Mini Aussies
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 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.
Lips: Giving a dry appearance. Disqualification:
Wet flews.
Teeth—A full complement of strong white teeth should meet in a
scissors bite or may meet in a level bite.Teeth broken or missing by accident
are not penalized. Disqualifications: Undershot bites; overshot bitesexceeding
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
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 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 accomodate our foreign breeders, as some countries
do not allow docking of tails. We also recognize that some people choose not
to dock for personal reasons.
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.
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 topline 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.
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 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.
Lips: Giving a dry appearance. Disqualification:
Wet flews.
Teeth—A full complement of strong white teeth should meet in a
scissors bite or may meet in a level bite.Teeth broken or missing by accident
are not penalized. Disqualifications: Undershot bites; overshot bitesexceeding
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
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 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 accomodate our foreign breeders, as some countries
do not allow docking of tails. We also recognize that some people choose not
to dock for personal reasons.
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.
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 topline 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.