The SWD is a medium size, athletic, robust dog that is slightly longer than tall. Their tails are usually docked in the US, but undocked tails are not a fault in show dogs if the dog was bred in a non-docking country.

The head should be strong and carried with elegance. The skull is flat and the top is parallel with the top of the muzzle. The nose, eye-rims and paw pads are the same colour as the darkest part of the coat or darker. The eyes are expressive and set fairly wide apart. They should be hazel, chestnut or dark brown in color, depending on the coat colour. The ears are set at medium height on the skull, and are triangular.

There are many different theories as to its origin. but one of the most popular ones is that it was introduced by the Turks who traded in sheep and used them as sheepdogs.

It has a distinctive curly coat which is woolly in texture and may form cords when long. The coat should not be clipped or groomed for aesthetic purposes. Instead, it should look entirely natural, as though it is not groomed at all. It should never be trimmed, but sheared down at least once a year. SWD puppies are always born with curly hair.

The SWD can be seen in a variety of colours. It may be black, beige, brown, white or bicolour where the second colour is white (brown and white or black and white). Tri-coloured dogs are strictly prohibited by the currently held (world-wide) standards for the breed as are black and tan or brown and tan colour combinations

The SWD is diligent, loyal, affectionate, and intelligent. They have very strong natural herding and guarding instincts. SWD’s thrive on work and play. Their athleticism and extremely hard working nature illustrates how they need a lot of exercise. They enjoy working, and can be trained to perform a variety of tasks. They can be wary with strangers, and early and continuing socialization with a variety of people and other animals is essential for a well-adjusted, social dog.

1. SWD's should never be brushed, instead, as the cords grow they should be checked for matting. When matting does occur they should be gently pulled apart without tearing the cords. If there is too much matting the cords should be sheared.
2. SWD's should be bathed only when dirty in lukewarm water. Use a neutral shampoo, never use human shampoo. SWD's should be allowed to air dry.
3. The cords must be sheared one or more times a year.
4. Ears and eyes should cleaned as often as they are dirty.
5. As with all dogs nails should be trimmed.
6. SWD's puppies should be trimed for the first time at around the age of 6 months

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Introductory Paragraph
A Breed Standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function. Absolute soundness is essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be careful to avoid obvious conditions or exaggerations which would be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed. From time to time certain conditions or exaggerations may be considered to have the potential to affect dogs in some breeds adversely and judges and breeders are requested to refer to the Kennel Club website for details of any such current issues. If a feature or quality is desirable it should only be present in the right measure.

General Appearance
Robust, medium sized, well muscled due to constant activity. Distinctive coat.

Characteristics
A herding, hunting and fishing dog with well developed sense of smell, sight and sound. Has great learning capability and adapts to almost all situations.

Temperament
Faithful, obedient, brave, good tempered and gay.

Head and Skull
Strong and elegant with parallel planes of skull and muzzle. Flat skull, slight stop. Occiput not prominent. Length from eye to back of skull slightly longer than from tip of nose to eye (3:2). Nose should have well open nostrils. Pigmentation of the same colour, or darker than, the coat. Corners of lips well defined.

Eyes
Medium-sized, oval shaped, neither prominent nor sunken. Very expressive. Set slightly oblique and well apart. Hazel or dark brown, depending on coat colour. Haws not visible.

Ears
Dropped, v-shaped, slightly rounded at tip; medium sized, set slightly above level of eye.

Mouth
Strong jaw with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaw, with full dentition.

Neck
Short, muscular and without dewlap. Set well into the shoulders.

Forequarters
Good angulation of shoulder and upper arm. Well muscled. Elbows set close to body. Legs straight and parallel. Strong but not heavy bone.

Body
Level back; withers very slightly higher than level of back. Chest deep with well sprung ribs. Brisket reaching to elbows and providing important heart and lung room. Height to elbow about half height at withers. Slightly longer in body (measured from point of shoulder to point of buttock) than from withers to ground (9:8).

Hindquarters
Moderately angled. Thighs large and well muscled. Second thighs well developed. Hocks well let down.

Feet
Round, tight. Toenails may vary in colour. Strong pads.

Tail
Previously customarily docked or natural bobtail.
Docked: Medium set. When attentive, decidely raised, preferably never carried above level of back.
Undocked: Medium set, tapering towards the end. When extended, barely reaching the hock. At rest, carried scimitar-like. When attentive, decidely raised, preferably never carried above level of back. Never curled.

Gait/Movement
Brisk, sound and athletic, with powerful drive.

Coat
Always curled of a consistently woolly texture, forming cords when long. May be clipped overall but no aesthetic clip allowed (i.e. coat should be the same length all over).

Colour
Solid black, brown or white of various shades; black and white or brown and white (particolour) but never tricoloured.

Size
Height: dogs 44-50 cms (17½-19½ ins); bitches 40-46 cms (15½-18 ins).

Weight
dogs 18-22 kgs (40-48lbs); bitches 14-18 kgs (31-40 lbs).

Faults
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog's ability to perform its traditional work.

Note
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

Reproduced by kind permission of, and copyright ©, The Kennel Club