Australian Shepherd Breed Standard
Herding Group

General Appearance
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. He is well balanced, slightly longer than tall, of medium size and bone, with coloring 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 bobbed tail.

Size, Proportion, Substance
Size--The preferred height for males is 20-23 inches, females 18-21 inches. Quality is not to be sacrificed in favor of size. Proportion--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. Substance--Solidly built with moderate bone. Structure in the male reflects masculinity without coarseness. Bitches appear feminine without being slight of bone.

Head

The Head is clean cut, strong and dry. Overall size should be in proportion to the body. The muzzle is 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.
Expression --Showing attentiveness and intelligence, alert and eager. Gaze should be keen but friendly. Eyes are 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. Ears are 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. Prick ears and hanging ears are severe faults.
Skull Top flat to slightly domed. It may show a slight occipital protuberance. Length and width are equal. Moderate well-defined stop. Muzzle tapers little from base to nose and is rounded at the tip.
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. Teeth--A full complement of strong white teeth should meet in a scissors bite or may meet in a level bite. Disqualifications--Undershot. Overshot greater 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.

Neck, Topline, Body
Neck is strong, of moderate length, slightly arched at the crest, fitting well into the shoulders. Topline--Back is straight and strong, level and firm from withers to hip joints. The croup is moderately sloped. Chest is not broad but is deep with the lowest point reaching the elbow. The ribs are well sprung and long, neither barrel chested nor slab-sided. The underline shows a moderate tuck-up. Tail is straight, docked or naturally bobbed, not to exceed four inches in length.

Forequarters
Shoulders--Shoulder blades are 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 is strong, oval rather than round. Pastern is medium length and very slightly sloped. Front dewclaws may be removed. Feet are oval, compact with close knit, well arched toes. Pads are thick and resilient.

Hindquarters
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. Stifles are clearly defined, hock joints moderately bent. The hocks are short, perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other when viewed from the rear. Rear dewclaws must be removed. Feet are oval, compact with close knit, well arched toes. Pads are thick and resilient.

Coat
Hair is 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 britches are moderately feathered. There is a moderate mane and frill, more pronounced in dogs than in bitches. Non-typical coats are severe faults.

Color
Blue merle, black, red merle, red-all with or without white markings and/or tan (copper) points, 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, measuring from a horizontal line at the elbow. White on the head should not predominate, and the eyes must be fully surrounded by color and pigment. Merles characteristically become darker with increasing age. Disqualifications White body splashes, which means white on body between withers and tail, on sides between elbows and back of hindquarters in all colors.

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 center line of the body. As speed increases, the feet (front and rear) converge toward the center 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.

Temperament
The Australian Shepherd is an intelligent, active dog with an even disposition; he is good natured, seldom quarrelsome. He may be somewhat reserved in initial meetings. Faults Any display of shyness, fear or aggression is to be severely penalized.

Disqualifications
Undershot. Overshot greater than 1/8 inch.
White body splashes, which means white on body between withers and tail, on sides between elbows and back of hindquarters in all colors.

Approved May 14, 1991
Effective January 1, 1993

Australian Shepherd(澳洲牧羊犬)

[简介] 澳洲牧羊犬是一种具有很强的畜牧和护卫能力的工作犬。他是一个忠诚的伙伴，而且具有全天候工作的毅力。非常和谐，体长略大于身高，中等大小，骨量中等，颜色多变而有个性。他专注且活泼，柔韧而敏捷，肌肉发达但不笨重。被毛中等长度，粗硬。断尾或自然的短尾巴。

[体型] 尺寸：雄性理想的肩高为20~23英寸；雌性为18~21英寸。不应该为了品质而牺牲合理的尺寸大小。比例：体长（从胸骨到大腿后侧的距离）略大于肩高。体质：结构坚固、骨量中等。雄性的结构阳刚而不粗糙；雌性的结构柔美但没有骨量不足的现象。

