| PEACE CREEK MINI AUSSIES |
MINIATURE AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD BREED STANDARD |
Miniature Australian Shepherd Club of America
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. Fault: Undue shyness. Disqualification:
Viciousness.
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. Disqualification: Wet flews.
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. Disqualifications: Offset pupil.
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. Prick and hound-type ears are severe faults.
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, natural bobbed or
docked.
Forequarters
The shoulder blades (scapulae) are long and flat, close set at the withers, approximately two
fingers width at a natural stance, and are well laid back at an angle approximating forty-five (45)
degrees to the ground. The upper arm (humerus) is attached at an approximate right angle to
the shoulder line with forelegs dropping straight, perpendicular to the ground. The elbow joint is
equidistant from the ground to the withers. The legs are straight and powerful. Pasterns are
short, thick and strong, but still flexible, showing a slight angle when viewed from the side. Feet
are oval shaped, compact, with close-knit, well-arched toes. Pads are thick and resilient; nails
short and strong. Dewclaws may be removed.
Hindquarters
Strong and muscular. Width of hindquarters approximately equal to the width of the
forequarters at the shoulders. The angulation of the pelvis and the upper thigh (femur)
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 metatarsi are short,
perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other when viewed from the rear. Feet are oval
shaped, compact, with close-knit, well-arched toes. Pads are thick and resilient; nails short and
strong. Rear dewclaws are removed.
Coat
Of medium texture, straight to slightly wavy, weather resistant, of moderate length with an
undercoat. The quantity of undercoat varies with climate. Hair is short and smooth on the head,
outside of ears, front of forelegs and below the hocks. Backs of forelegs are moderately
feathered; breeches are moderately full. There is a moderate mane and frill, more pronounced in
dogs than bitches. Non-typical coats are severe faults.
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. Disqualifications: Other than recognized colors, white body
splashes, Dudley nose.
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. Disqualification: Below 14″ at the withers.
Other Disqualifications
Toy-like characteristics (i.e. 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.
Panda
Oct 1-2, 2011
Orlando, FL
Oct 1-2, 2011
Orlando, FL
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