31/01/2023
BREED STANDARD
The Burke Herding Dog should be a very biddable and willing to listen and learn dog, should never show aggression towards humans or other animals out side of force used when working with livestock in which it is acceptable to be forceful. A Burke Herding Dog should never be used for protection work and as such should never be outwardly aggressive towards anyone. The breed should be a joyous and friendly dog, with desire to both work and play, it shall be of moderate energy with the working line more energetic. The dog should be easily handled by all ages.
The dog should not be timid or fearful of humans or situations they are in. Any fearful dogs shall not be to breeding standard unless under socialized by owners or breeder. In which case the breeder will no longer be permitted to participate in the program. Only dogs of sound personality and temperament may be considered of quality.
Size:
Females should weigh between 50-70 pounds,
Males should weigh between 60-80 pounds,
There shall not nor should there be any "mini" "toy" or other variations of the breed. They are breed for their size to be working and service dogs. No dog that is far to small for the standard shall be used. Any dog that is smaller than appropriate shall be altered and not bred.
There is no nor will there be a miniature or toy variety.
Coat:
The coat should be a medium to rough coat, double coated and thick, not to course and not to soft,
To smooth of a coat is considered a unwanted trait, the coat should be easily groomed with daily to weekly brushing to maintain a mat free coat.
Height:
The final goal is dogs of 22-27 inches.
Head:
A smooth transition from nose to stop, with mild to medium stop, a bold and prominent stop is acceptable in first generation dogs but should not be accepted in later generations.
The ears shall be pricked, tipped, or at a light flop. Ears that are a fault in all generations after the second include flopped ears like that of a retriever or hound. Ears should be able to show emotion and easily seen.
The muzzle should be narrow and not square, not as long as that of the rough collie.
The eyes should be bright and clear, all eye colors shall be acceptable.
Tail:
the tail should be docked(optional for non working/breeding dogs but discouraged) a simple dock not to short, mid length is most desirable. A flowing bit of feathering off the tail is desired but not a fault,
The undocked tail, should be a longer length, minimal curling of the tail, a overly curled tail is undesired, a undocked tail should have flowing feather like fur. The ending of the tail should be tipped in most colors except solid coats.
Legs:
The leg shall be lean and powerful, with the hind legs having feathering along them. Dew claws should be removed for working dogs as to avoid injury while on the job, all back dew claws shall be removed regardless of classification of dog.
Body:
The body should have lean, never fat, muscles and some bones may be seen, dogs that are unable to maintain a healthy weight be it to slim or to thick are a fault. The breed should never be over weight, it should have a narrow built chest, not as narrow as the rough collie or borizoi but not as wide as that of a retriever.
Colors:
The breed may come in a combination of different colors and patterns, the only colors not acceptable at this time are double Merle dogs, those will not be accepted into the program or be considered part of the breed, any breeder found creating double Merle dogs will be banned and all their dogs removed from the program and black listed.
Desired coats are, tri colored patterns of any combination, black and white, Merle of any color variety. White piebald with various color markings. Sable, sable and white, cream and white, chocolate, chocolate and white, shaded red and white,
Undesirable colors would be solid coats of white(which will not be accepted into the breed group) or solid coats of black which would be a fault.
