PHENOM SHEPHERDS 

Panda Shepherd Dog Standard

GENERAL APPEARANCE

The Panda Shepherd exudes energy and appears muscled and balanced. It’s appearance is noble and intelligent. Secondary sex characteristics should be well defined.  The Panda Shepherd appears to be somewhat longer than tall, with curves rather than  angles. The Panda Shepherd has sloping withers, strong back and well-bent hocks. It moves with a speed and purpose to its gate.  This dog has the capability to herd, the capacity for agility, and the freedom of movement and stamina to do the work required of a utility dog.

        The desired TYPE is so important.  Breed TYPE should be the model and goal of breeders and judges.  Although the genetic roots are from the German Shepherd family, the Panda Shepherd is evolving from a careful selection of a companion/utility/working dog with that striking color contrast, beauty and elegance as seen both standing and in motion.  These are the factors, that make up the Panda Shepherd TYPE.

TEMPERAMENT

The Panda Shepherd has distinct personality marked by an intense expression of interest, and exudes self confidence. It should be poised, eager and alert, ready for whatever he is faced with.In his relationship with humans he should be devoted to master above all else, being observant and vigilant with strangers but not apprehensive. He should be fit and willing to serve in any capacity such as a companion, herding dog, utility dog, as his ancestors were.

Faults:  of temperament are serious, Timidity, shrinking behind handler, lack of confidence or any other display of poor character. Unprovoked aggression.

SIZE and WEIGHT

        Ideal height (at shoulder) is 24-26 inches for males and 23-25 inches for females, variations of 3 cm (I inch above or below being acceptable.  The ideal weight being 75-95 pounds for males and kg 65-85 pounds for females, keeping in mind the ideal balanced animal.

Faults:  Any animal that is so over or under height as to be outside the acceptable range is highly objectionable and considered a fault.

COAT

        The Panda Shepherd has a double coat.  The outer coat is medium length, dense, straight, harsh. and close lying.  The undercoat should be fine and dense.  The head and ears are covered with a smooth, somewhat softer hair, while the hair coverinq the legs and paws is more harsh.  At the neck, the coat is slightly longer and heavier.  A male may carry a thicker ruff then a female.  The back of the legs have a slightly longer covering of hair and there is considerably more hair on the breeches and underside of the tail.

Faults: An open coat with no undercoat.

COLOR

        The Panda Shepherd's coat color is no more than 40% pure white with the remainder being black and tan/red/silver, or sable with color covering one or both eyes as defined by the breed's name.  Other coat markings  are swirling patterns on the back of the neck and ticking of black on the muzzle and tan ticking on the legs.  The skin is pink with speckles on the toes and stomach.  The nose, lips, eye rims, and pads should be predominantly black.  It must be remembered when judging a dog, temperament, soundness and movement are more important, then coat color alone.

Faults:  The deficiency of pigment Is to be considered a serious fault, ie: dogs faded In all the following area: noses, eye rims, lips, pads.

Disqualification: Total lack of pigment. (albino)

HEAD

        The Panda Shepherd's head should be proportionate in size to the body.  Males should show masculinity without coarseness.  Bitches should show femininity without being over refined.  Both sexes should exhibit a look of intelligence and nobility.

Skull:  Viewed from the top Is wedge shaped and strong.  When viewed from the side the top line of the skull should parallel that of the muzzle and there should be a moderate stop.

Muzzel:  Strong with lips fitting tightly over a well developed jaw, viewed from above the muzzle appears wider at the stop than at the top, without cheekiness.

EYES:  Almond shape, medium size set a little obliquely, not protruding.  Color may range from ice blue to dark brown, with expression keen, intelligent and composed. Pink eyes are a disqualification.

Ears:  Moderately pointed, open to the front, erect at attention. Ideal carriage; center lines (as seen from the front) parallel and perpendicular, Ears should be proportionate to head and body.

Faults:  There should be no tendency towards overly long, narrow or a collie like head.  Insufficient stop, round or donkey skull, snipey muzzle or a receding jaw.  Soft or hanging ears.

Disqualification: Cropped or hanging ears.

TEETH

                  Scissors bite, 20 upper and 22 lower (full mouth is preferred).  Broken teeth are not considered a fault.  Over one missing premolar is a fault

Faults:  A level. bite is faulty, an overshot bite is a severe fault, an undershot bite is a disqualification.

NECK

                  Strong and muscular, clean cut without loose folds of skin, proportionate to size of head.  Except when at attention or excited, the typical carriage of head is forward rather than up, particularly In motion.

Faults:  A long, short, ewe or throaty neck.

TOPLINE

Withers:  Should be higher than and slightly sloping into the back.

Back:  The back should be straight and very strongly developed, without sag or roach, from the shoulder to croup. The back is relatively short, the length is not derived from a long back.       When standing natural the back should be virtually level.

Loin:  Viewed from the top is broad and strong. From the side the loin blends smoothly into the back without undue length between the last rib and thigh.

Croup:  Should be long and gradually sloping, flowing smoothly into a low set tail.

Faults:  A roached or sagged back. A near level croup. A dog whose hips are higher than the shoulder when standing or moving.

FOREQUARTER

Shoulder:  The shoulder blade (scapula), should be long, and well laid back, flat against the body, with its rounded upper end, at the ridge in a vertical line above the elbow.  The blades come close together at the top of the withers then slope well forward to the joint of the shoulder and upper arm (point of shoulder).  If you draw an imaginary line from the withers or top of shoulders blades to the proscenium  tip, then to the tip of the elbow it would be of equal lengths and form at almost a right angle.  This ­angulations permits the proper forward extension of the foreleg, which should meet the ground as it is fully extended forward.