[头部] 头部整洁，结实且干燥（无松弛的皮肤）。整个头部的尺寸与身躯的比例恰当。口吻的长度与脑袋的长度一致或略短。从侧面观察，口吻上轮廓与脑袋上轮廓相互平行，口吻和脑袋被适中、但很清晰的止部所分隔开。口吻从根部向鼻镜方向略呈锥形，尖端略圆。表情：显得专注而聪明，警惕而敏锐，目光敏锐但友好。眼睛可以是褐色、兰色、琥珀色、或不同颜色和变化的结合，包括斑点或大理石色。杏仁状，既不突出也不凹陷，兰色芸石色或黑色狗拥有黑色眼圈；红色芸石色狗拥有肝色（褐色）眼圈。耳朵为三角形，中等大小，耳廓厚度中等，位置高，向前折叠，或类似玫瑰耳。立耳或垂耳属于严重缺陷。头顶平而略拱，后枕骨轻微突起，脑袋的长度和宽度相等。适中、但很清晰的止部。口吻从根部向鼻镜方向略呈锥形，尖端略圆。鼻镜：兰色芸石色或黑色狗拥有黑色鼻镜（和嘴唇），红色芸石色狗拥有肝色（褐色）鼻镜（和嘴唇）。芸石色狗允许鼻镜（和嘴唇）有少量粉红色污点，但超过一岁以后，粉红色污点不能超过鼻镜面积的25%。否则属于严重缺陷。牙齿：齿系完整，牙齿洁白，剪刀状咬和或钳状咬和。失格：下颚突出式咬和。上颚突出超过1/8英寸。由于中间门牙短而造成牙齿无法接触，但其他部分正常的情况下，不被判定为下颚突出式咬和。因意外事故造成的牙齿折断或缺齿不属于缺陷。

[颈部、背线、身躯] 颈部结实、中等长度，上部略拱，与肩部结合良好。背线：背部（从马肩隆到臀部）直而结实，平而稳固。臀部适度倾斜。胸部不宽，但深度延伸到肘部。肋骨扩张良好且长，既不是桶状胸，也不侧面平坦。下腹部曲线适度上提。尾巴直，断尾或自然的短尾巴，尾巴长度不要超过4英寸。

[前躯] 肩部：肩胛骨长、平，马肩隆适度接近，向后倾斜。前臂，与肩胛骨长度一致，与肩胛骨的角度接近直角，前肢正好在肩胛正下方，垂直于地面。腿直而结实，骨骼强壮，截面呈卵形比圆形更好。脚腕中等长度，非常轻微地倾斜。前肢狼爪可以切除。足爪呈卵形，紧凑，脚趾结合紧密，圆拱。脚垫厚实而有弹性。

[后躯] 后躯宽度与前躯在肩部的宽度一致，骨盆与第一节大腿的角度与前躯肩胛与前臂的角度相对应，接近直角。后膝关节非常清晰，飞节角度恰当。从后面观察，飞节短，垂直于地面，且彼此平行。后肢狼爪必须被切除。足爪呈卵形，紧凑，脚趾结合紧密，圆拱。脚垫厚实而有弹性。

[被毛] 被毛质量中等，直或略有波浪状，能抵御恶劣气候，中等长度。底毛数量会根据气候及季节的改变而变化。头部、耳朵、前肢前部和后肢飞节以下的毛发短而平滑。前肢后部及“裤子”有适量饰毛。有适量的鬃毛装饰，雄形要比雌性明显。没有典型的被毛属于严重缺陷。

[颜色] 兰色芸石色、黑色、红色芸石色或全红色，有或没有白色斑纹（白色斑纹或许有褐色过渡），这些颜色没有有劣之分或次序。白色围脖不能延伸超过马肩隆。白色出现在颈部（部分或全部）、胸部、腿、口吻下方、是可以接受的，头部有白筋及白色从肘部向上延伸不超过4英寸也是可以接受的。白色在头部不能占据主导地位，且眼睛周围必须有颜色围绕，眼圈必须色素充足。芸石色特征会随着年龄增加而越来越多。失格：身体有白斑，意味着不管是什么颜色，在马肩隆之后，尾巴之前，两侧肘部到后背及臀部等地方的颜色出现白色。

[步态] 澳洲牧羊犬的步态平滑、舒展、轻松。动作显得非常敏捷、和谐及步幅大。前后肢笔直移动且平行于身体中心线。当速度增加时，四肢足爪会由于地心引力而向身体中心线靠拢，而背部保持水平稳固。澳洲牧羊犬必须敏捷且具有突然改变方向和步伐的能力。

[气质] 澳洲牧羊犬是聪明、警惕但能保持平静的狗；本性很好，不爱吵闹。初次见面会有所保留。缺陷：有任何羞怯、胆小或有攻击性的现象都属于严重缺陷。

[失格] 颚突出式咬和。上颚突出超过1/8英寸。身体有白斑，意味着不管是什么颜色，在马肩隆之后，尾巴之前，两侧肘部到后背及臀部等地方的颜色出现白色。

标准通过日期：1991年5月14日

标准执行日期：1993年1月 1日

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