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This is a dog
from my first litter (Wendy x Spade) with her young family member going for a
bike walk J
Picture taken
2011, used with permission.
I started into herding breeds with
my first Border Collie Dawson Marie. She was quick, agile, pretty and super
intelligent as well as easy to train. I fell into dog sports because of her,
and wanted more herding dogs. I loved the Border Collie and still do, but I
found my BC’s always wanted constant stimulation and excitement. They
didn’t have much of an off switch.
The Aussie is also a moderately
sized dog with an excellent work ethic similar to the BC, but with an off
switch which I find makes them easier to live with. They settle well in the
car and in the house, choosing to rest generally around my feet. They do have
some reserve which I appreciate. They are family dogs, not dogs which
generally run up to anyone and jump all over them. They have a guardian
nature and will bark when strangers arrive, and don’t generally show
much interest in interacting with strangers. They reserve their affections
for their family, which are usually displayed in the classic ‘wiggle
butt’ and silly antics that they are known and loved for. They are truly
special wonderful dogs!
The Australian Shepherd breed
standard from www.asca.org
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 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.
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.
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 compliment
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 1/8 inches.
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 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
thirty (30) degrees from the horizontal. Tail is straight, not to exceed four
(4) inches, 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 approximately 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 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 recognized colors 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. Reds and red merles have liver pigmentation on nose, lips and
eye rims. Butterfly nose should not be faulted under
one year of age. On all colors the areas surrounding the ears and eyes are
dominated by color other than white. The hairline of a white collar does not
exceed the point at the withers.
Disqualifications: Other than
recognized colors. White body splashes. Dudley nose.
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.
SIZE: Preferred height
at the withers for males is 20 to 23 inches; that for females is 18 to 21
inches, however, quality is not to be sacrificed in favor of size.
Other Disqualification: Monorchidism and cryptorchidism.
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