CKC Breed Standard

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

– Monorchidism and cryptorchidism.
– Other than recognized colours.
– White body splashes.
– Dudley nose.
– Undershot bite; overshot bites exceeding 1/8 inches