Shetland
Sheepdog
Breed Standard
General
Appearance
Preamble-- The Shetland Sheepdog, like the Collie, traces
to the Border Collie of Scotland, which, transported to the
Shetland Islands and crossed with small, intelligent, longhaired
breeds, was reduced to miniature proportions. Subsequently
crosses were made from time to time with Collies. This breed now
bears the same relationship in size and general appearance to
the Rough Collie as the Shetland Pony does to some of the larger
breeds of horses. Although the resemblance between the Shetland
Sheepdog and the Rough Collie is marked, there are differences
which may be noted. The Shetland Sheepdog is a small, alert,
rough-coated, longhaired working dog. He must be sound, agile
and sturdy. The outline should be so symmetrical that no part
appears out of proportion to the whole. Dogs should appear
masculine; bitches feminine.
Size, Proportion, Substance
The Shetland
Sheepdog should stand between 13 and 16 inches at the shoulder.
Note: Height is determined by a line perpendicular to the ground
from the top of the shoulder blades, the dog standing naturally,
with forelegs parallel to line of measurement.
Disqualifications-- Heights below or above the desired
size range are to be disqualified from the show ring.
In overall appearance, the body should appear moderately long as
measured from shoulder joint to ischium (rearmost extremity of
the pelvic bone), but much of this length is actually due to the
proper angulation and breadth of the shoulder and hindquarter,
as the back itself should be comparatively short.
Head
The head should be refined and its shape, when viewed
from top or side, should be a long, blunt wedge tapering
slightly from ears to nose.
Expression-- Contours and chiseling of the head, the
shape, set and use of ears, the placement, shape and color of
the eyes combine to produce expression. Normally the expression
should be alert, gentle, intelligent and questioning. Toward
strangers the eyes should show watchfulness and reserve, but no
fear.
Eyes medium size with dark, almond-shaped rims, set
somewhat obliquely in skull. Color must be dark, with blue or
merle eyes permissible in blue merles only. Faults--
Light, round, large or too small. Prominent haws. Ears
small and flexible, placed high, carried three-fourths erect,
with tips breaking forward. When in repose the ears fold
lengthwise and are thrown back into the frill. Faults--
Set too low. Hound, prick, bat, twisted ears. Leather too thick
or too thin.
Skull and Muzzle Top of skull should be flat, showing no
prominence at nuchal crest (the top of the occiput). Cheeks
should be flat and should merge smoothly into a well-rounded
muzzle. Skull and muzzle should be of equal length, balance
point being inner corner of eye. In profile the top line of
skull should parallel the top line of muzzle, but on a higher
plane due to the presence of a slight but definite stop. Jaws
clean and powerful. The deep, well-developed underjaw, rounded
at chin, should extend to base of nostril. Nose must be
black. Lips tight. Upper and lower lips must meet and fit
smoothly together all the way around. Teeth level and evenly
spaced. Scissors bite.
Faults-- Two-angled head. Too prominent stop, or no stop.
Overfill below, between, or above eyes. Prominent nuchal crest.
Domed skull. Prominent cheekbones. Snipy muzzle. Short,
receding, or shallow underjaw, lacking breadth and depth.
Overshot or undershot, missing or crooked teeth. Teeth visible
when mouth is closed.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck should be muscular, arched, and of sufficient length
to carry the head proudly. Faults-- Too short and thick.
Back should be level and strongly muscled. Chest
should be deep, the brisket reaching to point of elbow. The ribs
should be well sprung, but flattened at their lower half to
allow free play of the foreleg and shoulder. Abdomen moderately
tucked up. Faults-- Back too long, too short, swayed or
roached. Barrel ribs. Slab-side. Chest narrow and/or too
shallow. There should be a slight arch at the loins, and the
croup should slope gradually to the rear. The hipbone (pelvis)
should be set at a 30-degree angle to the spine. Faults--
Croup higher than withers. Croup too straight or too steep.
The tail should be sufficiently long so that when it is
laid along the back edge of the hind legs the last vertebra will
reach the hock joint. Carriage of tail at rest is straight down
or in a slight upward curve. When the dog is alert the tail is
normally lifted, but it should not be curved forward over the
back.
Faults-- Too short. Twisted at end.
Forequarters
From the withers, the shoulder blades should slope at a
45-degree angle forward and downward to the shoulder joints. At
the withers they are separated only by the vertebra, but they
must slope outward sufficiently to accommodate the desired
spring of rib. The upper arm should join the shoulder blade at
as nearly as possible a right angle. Elbow joint should be
equidistant from the ground and from the withers. Forelegs
straight viewed from all angles, muscular and clean, and of
strong bone. Pasterns very strong, sinewy and flexible. Dewclaws
may be removed. Faults-- Insufficient angulation between
shoulder and upper arm. Upper arm too short. Lack of outward
slope of shoulders. Loose shoulders. Turning in or out of
elbows. Crooked legs. Light bone.
