Page 136 - Aussie Magazine no1, 2023

Informative

better than others. And once you’ve found those,
the next batch needs to be “even better.”

Since appearance is key, there is a tendency to
exaggerate any trait that is considered desirable:
Size, coat, bone, muzzles, ears, even movement.
Biggest, smallest, longest, shortest, highest,
lowest, densest, curliest, or whatever – any “–Est”
can become the focus of the siren song of show
ring fashion. As a result, breed appearance can
change. Look at photographs of the top dogs in
your breed of the 19th century, the 1920s or 30s,
and today. In most breeds, you will see marked
differences between those early “greats” and
current quality dogs. My breed doesn’t’ have such
a long history, but even in the Aussie’s short span,
you can see a difference. The first dog to win an
ASCA National Specialty was a blue-merle male
named Wildhagen’s Dutchman of Flintridge aka
DUSTY. He was used by Dog World Magazine with a particular look does a lot of winning, or
as their exemplar of the Australian Shepherd wins a major event. Everybody else wants to win,
standard in the 1970s. He still conforms well too, so they try to breed dogs that look like the big
with the standard but the breed fashion has winner, generally by breeding to it or its relatives.
changed and he would no longer outdistance his
competition as he did in his day. Smoke and Mirrors

Most Aussies, particularly those that are shown Fashion sometimes can lead to skulduggery in
in conformation, meet the standards. However, order to meet it. The taping and glueing of ears
fashion trends do occur and some fly in the face to achieve a particular set is clearly artificial but
of what the breed standards describe. A current not sufficiently so to spur action by those who
favourite in some circles is “long and low.” A dog administer the rules. There are unscrupulous
that is distinctly longer than tall due to a somewhat individuals, however, who will resort to surgery
shorter leg than is proper. The standards are very if less draconian measures don’t work. This is
clear in stating the Aussie should be slightly longer blatantly against the rules though the perpetrators
than tall. The look has been around for at least generally won’t get caught.
twenty years but of late it has gained popularity
even though it does not meet the standard. Australian Shepherds are supposed to have
moderate sized ears that break forward or to the
With very few exceptions, dog breeds developed side (rose ear.) The ASCA standard specifies that
to move groups of livestock in more-or-less open the break should be a quarter to a half along the
terrain are slightly longer than tall and have length from the base. The AKC standard only
sufficient leg to move quickly and efficiently over notes that they break. Very high-breaking ears
distances, across rough ground, and possess are not considered desirable so aren’t an issue.
the physical dexterity for manoeuvring around However, the rose ear – totally acceptable under
potentially dangerous stock. For this reason, the both standards – is also generally disliked, hence
ASCA standard states: “The point of the elbow is the taping, gluing, and occasional skulduggery.
set under the withers and is equidistant from the
withers to the ground.” The problem with all this dedicated effort to get
what is considered the prettier ear set is that
Fashions arise because some dog or line of dogs if significant numbers of people are altering

136 | A Worldwide Magazine for the Aussie • Issue 1/2023