Australian Shepherd is perfect herder and what can protect well any kind of domestic animal. Especially medium-sized dogs are very popular as they can easily wade through the herd and agile dodging hooves of animals.
About the breed
Australian Shepherd was not bred at Australian or New Zealand hills , but in America. Pyrenean Shepherd were intercrossed with different types of shepherd collie dogs and as a result new breed was developed and named Australian Shepherd. Among the most likely ancestors of the Australian Shepherd – Border Collie , Collie and Smithfield . Australian Shepherd has become a common working dog on farms and ranches of America. Despite its relatively small size, Australian Shepherd is able to manage a huge flock of sheep or a herd of bulls, naughty biting animal’s hind legs.
Breed Description
Australian Shepherd is a very energetic and agile dog, active and nimble. These dogs like long walks and also Aussies can be taken to the forest hiking, camping or bicycle ride. Nowadays Australian shepherds  are very popular and people like this dog because of a great number of talents. It can guard a house or family, be a sheep dog, work in police – looking for drugs and be a rescue dog.
This dog is easy with training and you will be constantly surprised about Aussies intelectual abilities. This kind of dog will not be barking just because, mainly this dog is quite and pleasant. It is ideally designed for a home and it will be a best friend for you and especially for your kids. You can rely on it, it is completely predictable, never show aggression, balanced dog.
This dog needs to be socialized since a “puppy” time. It requires a constant communication with the owner and it is not recommended to leave this dog alone for a long time. Be careful with a training, you need to train the dog without roughness, brutal and unfair acts can make this dog shy and fearful.
Australian Shepherd is hardworking dog, it will be listening you without a problem. The dogo can not live without constant activity, they need to do anything all the time to keep themselves in a good physical shape.
The dogs coat needs to be taken care thoroughly, it requires routinely hair brush and cleaning, also depending on necessity you need to wash the dog. Please remember that this dog sheds twice in a year.
Breed Standards
General perspective. Australian Shepherd – is a decently-adjusted dog of medium size and bone. It is mindful and energized, indicating quality and stamina joined with abnormal dexterity. Marginally more long than in stature, with hair of moderate length and inflexibility with singular shade of every individual. The sign of the breed is a regular or docked tail diminished. In both genders, maintained manliness or gentility. Guys bold, yet not huge. Bitches female, however it doesn’t need to have light skeleton.
Temperament. Australian Shepherd smart, active and, above all, a working dog with strong herding and guarding instincts. She is a great companion and has a sweet temper. Docile and easily trained dog, to perform the task with grace and enthusiasm. She is cautious with strangers, but not timid. And although it is an aggressive and authoritative worker, viciousness toward people or animals is unacceptable. Vices – any manifestation of shyness, fear or aggression.
Head. Crisp, strong, dry, well proportioned to the body. On the back of the skull may be a small ledge. Top of the skull is flat and slightly rounded, its length and width equal to the length of the muzzle, which is balanced and proportional in relation to the head. Muzzle may be slightly shorter than the back of the skull and tapers slightly from the base to the nose. End rounded muzzle. When viewed from the side the topline of the skull and muzzle form is in parallel planes.
Teeth. Full set of strong, white teeth. Scissor bite, pincer bite is allowed. For broken or missing teeth due to injury score is not reduced.
Eyes. Very expressive, showing attention and intelligence, alertness and vigor. Clear, almond-shaped, of moderate size, planted slightly oblique, neither prominent nor sunken, with dark pupils, well-defined and perfectly positioned. The color may be brown, blue, amber or any combination of colors, including flecks. Dogs colors blue merle and black – black pigmentation century. In dogs with color edit and red merle – brown pigmentation century.
Ears. Set high on the edges of the head, triangular in shape with slightly rounded tips, moderate size. Ear length should be sufficient to be able to hang on the tip of the ear to the inner corner of the eye. Ears semi-erect when the dog is alert, the ears are refracted forward or to the side at a distance of 1/4 to 1/2 of the length from the base of the ear. Erect ears and hanging ears are completely serious defect.
Nose. Dogs colors blue merle and black – black pigmentation of the nose ( and lips ) . Color ed and red merle , the brown pigmentation of the nose ( and lips ) . Dogs with merle permissible to have small pink spots , but they should not exceed 25% of the nose in dogs one year of age .
Neck and body. Neck strong , smooth , well proportioned body. Medium length and slightly arched at the back of the neck , well set on his shoulders. Strong and muscular body . The back is straight , flat and firm from withers to hip joints . The topline is flat in a natural stance. Chest not broad, but deep and strong with regular oval long ribs not casked and not flat. Lower point of the chest reaches to the elbow. Loins strong and broad when viewed from above . Underline forms a moderate bend from the chest to groin. Croup slightly slanted, perfect 30 degree bevel . The tail is straight , the length does not exceed 4 inches ( 10 cm) , naturally curtailed or docked .
Forelimbs. Blades are long and flat, close to converge at the withers , about the width of two fingers in front with good natural inclination ago (about 45 degrees to the ground ) . Humerus length approximately blade comes into contact with a blade at a right angle , with the front legs are straight and perpendicular to the ground . The elbow joint is halfway between the ground and the withers . Legs straight and strong . Bones strong, oval rather than round . Pastern medium length or short, thin and strong , but flexible , with a side quite a bit tilted. Paws oval, tightly compressed, with cohesive , well -arched toes . Pads are thick and resilient ; nails short and solid . Dewclaws may be removed .
Hind limbs. Width of hindquarters approximately equal to the width of the forequarters at the shoulders. Angulation of the pelvis and hip joint corresponds to the angle of the blade and humerus , forming a right angle. Stifle pronounced , hocks moderately bent. Hocks short , perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other when viewed from behind . Paws oval, tightly compressed, with cohesive , well -arched toes . Pads are thick and resilient ; nails short and solid . Dewclaws must be removed.
Coat. Medium texture , straight and slightly wavy , weather resistant , of moderate length , with undercoat . Number of undercoat varies depending on the climate . On the head, ears and front of forelegs and below hocks hair is short and smooth . On the backs of the front limbs moderate, and on the buttocks abundant feathers . Mane and frill moderate , more obvious in males than in females. Not a typical coat is a serious flaw .
Color. All colors are bright, clean and vibrant . Colors are blue merle , red merle , solid black and solid red ( red) , all with or without white markings and / or zhelovato brown ( copper ) spots in any order location. All the colors around the ears and eyes dominates any color other than white . Line white collar does not extend beyond the withers . White wool say on the neck, chest, legs , face, markings may be on his head and a white band at the bottom of the housing up to 4 inches ( 10 cm) from the horizontal line at the elbow . White fur on the head should not dominate , and the eyes must be fully surrounded by a different color and pigment. Merlot tend to become darker with age.
Movement. Smooth , free and easy , showing the speed of movement and well-balanced stride . Front and rear legs move straight and parallel to the center line of the body ; with increasing speed legs (front and rear ) converge toward the center line of gravity of the dog , while the topline remains flat.
Size. Preferred height at the withers for males from 20 to 23 inches (51 to 58.5 cm) ; for females from 18 one 21 -inch ( 45.5 to 53.5 cm). However, the size should not take precedence over quality.