GENERAL APPEARANCE

The North American Shepherd is well balanced solid and muscular intelligent working dog of strong herding and guarding instinct that is slightly longer than tall, of small to medium size, with moderate bone, in colouring that offers variety and individuality. He is attentive and animated, exhibiting stamina with wonderful agility. He has coat of moderate length and the identifying character of a natural bob tail, docked tail or natural long tail.

CHARTER:

The (North American Shepherd is intelligent, easily trained with strong herding and guardian instincts.   He is a loyal companion and has the stamina to work all day. With an even disposition,.  He may be somewhat reserved in initial meetings with strangers and although he takes charge while working he is not vicious toward people or other animals.

Fault::  Undue shyness.

Disqualification: Viciousness

HEAD:
Clean cut, strong and in proportion to the body.  The top skull is flat to slightly rounded with its length and width being each equal to the length of the muzzle but the muzzle could be slightly shorter than the back skull while  in balance and proportioned to the rest of the head. The muzzle tapers slight to a rounded tip.  The stop is moderate but well-defined.

TEETH:

A full complement of strong white teeth should meet in a scissors bite or may meet in a level bite.

Missing teeth accepted only with veterinarian’s explanation of accident or illness causing missing teeth.

Disqualification:  Undershot and overshot more than 1/8th inch.

EYES:
Expressive, showing attentiveness and intelligence, alert and eager. Gaze should be keen but friendly.  Almond shaped eyes in various colors; brown, blue, green, amber or any variation or combination thereof including flecks and marbling with no preference. The blue merles and blacks have black pigmentation on eye rims. The red merles and reds have liver (brown) pigmentation on eye rims.
 

Disqualification:  Offset pupil, eye rims lacking appropriate rim coloration and protruding (bulging) or sunken.

EARS:
Set on high at the side of the head, triangular and slightly rounded at the tip of moderate size that show expression.  The ears at full attention may break slightly forward and over from one-quarter to one-half above the base or to the side as rose ears.
 

Fault::  Prick and hanging hound ears

NECK, TOPLINE, BODY:
The neck is firm and of medium length in proportion to the body settling well into the shoulders.  The body is firm and muscular.  Topline appears level, straight and firm from withers to croup. The croup may slope slightly, with ideal being 30 degrees from the horizontal.  Docked tails are straight, docked to no more than 2.5 inches in length. The natural bobbed and long tail sets low following line of croup, may have a slight upward swirl at the end like a shepherd's crook.  Of moderate length. Well feathered. In overall balance with the rest of the dog.
 

Disqualification: Tails carried over the back. 

Incorrect Tail Sets

FOREQUARTERS:
The shoulder blades are long and flat, close set at the withers and well laid back. 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.  Legs are straight and powerful, the bone is strong oval rather than round.  Pasterns are short, thick and strong but flexible showing a slight angle when viewed from the side.  Feet are oval shaped, compact and close knit with well arched toes.  Dewclaws may be removed.

HINDQUAERTERS:
Strong and muscular.  Width of hindquarters approximately equal to the width of the forequarters at the shoulders.  The angulations of the pelvis and the upper thigh (femur) corresponds to the angulations of the shoulder blade and upper arm forming and approximate right angle.  Stifles are clearly defined and hock joints moderately bent.   The hocks are short,  perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other  when viewed from the rear.  Feet are oval shaped,  compact and close knit  with well arched toes.   Rear  dewclaws maybe removed.

COAT:
Medium texture, straight to slightly wavy, of moderate length. The undercoat varies in quantity with variations in climate, and may or may not exhibit undercoat.  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 in bitches.

Fault:: Non-typical coats.

COLOR:
The recognized colors are black, blue merle, red or red merle with or without white markings and/or tan (copper/cream) points with no preference. White is acceptable on the neck (either in part or as a full collar), chest, legs, muzzle under parts, blaze on head and white should not rise up onto the side past the back of the front elbow no more than 2  inch of white should run outside or outline the outside of the stifle. The hairline of a white collar does not exceed the point of the wither at the skin. On all colors, the area of the ear should be surrounded in color other than white and the eyes likewise with color other than white touching the inside eye corner.  White on the head should not predominate, and the eyes must be fully surrounded by colour and pigment. Merles characteristically become darker with increasing age. The blue and black have black pigmentation on nose, lips and eye rims with the reds to have liver pigmentation on nose, lips and eye rims.  Butterfly nose should not be faulted under one year of age.

Fault::  More than 1/4th butterfly nose and more stifle white than standard allows.

Disqualifications:  Other than recognized colors, white body splashes, Dudley nose.

GAIT:
Smooth, easy with a well balanced ground covering stride. Exhibiting great agility of movement.  Fore and hind legs move straight and parallel with the center line of the body while the topline remains firm and level. As speed increases, the feet (front and rear) converge toward the center line of gravity of the dog. Joints are not to bend or twist while in motion.

SIZE:
There are two separate size divisions (all measurements are heights at withers):

Fourteen Inch--which shall be for dogs not exceeding 14 inches in height.
Eighteen Inch--which shall be for dogs over 14 but not exceeding 18 inches in height.
There is no preference for size within each division.

Disqualifications: Under 10 inches, over 18 inches

Other Disqualifications: Domed head, bulging eyes,  monorchidism or cryptorchidism.