Breed Standard

MINIATURE AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD CLUB OF AMERICA OFFICIAL BREED STANDARD

General Appearance

The Australian Shepherd of the miniature variety 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. Bone is moderate and clean with coarseness, heaviness or lightness being undesirable. Overall type, balance of conformation and movement are valued more highly than individual structural perfections because it is balance which enables him to fulfill his purpose.

Character

The Australian Shepherd of the miniature variety 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 top skull 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.Lips: Giving a dry appearance.

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. Disqualifications: Undershot bites overshot bites exceeding one-eighth inch

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 thereof including flecks and marbling, with no preference.

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 (¼) to one-half (½) above the base.

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, settling 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 three (3) inches, for natural bobbed or docked. The undocked tail when at rest is straight down or in a slight upward curve. When the dog is alert the tail is normally lifted, but it should not be curved forward over the back.

Color

All colors are strong, clear and rich. The recognized colors are blue merle, red (liver) merle, solid black and solid red (liver) and with or without white markings and/or tan (copper) points with no 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 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 of the withers.

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. Joints to not bend or twist when in motion.

Size

Preferred height at the withers for males is fourteen (14) to eighteen (18) inches that for females is fourteen (14) up to but not including eighteen (18) inches. Dogs or bitches above these measurements should be faulted to the degree of variance, however, quality is not to be sacrificed in favor of size. Toy Variety- Below 14″ at the withers.

Other Disqualifications

Toy-like characteristics (ie. domed head, bulging eyes, fine bone), monorchidism or cryptorchidism.

Note:

The Australian Shepherd of the miniature variety should be judged as if it were an Australian Shepherd in all respects other than size. The mini Aussie’s conformation, moderate coat, efficient yet driving movement and stable temperament should all imply a herding dog capable of working long hours in a variety of conditions. Shown in near to natural state. Hair may be trimmed away from and around the pads. Whiskers may be trimmed or untrimmed (never removed on a dog to work stock). Pasterns may be trimmed between carpal pad and heel. Hair along hock and long hairs on docked or bobbed tails or sparse, stray or straggly hairs may also be trimmed to make a neater outline.

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