to the length of the muzzle which is in balance and proportioned to the rest of the head. The muzzle tapers slightly to a rounded tip. The stop is moderate but well defined. Teeth: A full complement of strong, white teeth meet in a scissors bite. An even bite is a fault. Teeth broken or missing by accident are not penalized. Disqualification: Undershot bites; overshot bites exceeding 1/8 inches (.32 cm). Eyes: Very expressive, showing attentiveness and intelligence. Clear, almond-shaped, and of moderate size, set a little obliquely, neither prominent nor sunken, with pupils dark, well-defined and perfectly positioned. Colour is brown, blue, amber, or any variation or combination including flecks and marbling. Ears: Set on high at the side of the head, triangular and slightly rounded at the tip, of moderate size with length measured by bringing the tip of the ear around to the inside corner of the eye. The ears, at full attention, break slightly forward and over from one-quarter (1/4) to one-half (1/2) above the base. Prick ears and hound-type ears are severe faults.
Neck and Body
The neck is firm, clean and in proportion to the body. It is of medium length and slightly arched at the crest, setting well into the shoulders. The body is firm and muscular. The topline appears level at a natural four-square stance. The chest is deep and strong with ribs well-sprung. The loin is strong and broad when viewed from the top. The bottom line carries well back with a moderate tuck-up. The croup is moderately sloping, the ideal being 30 degrees from the horizontal. Tail is straight, not to exceed 4 inches (10.2 cm), natural bobtail or docked.
Forequarters
The shoulder blades (scapula) are long and flat, close set at the withers, approximately two fingers width at a natural stance and are well laid back at an angle approximating forty-five (45) degrees to the ground. The upper arm (humerus) is attached at an approximate right angle to the shoulder line with forelegs dropping straight, perpendicular to the ground. The elbow joint is equidistant from the ground to the withers. The legs are straight and powerful. Pasterns are short, thick and strong, but still flexible, showing a slight angle when viewed from the side. Feet are oval shaped, compact, with close-knit, well-arched toes. Pads are thick and resilient; nails short and strong. Dewclaws may be removed.
Hindquarters
Width of hindquarters approximately equal to the width of the forequarters at the shoulders. The angulation of the pelvis and the upper thigh (femur) 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 metatarsi are short, perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other when viewed from the rear. Feet are oval shaped, compact, with close-knit, well-arched toes. Pads are thick and resilient; nails short and strong. Rear dewclaws are removed.
Coat
Of medium texture, straight to slightly wavy, weather resistant, of moderate length with an undercoat. The quality of undercoat varies with climate. Hair is short and smooth on the head, outside of ears, front of forelegs and below the hocks. Backs of forelegs are moderately feathered; breeches are moderately full. There is a moderate mane and frill, more pronounced in dogs than bitches. Non-typical coats are severe faults.
Colour
All colours are strong, clear and rich. The recognized colours are blue merle, red (liver) merle, solid black and solid red (liver) all with or without white markings and/or tan (copper) points with no order of preference. The blue merle and black have black pigmentation on nose, lips and eye-rims; the red (liver) merle and red (liver) have liver pigmentation on nose, lips and eye-rims. Butterfly nose should not be faulted under one year of age. On all colours, the areas surrounding the ears and eyes are dominated by colour other than white. The hairline of a white collar does not exceed the point of the withers.
Gait
Smooth, free and easy; exhibiting agility and 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, both front and rear, converge toward the centre line of gravity of the dog, while topline remains firm and level.
Size
Preferred height at the withers for males is 20-23 inches (50.8-58.4 cm); that for females is 18-21 inches (45.7-53.3 cm), however, quality is not to be sacrificed in favour of size.
Other Disqualifications
- Monorchidism and cryptorchidism.
- Other than recognized colours.
- White body splashes.
- Dudley nose.
- Undershot bite; overshot bites exceeding 1/8 inches
Temperament and Character
The Australian Shepherd is a highly intelligent, energetic, and eager-to-please dog that comes in a medium-sized, attractive package. Equipped with strong herding and guardian instincts, this dog possesses a virtually unparalleled loyalty to his family. Aussies are known to bond to their special person and shadow them, following them around from room to room.
