BREED STANDARD FOR THE
ENGLISH SHEPHERD
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GENERAL
APPEARANCE:
The English Shepherd is a dog
of medium size, presenting a picture of sturdy balance
and harmonious proportions built for speed and
maneuverability, he is alert and his face shows a high
degree of intelligence. In order to best determine his
total value he should be judged in two classes. First, in
his ability to work livestock in the field. Second, on
the bench for type, balance, soundness, gait and
temperament.
HEAD
Medium length with moderately defined stop.
Broad and slightly rounded between the ears without a
peak or domed in the skull. Muzzle from tip of nose to
stop about as long as the distance between stop and
occiput and an equal distance across top of skull between
inner corners of bases of ears. Jaws deep and powerful.
Teeth strong and regular with incisor bite, overbite and
underbite should be penalized. Muzzle moderately broad
but neither wide and stubby nor thin and
"snippy". Flews straight with no sloppy droop.
Nose always black. Eyes dark brown and moderately round,
having a slightly oblique set, but, not almond shaped or
protruding. They should express character with a strong,
intelligent look. Ears wide at base, lying close to the
head, folded over at least 3/4 down from the top.
NECK
Strong and rounded, moderately outstretched.
BODY
Backline horizontal, neither roached nor
sway-backed. Shoulder set obliquely, with an angulation
to the perpendicular of 45 degrees considered ideal. Ribs
well sprung and chest extending down in depth
approximately to elbows to provide ample lung capacity.
Body length from point of shoulder to point of buttock
about the same as height to withers. Chest moderately
broad with at least four inches between front legs. loins
strong and deep with flank not tucked up.
LEGS
Forelegs straight when viewed from
front or sides. Back legs well boned and muscled, placed
well apart. Axes of back legs appear almost straight when
viewed from the side. Sicle hocks are a serious fault as
are cow hocks. Feet slightly oval and compact, toes
together and well arched, well padded and tough.
TAIL
Moderately long with tip of bone reaching to the
hock joint. At rest, held low with a sweep outward at the
end. When excited, held straight out or elevated not more
than thirty degrees above back. Curving upward near the
end, but never straight up and rolled over the back.
Natural bobtails are acceptable. Bobtails should be six
to eight inches long, carried level with the back line.
GAIT
Viewed from the front, the front feet track close
together but do not cross over. The gait should give the
impression of ability to change direction
instantaneously. The dog moves ahead in a straight line
with effortless motion and without a rolling gait. Viewed
from the rear, the hind legs are straight from the hocks
to the ground and move so as to take the weight under the
center of gravity. The gait is smooth without choppiness.
COAT
Abundant with long, moderately coarse straight
or wavy hair except on face, skull and leg. kinky coats
are not desirable. Front legs are feathered on the backs
and the tail is plumelike. Heavy manes and heavy frills
on underside of neck and on breast are not desirable. The undercoat is soft and fine, affording good protection
in cold weather.
COLOR
The four predominant color patterns are: Black
and Tan, Tri-Color, sable and White, and Black and White.
In none of the color patterns is white permitted to be
unbalanced to a degree of being splotchy looking or of
covering more than 30% of the body. Solid White coats,
Solid Black coats, Whites with Black or Sable spots, Blue
Merles, Red dogs and mixtures are not desirable.
SIZE
Dogs 19 to 23 inches with preference for 20 and 21.
Bitches 18 to 21 inches with preference for 19 or 20.
WEIGHT
Dogs 45 to 60 pounds, Bitches 40 to 50 pounds.
DEW CLAWS
Dew Claws are typical but dogs will not be
penalized for not having them.
DISQUALIFICATION
In grown dogs, a cryptorchid is disqualified, Monorchids
are not disqualified, but monorchidism should be
penalized.