Australian shepherds are a unique breed. Their origin lays in obscurity, as a few say their ancestors came with the Basque shepherds to California, where they mixed with the collie-type dogs of the settlers and farmers, a few tales speak about the Australian shepherds arriving with the Australian merino sheep, the truth may lie somewhere between the two, but one's for sure: the breed's home is the USA.
Their versatility is what made them famous at the first time, during the era of cowboy-shows, when the Sisler brothers showed off their skills accompanied by these colourful dogs.
Although they look like the perfect trick-dogs and they definitely have the brains for it, they were first and foremost a working dog at the ranches of the mid-20th century. Several old working bloodlines arised before they became popular at dog shows, such as the Las Rocosa, Slash V, Pincie Creek, Hanging Tree, Twin Oaks, all of them proved that aussies are capable stockdogs on cattle, sheep, goats, and poultry. Their herding style is more continental, but they still have the "eye", that might have come from their collie ancestors, and they are not keeping their distance from the animals. |
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Though they were bred as high energy working dogs, they have an off-switch; they know when it's time to stop with the nonsense and running around and find a spot to lay down and rest.
As most herding breeds, aussies are great at dog sports as well, although their bulkier body may not make them as fast as certain lines of border collies, but a lot of them excel in frisbee, dock diving, agility, and so on, their smartness makes them great subjective of obedience, and a few of them does great in protection work, as well as therapy dogs, and rescue dogs. Aussies can be quite protective though and they need an owner with capable hand, otherwise they will find any and all loopholes to behave, well, not so ideally. To live with an aussie, you'll need a lot of sense of humour - they can be huge goofballs, have their quirks, fool you around, sometimes even to the point of annoyance, but all in all, they might be the best family member you can wish for.
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The FCI Standard
GENERAL APPEARANCE: The Australian Shepherd is well balanced, slightly longer than tall, of medium size and bone, with colouring that offers variety and individuality. He is attentive and animated, lithe and agile, solid and muscular without cloddiness. He has a coat of moderate length and coarseness. He has a docked or natural tail.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS: Measuring from the breastbone to rear of thigh and from top of the withers to the ground the Australian Shepherd is slightly longer than tall. Solidly built with moderate bone. Structure in the male reflects masculinity without coarseness. Bitches appear feminine without being slight of bone.
BEHAVIOUR/TEMPERAMENT: The Australian Shepherd is an intelligent working dog of strong herding and guarding instincts. He is a loyal companion and has the stamina to work all day. With an even disposition, he is good natured, seldom quarrelsome. He may be somewhat reserved in initial meetings.
HEAD: The head is clean cut, strong and dry. Overall size should be in proportion to the body.
CRANIAL REGION:
Skull: Top flat to slightly domed. It may show a slight occipital protuberance. Length and width are equal.
Stop: Moderate, well-defined.
FACIAL REGION:
Nose: Blue merles and blacks have black pigmentation on the nose (and lips). Red merles and reds have liver (brown) pigmentation on the nose (and lips). On the merles it is permissible to have small pink spots; however, they should not exceed 25 % of the nose on dogs over one year of age, which is a serious fault.
Muzzle: Equal in length or slightly shorter than the back skull. Viewed from the side the topline of the back skull and muzzle form parallel planes, divided by a moderate, well-defined stop. The muzzle tapers little from base to nose and is rounded at the tip.
Jaws/Teeth: A full complement of strong white teeth should meet in a scissors bite or may meet in a pincer bite.
Eyes: Brown, blue, amber or any variation or combination thereof, including flecks and marbling. Almond shaped, not protruding nor sunken. The blue merles and blacks have black pigmentation on eye rims. The red merles and reds have liver (brown) pigmentation on eye rims.
Expression: Showing attentiveness and intelligence, alert and eager. Gaze should be keen but friendly.
Ears: Triangular, of moderate size and leather, set high on the head. At full attention they break forward and over, or to the side as a rose ear.
NECK: Strong, of moderate length, slightly arched at the crest, fitting well into the shoulders.
BODY: Top line : Back straight and strong, level and firm from withers to hip joints.
Croup : Moderately sloping.
Chest : Not broad, but deep with the lowest point reaching the elbow.
Ribs : Well sprung and long, neither barrel chested nor slab-sided.
Underline and belly: Shows a moderate tuck-up.
TAIL : Straight, naturally long or naturally short. When docked (in countries where this practice is not forbidden), or naturally short, not to exceed 10 cm.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS :
Shoulder : Shoulder-blades long, flat, fairly close set at the withers and well laid back. The upper arm, which should be relatively the same length as the shoulder-blade, attaches at an approximate right angle to the shoulder line with forelegs dropping straight, perpendicular to the ground.
Legs : Straight and strong. Bone strong, oval rather than round.
Metacarpus (Pastern): Medium length and very slightly sloping. Front dewclaws may be removed.
Forefeet: Oval, compact, with close-knit, well-arched toes. Pads thick and resilient.
HINDQUARTERS:
General appearance: The width of the hindquarters is equal to the width of the forequarters at the shoulders. The angulation of the pelvis and upper thigh corresponds to the angulation of the shoulder-blade and upper arm, forming an approximate right angle
Stifle: Clearly defined.
Hock joints: Moderately bent.
Hocks: Short, perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other when viewed from the rear. No rear dewclaws.
Hind feet: Oval, compact with close-knit, well-arched toes. Pads thick and resilient.
GAIT: The Australian Shepherd has a smooth, free and easy gait. He exhibits great agility of 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 (front and rear) converge toward the centre line of gravity of the dog while the back remains firm and level. The Australian Shepherd must be agile and able to change direction or alter gait instantly.
COAT:
Hair: Of medium texture, straight to wavy, weather resistant and of medium length. The undercoat varies in quantity with variations in climate. Hair is short and smooth on the head, ears, front of forelegs and below the hocks. Backs of forelegs and breeches are moderately feathered. There is a moderate mane and frill, more pronounced in dogs than in bitches.
Colour: Blue merle, black, red merle, red – all with or without white markings and/or tan markings, with no order of preference. The hairline of a white collar does not exceed the point of the withers at the skin. White is acceptable on the neck (either in part or as a full collar), chest, legs, muzzle underparts, blaze on head and white extension from underpart up to four inches (10 cm), measuring from a horizontal line at the elbow.
White on the head should not predominate, and the eyes must be fully surrounded by colour and pigment. Merles characteristically become darker with increasing age.
SIZE:
Height at the withers : The preferred height for males is 20-23 inches (51-58 cm), females 18-21 inches (46-53 cm). Quality is not to be sacrificed in favour of size.
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.
SEVERE FAULTS:
· Prick ears and hanging ears.
· Non-typical coats.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS:
· Aggressive or overly shy
· Any dog clearly showing physical of behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
· Undershot. Overshot by more than 1/8 inch. Loss of contact caused by short center incisors in an otherwise correct bite shall not be judged undershot. Teeth broken or missing by accident shall not be penalized.
· White body splashes in all colours, which means white on body between withers and tail, on sides between elbows and back of hindquarters.
N.B:
· Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
· Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation, should be used for breeding.