General

AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD

Country of origin: United States of America

The Australian Shepherd is in fact not an Australian breed, but developed in the United States of America. The dog decends from among others from the Pyrenean sheepdogs, the Collie, the Border Collie and also from the extinct Smithfield. The breed was in Australia for a short while during his development, where his ancestors worked als tough sheepdogs. After that he came to the United States, especially Californie, where he got his final shape. The Australian Shepherd is a typical sheepdog, with all the qualities that are typical for such a dog. In the United States he is appreciated by cattlebreeders and at the moment he is going into an international introduction. At the moment the American breeddescription is the standard.

The Australian Shepherd is an average, slightly triangular, strong and very agile dog, activ and lively.

Head: with a lot of substance and dry, the snout is as long as the skull or a little shorter. Slightly curved skull. Snout and skull are parallel, clear stop. The snout is filled good and finishes stub with a rhinarium of which the colour fits the colour of the coat.

Eyes: almondshaped, brown, blue, amber or variations on, or combinations of these colours. The eyerims are pigmented and in harmony with the eyecolouor, the eyes have an energetique and alert expression.

Ears: triangular, average size, set on high, tipear or rose ear

Teeth: carnassial or pincer

Neck: average length, strong, slightly curved.

Body: deep and long chest with well curved ribs. Straight and strong back, lumbar and croupe slightly curved. Slightly rissen stomachline.

Limbs: well angulated for- and hindquarters, powerful, but no ponderous bones, straight and parallel for and hindlegs, low hocks who has to be standing vertical to the ground. The limbs are well muscled.

Feet: somewhat oval, well closed and curved, with strong soles.

Tail: straight, naturally short and not longer than 10 cm.

Gait: free and light.

Coat: average robust, average length, straight and wavy, strong and waterproof, with more or less thick undercoat depending on the climate. The coat is short en soft on head, ears, frontside of the forlegs and under the tip of the hock.

Colour: blue merle, black,  red merle and red, all with or without white marks and/or tanish spots 

Size: male 50-57 cm, female 45-52 cm.