Australianpaimenkoira

FCI:

Australian Shepherd Group I. - Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs, Section 1 - Sheepdogs. Recognized in 1996.

General Appearance:

The Australian Shepherd is docile, versatile and quick-witted. As a companion dog is absolutely reliable, balanced, good natured, very intelligent, smart and easy to use. It should never be aggressive, if such this breed is not well trained, owner is not able to manage, training and education is not correct, too hard and strict.

Temperament & Behaviour:

It likes learning, if it training is mildly effective, it does not make any problems. It needs a lot of movement, full of energy and still requires some work. Suitable are different games, for example. Ball, long walks, training in agility, frisbee, flyball. It's after the work is still typical shepherd who stands warily guards and perseverance can work with the herd tirelessly throughout the day. Australian Shepherd may be a rescue dog, guide for the blind or a guide dog for the disabled.

"Own" people is absolutely true and is firmly fixed on them. Courage makes it a reliable defensive dog owner and its family. Because it is based socially, getting along well with other dogs and other small domestic pets. The children have a good relationship, but it must be used them   since its childhood. It is for owners who are active and willing to play with it, it is very playful, and this property last him until old age. During the first meeting with an unknown person may be somewhat restrained, but this trait can systematically stifle early socialization, to completely eliminate. Persons with whom it will be friends, however, usually chooses itself.

It's not a dog that would be satisfied with a few fifteen minute walks per day. Necessary is also a mental activity that he can secure e.g. a regular practice of one of the dog sports. The main problem is to avoid boredom, because such a condition could be negatively reflected in its behaviour, then it becomes nervous, annoyed, less controllable and potentially destructive.

The breed is deal for owners living an active life, energetic and vigorous. Like other shepherds it is happiest when accompanied by a group of people out for a walk when held everyone together nicely. If anyone off trying to get it back as soon as possible and get used to underline its claim pinch teeth into the Achilles tendon insertion. Punish it for such actions is not correct, as it is the innate response. It can be within the early socialization and systematic training effectively and effortlessly absorbed.

Body:

Australian Shepherd is a medium sized dog balanced and strong body, slightly rectangular body frame, with reasonably strong bones. It is attentive and animated, lithe and active, well-muscled but never awkward or cumbersome. The body length should be bigger than the height. Preference is given withers between 51-58 cm males and 46-53 cm females.

The head should be clean contoured lines, it is strong and dry. Its overall size appropriate to the size of the body. The skull is above flat to slightly arched, sometimes with slightly marked occipital protuberance. The frontal slope is steep, well-defined. Muzzle should be the same length or slightly shorter than the skull and away from the base of the nose tapers slightly at the end is rounded.

Dogs with coat blue merle and black have black nose as well as the lips, and eye rims. Individuals with coat red merle and brown nose will be liver brown colour as well as the lips, and eye rims. For individuals with merle colour are allowed on the nose of small pink spots, which the males and females older than 1 year shall not exceed 25% of its surface. The earlobes are triangular, of moderate size and thickness, set high in the heat of passion forward or sideways dropped.

Teeth should be completed, consisting of strong white teeth. The bite can be a scissor or pincer. The eyes are almond-shaped and may be neither sunken nor bulging. They have brown, blue or amber colour. Also, any combination of these colours are permitted including isolated spots and mottling of the iris. The expression is alert, intelligent and eager, the view should be keen but friendly.

The neck should be strong, moderately long, slightly arched, flows into the shoulders. Topline of body straight and strong, level and firm from withers to hip bumps. The croup should be slightly sloping.

The tail may be long or natural shorten. When docked (which is possible only in states where there is an act prohibited by law on protection of animals) or congenitally short, not longer than 10 cm.

Chest not too wide but deep, so it reaches to the elbows. Long ribs that form it are appropriately rounded so not barrel nor flat. The forelegs are long, flat, moderately sloping. Forearms are straight, strong. Pasterns should be moderately long and when viewed from the side very slightly askew. Dewclaws on forelegs may be removed. Feet are oval shaped, with tightly closed, adequately arched toes and strong and flexible padded.

The hindquarters comply with angulation of about 90 degrees. Knees are clearly marked, hocks moderately bent, short vamp. Dewclaws on the hind legs must be removed. The movement is smooth, free and easy, agile, balanced and spacious, pointing forward.

Coat is moderately long, medium coarse to the touch, straight to wavy, resistant to extreme weather. Coat colour may be blue merle, black, red merle, brown with white markings or tan markings or without them. The white colour may be on the neck (which consists of partial or full "collar") from the front of the chest, legs, bottom on the muzzle, on the head (blaze) and at the bottom of the chest, which stretches at elbow level max. 10 cm towards the back. White collar shall not extend beyond the withers. On its head is not white predominate, around the eyes should be pigmented hair. For merle with advancing age, the colour darkens. The coat requires regular care (combing).

Faults from the requirements of the standard is considered a fault and must be judged strictly according to their severity with regard to health and well-being. To negative defects include aggression or shyness, overshot or undershot jaw of more than 3 mm (teeth missing or broken by accident do not warrant penalties), white spots on body between withers and tail, on sides between elbows and back of hindquarters in all colours, more than 25% of the spots on the nose, pricked or hanging ears, but also atypical coat.