Feet should be oval and compact with the toes well arched
and fitting tightly together. Pads deep and tough, nails hard
and strong. Faults-- Feet turning in or out. Splay feet.
Hare feet. Cat feet.
Hindquarters
The thigh should be broad and muscular. The thighbone should be
set into the pelvis at a right angle corresponding to the angle
of the shoulder blade and upper arm. Stifle bones join the
thighbone and should be distinctly angled at the stifle joint.
The overall length of the stifle should at least equal the
length of the thighbone, and preferably should slightly exceed
it. Hock joint should be clean-cut, angular, and sinewy, with
good bone and strong ligamentation. The hock (metatarsus) should
be short and straight viewed from all angles. Dewclaws should be
removed. Faults-- Narrow thighs. Cow-hocks. Hocks turning
out. Poorly defined hock joint.
Feet as in forequarters.
Coat
The coat should be double, the outer coat consisting of long,
straight, harsh hair; the undercoat short, furry, and so dense
as to give the entire coat its "standoff" quality. The
hair on face, tips of ears and feet should be smooth. Mane and
frill should be abundant, and particularly impressive in males.
The forelegs well feathered, the hind legs heavily so, but
smooth below the hock joint. Hair on tail profuse. Note:
Excess-hair on ears, feet, and on hocks may be trimmed for the
show ring. Faults-- Coat short or flat, in whole or in
part; wavy, curly, soft or silky. Lack of undercoat.
Smooth-coated specimens.
Color
Black, blue merle, and sable (ranging from golden through
mahogany); marked with varying amounts of white and/or tan. Faults--
Rustiness in a black or a blue coat. Washed-out or degenerate
colors, such as pale sable and faded blue. Self-color in the
case of blue merle, that is, without any merling or mottling and
generally appearing as a faded or dilute tri-color. Conspicuous
white body spots. Specimens with more than 50 percent white
shall be so severely penalized as to effectively eliminate them
from competition. Disqualification-- Brindle.
Gait
The trotting gait of the Shetland Sheepdog should denote
effortless speed and smoothness. There should be no jerkiness,
nor stiff, stilted, up-and-down movement. The drive should be
from the rear, true and straight, dependent upon correct
angulation, musculation, and ligamentation of the entire
hindquarter, thus allowing the dog to reach well under his body
with his hind foot and propel himself forward. Reach of stride
of the foreleg is dependent upon correct angulation, musculation
and ligamentation of the forequarters, together with correct
width of chest and construction of rib cage. The foot should be
lifted only enough to clear the ground as the leg swings
forward. Viewed from the front, both forelegs and hindlegs
should move forward almost perpendicular to ground at the walk,
slanting a little inward at a slow trot, until at a swift trot
the feet are brought so far inward toward center line of body
that the tracks left show two parallel lines of footprints
actually touching a center line at their inner edges. There
should be no crossing of the feet nor throwing of the weight
from side to side.
Faults-- Stiff, short steps, with a choppy, jerky movement.
Mincing steps, with a hopping up and down, or a balancing of
weight from side to side (often erroneously admired as a
"dancing gait" but permissible in young puppies).
Lifting of front feet in hackney-like action, resulting in loss
of speed and energy. Pacing gait.
Temperament
The Shetland Sheepdog is intensely loyal, affectionate, and
responsive to his owner. However, he may be reserved toward
strangers but not to the point of showing fear or cringing in
the ring. Faults-- Shyness, timidity, or nervousness.
Stubbornness, snappiness, or ill temper.
Scale of Points
General
Appearance
|
|
|
Symmetry
|
10
|
|
Temperament
|
10
|
|
Coat
|
5
|
25
|
Head
|
|
|
Skull
and stop
|
5
|
|
Muzzle
|
5
|
|
Eyes,
ears and expression
|
10
|
20
|
Body
|
|
|
Neck
and back
|
5
|
|
Chest,
ribs and brisket
|
10
|
|
Loin,
croup and tail
|
5
|
20
|
Forequarters
|
|
|
Shoulder
|
10
|
|
Forelegs
and feet
|
5
|
15
|
Hindquarters
|
|
|
Hip,
thigh and stifle
|
10
|
|
Hocks
and feet
|
5
|
15
|
Gait
|
|
|
Gait--smoothness and lack of wasted
motion when trotting
|
5
|
5
|
Total
|
|
100
|
Disqualifications
Heights below or above
the desired size range, i.e., 13-16 inches.
Brindle Color
|