The Aussie’s great energy and athleticism makes him an ideal companion for active, outdoorsy people and those interested in dog performance sports and activities such as agility, herding, fly-ball, Rally-O, and obedience. This dog’s idea of a good time is hiking in the woods in any kind of weather, swimming at the cottage, retrieving, learning new tricks – any kind of physical or mental activity, followed by a nap at your feet.
While those of us who love Aussies can’t think of life without one, the characteristics we cherish in them may prove to be problematic for some people. Although they should not be hyper and do possess a fine “off switch,” the Aussie was bred to work hard all day long on ranches and farms. As a result, some people may be unprepared for this dog’s exercise requirements. An Aussie that is deprived of physical and mental stimulation and that is left to languish on his own may resort to destructive behaviours such as chewing, digging, or barking, to relieve the tedium of his life. His herding instinct may lead to a desire to herd other dogs, joggers and children.
To keep those character traits positive rather than negative, give your Aussie at least one hour of energetic exercise and play each day, and don’t forget to give him mental exercise as well. Though some Aussies are content to be couch potatoes and foot warmers, the average Aussie will gladly play and run until the sun goes down. Have fun together by trying a performance sport, or do a special activity together, such as therapy visits. Put your Aussie through obedience training to channel his energies appropriately and challenge his mind. Although many Aussies are friendly with everyone, the Australian Shepherd as a breed tends to be somewhat reserved around strangers. Socialize him early and well to keep him open to new people and new situations, and continue that socialization throughout his life. Keep in mind that “reserved” should not mean shy or wary.
The Aussie’s character is as variable as he is versatile and is unique to each dog, much like his coat and markings are. Some are more drivey than others, some are more or less protective than others, and some are downright clownish. All Aussies, however, are super smart and hugely devoted – all Aussies are ready to be your next very best friend and personal shadow.
The Australian Shepherd is a highly intelligent, energetic, and eager-to-please dog that comes in a medium-sized, attractive package. Equipped with strong herding and guardian instincts, this dog possesses a virtually unparalleled loyalty to his family. Aussies are known to bond to their special person and shadow them, following them around from room to room.
The Aussie’s great energy and athleticism makes him an ideal companion for active, outdoorsy people and those interested in dog performance sports and activities such as agility, herding, fly-ball, Rally-O, and obedience. This dog’s idea of a good time is hiking in the woods in any kind of weather, swimming at the cottage, retrieving, learning new tricks – any kind of physical or mental activity, followed by a nap at your feet.
While those of us who love Aussies can’t think of life without one, the characteristics we cherish in them may prove to be problematic for some people. Although they should not be hyper and do possess a fine “off switch,” the Aussie was bred to work hard all day long on ranches and farms. As a result, some people may be unprepared for this dog’s exercise requirements. An Aussie that is deprived of physical and mental stimulation and that is left to languish on his own may resort to destructive behaviours such as chewing, digging, or barking, to relieve the tedium of his life. His herding instinct may lead to a desire to herd other dogs, joggers and children.
To keep those character traits positive rather than negative, give your Aussie at least one hour of energetic exercise and play each day, and don’t forget to give him mental exercise as well. Though some Aussies are content to be couch potatoes and foot warmers, the average Aussie will gladly play and run until the sun goes down. Have fun together by trying a performance sport, or do a special activity together, such as therapy visits. Put your Aussie through obedience training to channel his energies appropriately and challenge his mind. Although many Aussies are friendly with everyone, the Australian Shepherd as a breed tends to be somewhat reserved around strangers. Socialize him early and well to keep him open to new people and new situations, and continue that socialization throughout his life. Keep in mind that “reserved” should not mean shy or wary.
The Aussie’s character is as variable as he is versatile and is unique to each dog, much like his coat and markings are. Some are more drivey than others, some are more or less protective than others, and some are downright clownish. All Aussies, however, are super smart and hugely devoted – all Aussies are ready to be your next very best friend and personal shadow.
