Published by the North American Miniature Australian Shepherd Club of
the USA
as adopted by the membership in May, 2002
GENERAL APPEARANCE: The Miniature Australian Shepherd is a
well-balanced herding dog of small to medium size.
Bone is also moderate and in proportion to body size. 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.
Disqualifications: Toy like features
(i.e. domed head, bulging eyes, fine bone)
Merle bitch with Tri dog
in background. Trim color is optional and not to be preferred
CHARACTER: The Miniature Australian Shepherd 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 towards 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.
TEETH: A full complement of strong, white teeth meet in a scissor
bite.
An even bite is a fault. Teeth broken or missing by
accident are not penalized.
Disqualification: Undershot bites; overshot bites exceeding
one-eighth (1/8) 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.
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 (1/4) to one-half (1/2) above the base.
Severe Faults: Prick or hound-type ears
Prick ear
Hound ear
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, setting
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 bobtail
or docked.
FOREQUARTERS: The shoulder blades (scapula) 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 approximately 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: Width of hindquarters approximately
equal to the width of the forequarters at the shoulders.
The angulation of the pelvis and 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 quality 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.
Severe fault: Non-typical coats
COLOR: All colors are
strong, clear and rich.
The recognized colors are blue merle, red (liver) merle, solid black,
and solid red (liver)
all with or without white markings and/or tan (copper) points
with no order of preference.
The blue merle and black have black pigmentation on nose, lips and
eye-rims.
Reds and red merles have liver pigmentation on nose, lips and eye rims.
Butterfly nose should not be faulted under the age of one year.
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 at 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
top line remains firm and level.
SIZE: Height for dogs and bitches is 14 inches up to
18 inches at the top of withers.
Quality not to be sacrificed in favor of size within the
guidelines of this breed standard.
Severe fault under 14 inches and over 18 inches.
For Preferred height read Breed Standard Guidelines Booklet
Disqualification's:
Monorchidism and Cryptorchidism
Toy like features (i.e. domed
head, bulging eyes, fine bone)
Other than recognized colors, white body
splashes, Dudley nose.
Viciousness
Undershot bites; overshot bites exceeding
one-eighth (1/8) inch