Forelegs:  Straight, oval rather than round or flat.

Proportionate to size of dog, which contributes to impression of substance without grossness.  Front legs viewed from front should be straight.  Elbows are well held in with no tendency to turn in or out.  The point of the elbow lies roughly in a vertical line under point of withers.

Pasterns:   Medium length, strong and springy, ideal angulation is 25 degrees from the straight of the leg.

Faults:   Loose or loaded shoulders (bulging muscle pads) as seen from the front or pushed forward shoulder assembly.  Elbows thrown out, shoulder’s too short, or straight.  Bent legs, out of line bones, too down on pasterns.

BODY

Solid without bulkiness

Chest: Forechest well filled, Prosternum should show in front of the point of the shoulder. Chest depth is approximately 48 to 50% total height of the dog.

Ribs:  Well sprung, long, neither barrel shaped nor flat (so as not to interfere with the action of the elbows and the forelegs) carried down to the breast bone reaching to elbow.

Body Proportion:  Somewhat longer than tall, ideal proportions are 8.8 high to 10 long ie. 64 cm high [25 inches] to 74 cm [29 inches] long. Length is measured from the prosternum to the point of the buttocks.

Faults:  A bottom line tucked up in the flank, like that of Greyhound. A dog that is visibly out of proportion.

HINDQUARTER

        In length and angulations, the scapula and the pelvis roughly equals each other, and the slant of the lower thigh bones roughly approximate that of the pelvis and of the humerus.

Pelvis:  The pelvis lies tilted backward at an approximate angle of 35 degrees from the horizontal.  Whether standing four square or firmly and naturally with one ear leg extended behind the pelvis the femur drops almost vertically from the hip socket, forming an approximate 125 degrees angle with the Pelvis.  The upper and lower thigh bones are roughly the same length.

Thighs:  Both upper and lower thigh bones are broad and heavily muscled.  The stifle is well bent, its angulation must never be so steep that the dog's hocks lie directly under any part of the croup or pelvis.  Extra length of either the upper or lower  thigh can distort this angle to the extent that rear drive and follow through are impossible.  Legs are parallel to each other (as viewed from the rear).

Croup:   Long and gradually sloping, flowing smoothly into the tail.  Ideally the tail should be carried at or below the natural extension of the topline.  It is permissible to carry the tail higher, but not desirable, as long as the tail is not carried any higher than right angles to the back line.  Too level or flat a croup prevents the proper functioning of the hind quarters, that must be able to reach far under the body. A steep croup will limit rear extension of the hind quarter, interfering with the follow through.

Hock:  The hock joints are strong, clean, short, and perpendicular to the ground.  Whether in motion or at rest there is no tendency to tun in or out.  The angle at the hock is also relatively sharp.  From the rear the hind legs drop straight and parallel to each other and the feet point straight ahead.

Dew claws, if any, should be removed.

Tail:   Is bushy with the last vertebrae extending at least to the hock joint and usually below.  At rest it hangs straight down or at a slight curve.  Even in excitement the dogs should never lift the tail higher than right angles to the backline.

Faults:  Too long a stifle.  A sickle hock.  Whether in motion or in rest, there is no tendency for the hocks to turn in or out (cow or bow hocks).  A tail carried higher than a right angle to its back, a curled around tail or a tail that hooks on the end.

FEET:  Short, compact with tops well arched.  Pads thick and tough affording the dog protection over rough terrain.  Nails short and strong.

Faults: Terrier foot, hare foot, thin pads or a spread foot.

MOVEMENT

        Soundness is of paramount importance.  The action is single track, free, supple and tireless, the movement of the shoulders and forelegs with the powerful thrust of the hindquarters, in unison.  The feet travel close to the ground, and neither fore nor hind feet should lift high on either forward reach or backward push.  At full trot, the back must retain firm and level.  From the front, the legs move inward toward a center line under the body in a straight column of support from the point of shoulder to the pad.  From the rear, the legs track inward toward a center line in a straight column of support from the hip to the pad.  With the exception being at an extended trot where the over reaching hind foot will pass the diagonal front foot, this is not considered faultv unless it causes the animal to move in a crabbing fashion.  Capability of quick and sudden movement is essential.  Clean side gait, and coming and going are equally important.

Faults:   An animal with clumsy or inelegant gait or who's back is at any angle from horizontal during movement is considered a fault.  Stiltness, loaded or slack shoulders. straight shoulder placement, weakness at elbows, pasterns, or feet, (ie: running or standing on hocks or pasterns) straight stifles, cow or bow hocks or flipping the feet must be regarded as serious faults.  Also any sign of lameness. 

FAULTS

        Any deviation from the listed specifications is a fault, many of which are listed in the text.  In determining whether a fault is minor, serious, or major, these two factors should be used as a guide:

1.     The extent to which it deviates from the type

2.     The extent to which such deviation would actually affect the health or working ability of the dog.

DISQUALIFICATIONS

*       Cropped or hanging ear,

*      Docked tails

*       Monochids or cryptorchids (male dog--one or two

          undescended testicles)

*      Surgically altered for cosmetic reasons, i.e. tails that

          have been operated on for high carriage or curling.

*      Any dog that attempts to bite the judge.

*     Undershot bite.

*     Total lack of pigment (Albino).

SUMMARY 

          The Panda Shepherd is bred for his high degree of intelligence and strikingly beautiful color, this coupled with his sense of courage and loyalty will allow Panda Shepherd to become a most versatile working and companion dog serving all humanity.

                  Bred from careful selection they will remain true to type.

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