Australian Shepherd

Pastoral

Coat

Solid:
Merle: Red or blue merle (strict). Minimal Harlequin Merle is also accepted.
Tan: Any of the above colours with or without markings in the traditional or creeping (minimal) pattern.
Masking: A mask is allowed (standard mask). The mask is and matches the pigment of the rest of the dog (black in black dogs, liver in livers).
White Markings: Any of the above markings may have as trim or in the irish spotting pattern. White on the face must not predominate and/or completely surround the eyes. Slight ticking on the muzzle and/or legs is allowed. White is not allowed to be present on the sides of the body, only as part of a collar or on the undersides. White on the collar, chest and forelegs may extend backwards for the width of the dogs eyeball beyond the withers, and white on the undersides may extend upwards to a line drawn from the point of the elbow to a point the height of an eyeball above the tuck, all without fault. White may also extend into the yellow area up to the red line as shown but is faulted to the degree to which the yellow area is infringed. White on the hindleg is subject to the usual Irish Spotting rules. The Red dog shown provides an example of what the maximum unfaulted white extension might look like on a dog.

Eyes

in blacks and blue merles, in livers and red merles. Blue and odd eyes are allowed without fault in all colours.

Nose

in blues and blue merles, in livers and red merles.
Merles may have up to 25 % , but the less spots the better. More than 25 % is faulted, more than 50 % is DQed. Flesh on any non-merle is DQ.

Faults

White extension from collar, chest, forelegs or undersides into the yellow area up to the red line shown in the diagram. 25 - 50 % flesh spots on a merle dog's nose. Incorrect nose/eye color.

Disqualifications

White extension from collar, chest, forelegs or undersides beyond the red line shown in the diagram. Also any white spots or patches in the yellow area or beyond the red line that are totally surrounded by colour. White surrounding the eyes. More than 50 % flesh nose on a merle dog. Flesh nose on a black or liver dog.

Varieties

Black, Red, Blue Merle, Red Merle

Notes

Despite its name, this is an american breed. It does however have sheepdogs imported from Australia in its history, and is believed to be related to the pyrenean sheepdog, which it closely resembles, as well as other herders, like the australian cattle dog. The australian shepherd, often known simply as the aussie, is a good herder and watchdog, sometimes said to be better at herding cattle, rather than sheep. It was recognized by the AKC in 1993.

The aussie should be a medium size breed, slightly rectangular, very agile and lively. The head should be substantional, the muzzle and skull should be the same length, the eyes with a lively expression. The ears are triangular and set high. The neck is of medium length, powerful and slightly arched. The chest is deep, the back strong and straight, with slight tuck up. The tail can be bobbed, docked or natural. Natural tails can be short or long. The coat is of medium length, straight or wavy, weather resistant and longer on the neck, where a thick ruff is fomed, on the backside of the legs and the underside of the body.

Breed Files

Filename: Aussie
Offset: 2507
Base: Dalmatian
SCP: Dalmatian
Accepted: September 12, 2018
Notes:

Filename: Abno Aussie
Offset: 6C91
Base: Dalmatian
SCP: Great Dane
Accepted: January 2, 2015
Notes: Modified version of the Abno file with additional tail length variations. The longest variation lacks only the tip of the tail - these dogs are allowed to lack otherwise required white tailtip markings.

Filename: Abno Aussie
Offset: 6C91
Base: Dalmatian
SCP: Great Dane
Accepted: July 22, 2010
Notes: 5 addballz tail variations, liplinez, 2nd gens might have slightly fuzzier legs

Filename: Australian Shepherd
Offset: DF64
Base: Dalmatian
SCP: Dalmatian
Accepted: July 1, 2008
Notes: Three coat heaviness variations, four tail carriage variations (tails can be full or bobbed, or the dog can be tailless). Optional liplines and claws. 2nd gens may have slightly fuzzier ears and/or less fuzzy frontlegs and/or cheeks. When Abno aussies are bred with this file in, the offspring may have slightly higher rears than this file normally does.

Filename: Australian Shepherd
Offset: DF64
Base: Dalmatian
SCP: Dalmatian
Accepted: April 1, 2006
Notes: Comes with several body length, leg length and coat size variations, and may be tailed - All are equally accepted.

Filename: Australian Shepherd
Offset: DF64
Base: Dalmatian
SCP: Dalmatian
Accepted: April 1, 2006
Notes: Has lip outline variations (no outlines, jowl outlines and lip linez), four tail variations, two coat variations and male/female ruff thickness variations. May be unsuitable for obedience.

Filename: FTKAussie
Offset: B103
Base: Dalmatian
SCP: Dalmatian
Accepted: February 28, 2006
Notes: Version 3 of the Finishing Touch file. Includes light and heavy coat variations (light shown - heavily coated dogz are also slightly taller), as well as 4 tail variations (up, down, bob, none) and two ear types. Optional claws, can have one or two nostrils. Note that this file does have tan vent spots but they are usually not visible due to the fur and tail.

Filename: FTKAussie
Offset: B103
Base: Dalmatian
SCP: Dalmatian
Accepted: January 1, 2006
Notes:

Filename: FTKAussie
Offset: B103
Base: Dalmatian
SCP: Dalmatian
Accepted: September 16, 2004
Notes: Version 2 of the Finishing Touch file. Comes with four tail types (bobtailed, tailless, default PF.Magic tail or addball droptail) and two different earsets. Has slightly angled legs that do not affect the movements.

Filename: Australian Shepherd
Offset: E22E
Base: Dalmatian
SCP: Dalmatian
Accepted: September 11, 2004
Notes: Comes with different ruff sizes and stomach feathering amount, as well as a longer or shorter snout.