Ancient British Shepherd Dog (detailed introduction)

　　The Ancient British Shepherd Dog has flowing, fluffy hair that not only shows its noble status but also resists harsh cold climates. Male dogs have a maned coat, while female dogs do not. The males appear strong without unnecessary aggressiveness. Females are gentle in temperament, but their bodies must not be weak. The females’ backs may be slightly longer than males.
　　The back of the ancient British shepherd must not be too long, as an excessive length can cause weakness and inability to perform normal work, thus losing the value as a working dog. At the same time, a body that is too compact is also unfavorable for a dog that is meant for dragging. Breeders should adopt a compromise approach, aiming to develop an ancient shepherd with a lively temperament, medium build, a body that is not too long but muscular, a chest that is not too deep, well-extended ribs, a sturdy neck, straight front limbs, and a very strong loin.
　　【Body Shape】
　　Size — Male height (distance from the highest point of the scapula to the ground) is above 55.8 cm; female height is above 53.3 cm.
　　Proportion — Body length (distance from the front end of the scapula to the ischial tuberosity) is almost equal to the shoulder height.
　　Build — Muscular and with sufficient bone mass.
　　【Head】
　　Eyes — Brown, blue, or one brown and one blue. Amber or yellow eyes are not acceptable.
　　Ears — Medium-sized, lying flat on both sides of the head.
　　Skull — Wide and preferably square-shaped. The upper edge of the eye sockets is moderately arched. The entire skull is covered with hair. The depression boundary between the forehead and the muzzle is clear.
　　Lower Jaw — Long, sturdy, and square.
　　Nose — Black and large.
　　Teeth — Strong, large, and even. Pincer bite or scissors bite.
　　【Neck ◆ Backline and Trunk】
　　Neck — Long and gently arched.
　　Backline — Slightly lower at the scapula than at the waist, but without signs of weakness or looseness.
　　Note: The backline is a characteristic unique to this breed, distinguishing it from other breeds.
　　Trunk — Short and compact; the hips are wider than the shoulders; ribs are well supported; chest is deep and wide.
　　Tail — Docked, cut close to the body.
　　【Front Limbs】
　　Shoulder blades slope backward and have narrow tips. Front limbs cover and have sufficient bone mass. The distance from the scapula to the elbow is almost equal to the distance from the elbow to the ground.
　　【Hind Limbs】
　　Rounded, muscular, with low hock joints. When standing, viewed from any angle, the metatarsals are perpendicular to the ground.
　　【Feet】
　　Small and round, toes arched, pads hard and thick, toenails pointing straight forward.
　　【Coat】
　　Thick, texture rather hard, not straight but very fluffy, and must not be curly. The quality and texture of the coat are more important than the quantity of hair. A V-±B or soft coat is a fault. The undercoat is waterproof before trimming and seasonal shedding. The hair on the thighs and hips is denser and longer than other parts. Coat contours and texture can be groomed and cleaned artificially, but feet and buttocks must not be trimmed.
　　【Color】
　　Any depth of gray, gray-white, blue, or blue-black, with or without white markings, is acceptable. Any brown or pale yellow is a serious fault.
　　【Gait】
　　At a trot, movement is relaxed and powerful, with a long stride and low step frequency. When running, elastic, and can also pace at low speed.