Breed Standard
Reproduced by kind permission of the Kennel Club
Interim Standard until June 2009
Breed: Australian Shepherd
Group: Pastoral
General Appearance
Well balanced, length slightly greater than height. Medium
size, solid and muscular. Various colours. Expression alert, keen and friendly.
Characteristics
Intelligent, strong herding and guarding instincts. Great
stamina, loyal, attentive, animated, lithe, agile; able to change speed and
direction instantly.
Temperament
Even disposition. May show initial reserve, never shy or
aggressive.
Head and Skull
In proportion to body. Clean cut. Dry. Muzzle equal to, or
a little shorter than length of skull. Skull of equal length and width with
slight dome. Occiput may be apparent. From side, top of muzzle and skull on
parallel planes. Moderate, well defined stop. Muzzle tapers slightly toward
nose, ending in rounded tip. Nose: In blue merles and blacks - black; in red
merles and reds - liver/brown. Merles may have small pink spots.
Eyes
Brown, blue or amber, or combination including flecks and
marbling. Oval shaped, of moderate size, neither protruding nor sunken. Eye
rims: blue merles and blacks - black; in red merles and reds - liver/brown.
Ears
Triangular; of moderate size and thickness, set high.
Breaking forward or to side when attracted.
Mouth
Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor
bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to
the jaws. Level bite tolerated.
Neck
Moderate length, strong, slightly arched; fitting smoothly
into shoulders.
Forequarters
Shoulder blades long and flat, well laid back, set close
at withers. Upper arms of comparable length. Legs straight from all sides, with
strong oval bone. Medium length, slightly sloping pasterns.
Body
Strong, with firm level topline. Croup moderately sloping.
Chest deep, of moderate width, with brisket reaching to elbow. Ribs well sprung
and long. Underline shows moderate tuck-up.
Hindquarters
Same width as forequarters. Corresponding angulation of
pelvis and upper tights to scapulae and upper arms. Well defined stifles,
moderate angle of hock joints. Hocks well let down, perpendicular to round and
parallel when viewed from rear.
Feet
Oval. Closely set, well arched toes; thick pads.
Tail
Customarily docked or may be naturally bobbed.
Docked: Straight, docked to no more than 10 cms (4ins) length.
Undocked: Set low following line of croup. Of moderate length. Never curled or
carried over back. Well feathered. In overall balance with the rest of the dog.
Gait/Movement
Agile, smooth, free and easy, with good forward reach.
Fore-and hindlegs move straight and parallel but may converge at speed.
Coat
Medium length and texture, straight to wavy, weather
resistant with undercoat. Short hair on head, ears front of forelegs and below
hock joints. Back of legs moderately feathered. Moderate mane, more pronounced
in dogs than bitches.
Colour
Blue merle, black, red merle, red, all with or without tan
points. May have white as follows: white collar no further back than point of
withers at skin. White on neck as full or part collar, chest, muzzle, underparts,
moderate blaze. Coloured coat surrounding pigmented eyerims.
Size
Dogs: 51-58 cms (20-23 inches). Bitches: 46-53 cms (18-21
inches).
Faults
Any departure from the foregoing points should be
considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded
should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and
welfare of the dog.
Note
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles
fully descended into the scrotum.