Aussie-Flat

The Australian Shepherd is a medium-sized, well-balanced dog that combines athleticism with agility and endurance. Males typically stand 20 to 23 inches at the withers and weigh between 50 and 65 pounds, while females measure 18 to 21 inches and weigh 40 to 55 pounds. The breed presents a slightly rectangular silhouette, being marginally longer than tall with an ideal height-to-length ratio of approximately 5:6. Their body is strongly built with moderate bone and substance, never appearing cloddy or overly light, with males exhibiting a more substantial masculine appearance and females showing a slightly more refined feminine build. The Australian Shepherd possesses a distinctive double coat designed to protect against varying weather conditions. The outer coat is medium length with straight to slightly wavy hair of moderate texture, while the dense undercoat varies in thickness depending on climate. Significant feathering appears on the backs of the forelegs, and males typically display a more pronounced mane around the neck and chest area. The breed comes in four recognized colors: blue merle, red merle, solid black, and solid red, all of which may appear with or without white markings and copper points. White markings commonly appear on the chest, legs, muzzle, and as a blaze on the face. The head of the Australian Shepherd is clean-cut with a slightly rounded skull and a moderate stop between the forehead and muzzle. The muzzle tapers slightly toward the nose, which is black in blue merle and black dogs, and liver-colored in red merle and red dogs. Perhaps the most striking feature is their expressive eyes, which can be brown, blue, amber, or any combination thereof, including marbled or flecked patterns. The ears are triangular and set high, breaking forward or to the side when alert. Some Australian Shepherds are born with a naturally bobbed tail, while others have full-length tails that are traditionally docked.

The Flat-Coated Retriever is an elegant, medium to large-sized sporting dog that combines strength with refined athleticism. Males stand 23 to 24.5 inches at the withers, while females measure 22 to 23.5 inches, with weights ranging from 60 to 80 pounds, females typically being at the lower end of that range. The breed presents a distinctive silhouette that is slightly longer than tall, with moderate bone that is flat or oval rather than round. The overall impression is one of a strong but elegant dog, never appearing cobby, short-legged, rangy, or coarse, built for both endurance and agility in the field. The coat is the breed's signature feature, lying flat and close to the body with a lustrous sheen that reflects good health and condition. The hair is straight or only slightly wavy, of medium length, and dense enough to provide protection from weather, water, and ground cover. Generous feathering adorns the ears, chest, backs of the forelegs, thighs, and underside of the tail, though never to excess. Males often display a more pronounced mane of thicker hair extending from the neck across the withers and shoulders. Only two colors are accepted in the breed standard: solid black, which is the most common, and liver. The coat's dense, water-resistant quality reflects the breed's heritage as a waterfowl retriever. The head of the Flat-Coated Retriever is long and cleanly molded, creating an impression of skull and muzzle being cast in one continuous piece. The skull is fairly flat with minimal stop, blending smoothly into the deep, strong muzzle that must be adequate to carry large game birds. The expression is intelligent and friendly, conveyed through dark brown or hazel almond-shaped eyes set well apart. The ears are pendant, relatively small, and set close to the head. The nose is large with well-opened nostrils, black in black dogs and brown in liver dogs. The neck is long and slightly arched, flowing smoothly into well-laid-back shoulders. The chest is deep and moderately broad, with a prominent forechest, while the back is strong and level. The tail is fairly straight, carried happily but not much above the level of the back.