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Standard, Miniature, Toy Australian Shepherd Standard
GENERAL APPEARANCE
The Australian Shepherd is a well-balanced dog, no matter whether Standard, Miniature or toy. 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 coloring 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. Bone is moderate and clean with coarseness,heaviness or
lightness being undesirable.
CHARACTER
The Australian Shepherd is intelligent, primarily a working dog of strong herding and guardian 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. Fault: Undue
shyness.
HEAD
Clean-cut, strong, dry and in proportion to the body. The top skull 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.
Lips: Giving a dry appearance. Disqualification: Wet flews.
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. Disqualifications: Undershot bites; overshot bites
exceeding one-eighth inch.
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. Color is brown, blue, amber or any variation or combination thereof 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 (¼) to one-half (½) above the base. Prick 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 top-line 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 thirty (30) degrees from the horizontal. Tail is straight, not to
exceed three (3) inches, natural bobbed or docked. We do allow non docked dogs to accommodate
our foreign breeders, as some countries do not allow docking of tails.
FOREQUARTERS
The shoulder blades (scapulae) 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
Strong and muscular. 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 quantity 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.
COLOR
All colors are strong, clear and rich. The previously recognized colors are blue merle, red (liver) merle,
solid black and solid red (liver) and 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.
Please note that we are in the process of adding some colors and patterns that have not before been
recognized as registerable colors. While we are not promoting breeding "for" these colors, we do
however feel that they deserve registration. We have also included a box on the puppy registration form
for designating full or limited registration, and promote early spay/neuter of dogs you don’t feel
breeding quality. If you are in doubt how to classify a color or pattern, please don’t hesitate to call us.
You may also visit the following website that might help you clarify your colors/patterns: http://www.
ashgi.org/color/index.htm. You will find it interesting reading even if you don’t have a question on your
dogs.
GAIT
Smooth, free and easy; exhibiting agility of movement with a well-balanced, ground-covering stride.
Fore and hind legs move straight and parallel with the center line of the body; as speed increases, the
feet, both front and rear, converge toward the center line of gravity of the dog, while the top line remains
firm and level. Joints do not bend or twist when in motion.
SIZE —
STANDARD: Preferred height for both male and female is 18 inches up to 23 inches at the top of the
withers.
MINIATURE: Preferred height for both male and female is 14 inches up to 18 inches at the top of
withers.
TOY: Preferred height for both male and female is 10 inches up to 14 inches at the top of the withers.
It should be mentioned that in all classifications of Australian Shepherd quality
is not to be sacrificed in favor of size.
GENERAL APPEARANCE
The Australian Shepherd is a well-balanced dog, no matter whether Standard, Miniature or toy. 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 coloring 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. Bone is moderate and clean with coarseness,heaviness or
lightness being undesirable.
CHARACTER
The Australian Shepherd is intelligent, primarily a working dog of strong herding and guardian 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. Fault: Undue
shyness.
HEAD
Clean-cut, strong, dry and in proportion to the body. The top skull 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.
Lips: Giving a dry appearance. Disqualification: Wet flews.
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. Disqualifications: Undershot bites; overshot bites
exceeding one-eighth inch.
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. Color is brown, blue, amber or any variation or combination thereof 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 (¼) to one-half (½) above the base. Prick 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 top-line 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 thirty (30) degrees from the horizontal. Tail is straight, not to
exceed three (3) inches, natural bobbed or docked. We do allow non docked dogs to accommodate
our foreign breeders, as some countries do not allow docking of tails.
FOREQUARTERS
The shoulder blades (scapulae) 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
Strong and muscular. 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 quantity 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.
COLOR
All colors are strong, clear and rich. The previously recognized colors are blue merle, red (liver) merle,
solid black and solid red (liver) and 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.
Please note that we are in the process of adding some colors and patterns that have not before been
recognized as registerable colors. While we are not promoting breeding "for" these colors, we do
however feel that they deserve registration. We have also included a box on the puppy registration form
for designating full or limited registration, and promote early spay/neuter of dogs you don’t feel
breeding quality. If you are in doubt how to classify a color or pattern, please don’t hesitate to call us.
You may also visit the following website that might help you clarify your colors/patterns: http://www.
ashgi.org/color/index.htm. You will find it interesting reading even if you don’t have a question on your
dogs.
GAIT
Smooth, free and easy; exhibiting agility of movement with a well-balanced, ground-covering stride.
Fore and hind legs move straight and parallel with the center line of the body; as speed increases, the
feet, both front and rear, converge toward the center line of gravity of the dog, while the top line remains
firm and level. Joints do not bend or twist when in motion.
SIZE —
STANDARD: Preferred height for both male and female is 18 inches up to 23 inches at the top of the
withers.
MINIATURE: Preferred height for both male and female is 14 inches up to 18 inches at the top of
withers.
TOY: Preferred height for both male and female is 10 inches up to 14 inches at the top of the withers.
It should be mentioned that in all classifications of Australian Shepherd quality
is not to be sacrificed in favor of size.
| Standard, Miniature, Toy Australian Shepherd Breed Standard |
