He has a coat of moderate length and coarseness. He has a docked tail or a natural bobbed tail. Quality is not to be sacrificed in favor of size. Measuring from breastbone to rear of thigh and top of the withers to the ground the Australian Shepherd is slightly longer than tall. Structure in the male reflects masculinity without coarseness.
Bitches appear feminine without being slight of bone.
The head is clean cut, strong and dry. Overall size should be in proportion to the body. The muzzle is equal in length or slightly shorter than the back skull. Viewed from the side the top line of the back skull and muzzle form parallel planes, divided by a moderate, well defined stop. The muzzle tapers little from base to nose and is rounded at the tip.