Breed Standard

BOLD LEGEND'S MY CLASSIS BEAU OF ABINGTON "BEAU"

BEST IN SHOW RESERVE IABCA 2010 DESERT SIEGER 

TASAA BREED STANDARD
Published by the Toy Australian Shepherd Association of America

GENERAL APPEARANCE
The first visual image should be that of an Australian Shepherd, no other breed should come to mind. The breed name “Toy Australian Shepherd” refers solely to the size and in no way implies “toyish” features. The Toy Australian Shepherd is a small to medium sturdy herding dog that could do a day’s work and not appear weak, spindly or course. Bone and muscle must be in proportion to and enhanced by the dogs weight and structure. His body is to be slightly longer than tall (ratio 10:9). His coat of moderate length and coarseness with coloring that offers variety and individuality. An identifying characteristic is the natural bobtail or docked tail. The males should look masculine and the females should look feminine. The Toy Australian Shepherd is loyal, attentive and animated showing strength, stamina with unusual agility.

CHARACTER
The Toy Australian Shepherd is intelligent. He is primarily a working dog of strong herding and guardian instincts. He is an exceptional companion and is extremely versatile and easy to train. He should perform any task with enthusiasm and style. He is reserved with strangers but does not exhibit shyness. Aggressiveness or viciousness toward people or animals is not tolerated.
DISQUALIFICATION: VICIOUSNESS
FAULT: SHYNESS

SIZE
The height for dogs and bitches is 10 – 14 inches at the top of the withers. Dogs or bitches that are 14 inches or over will be considered as long as they are within the guidelines. The type, overall balance and correctness are to outweigh the height differences presented within the breed.

HEAD
The head should be clean cut, strong 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 rounded tip. The stop is moderate but well defined.
SEVERE FAULTS: DOMED SKULL
FAULTS: LACKING BOTTON JAW, WHEN VIEWED FROM THE SIDE

EYES
The dog’s eyes should be very expressive showing attentiveness and intelligence. Clear almond shaped and in moderate size, set a little obliquely, neither prominent nor sunken with dark pupils, well defined and perfectly positioned. Color is brown, blue, amber or any variation or combination thereof, including flecks and marbling.

EARS
The ears are set high at the side of the head. They are 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. When alert, the ear should tip forward at the base and fold one half to one quarter. The ear may be carried back against the head when travelling (rose ear).
SEVERE FAULTS: PRICK OR HOUND EARS

TEETH
A full complement of strong white teeth should meet in a scissor bite. An even bite is not a fault. Teeth broken or missing by accident should not be penalized.
DISQUALIFICATION: UNDERSHOT BITE OR OVERSHOT JAW GREATER THAN 1/16TH INCH.

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 top line 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 (30) degrees from the horizontal. The tail is straight, not to exceed (2) inches, natural bobtail or docked.

FOREQUARTERS
The shoulder blade (scapula) is long and flat, close set at the withers approximately one to one and a half fingers in width in accordance to the size of the dog at a natural stance. The shoulder is well laid back at an angle approximately (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 equal distance 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 are short and strong, Dewclaws may be removed.

HINDQUARTERS
The width of the hindquarters should be approximately equal to the width of the forequarters at the shoulders. The angulations of the pelvis and upper thigh (femur) corresponds to the angulations of the shoulder blade and forming an approximate right angle to the upper arm. 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.
FAULT: STRAIGHT IN THE STIFLE, LONG TOES OR OPEN FEET, COW HOCKS, STRAIGHT HOCKS, SICKLE HOCKS OR LACK OF MUSCLING, STANDING WIDE.

COAT
The coat should be of medium texture, straight to slightly wavy, weather resistant of moderate length with an undercoat. The quality of the 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, britches are moderately full. There is a moderate mane and frill, more pronounced in dogs than in bitches.
SEVERE FAULT: NON-TYPICAL COATS.

COLORS
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 or 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 white collar does not exceed the point at the withers.
DISQUALIFICATION: OTHERN THAN RECOGNIZED COLOR, PATTERN WHITES, YELLOWS AND SABLES, WHITE BODY SPLASHES, WHITE SPOTS ON THE BACK, ON THE SIDES ABOVE THE ELBOW AND BEGHIND THE POINT OF WITHERS.

GAIT
Smooth, free and easy exhibiting agility of movement with 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 the dog, while the top line remains firm and level.
FAULTS: SIDE MOVEMENT, OVER REACHIG, BACK KICK OUT, HACKNEY, PACING, SIDEWINDING, CROSSING OVER THE CENTERLINE, FRONT BODY SWIVEL AND SHOULD ROLL, REAR END SWIVELAND BODY ROLLING.
SUMMARY OF DISQUALIFICAITONS
Monorchidism/Chryptorchidism
Other than recognized coat colors or patterns, whites, yellow and sables
White body splashes
Undershot bite, Overshot bite
Viciousness, aggression toward people or animals
Under 10 inches

SEVERE FAULTS
Unsoundness
Undue shyness
Domed skull, bulging eyes, fine boned
Non typical coat texture and amount
Prick ears, hound ears
Pacing, rolling across the shoulders, back or hips

FAULTS
Shallowness of the body, ranginess, lightness of bone, poor overall proportion
Roach back, soft top line
Cow hocks, sickle hocks
Straight shoulders, lack of angulations
Stilted gait, hackney gait, splay footedness, long toes
Barrel hock
Lack of pigment around the eye rim