Shetland Sheepdog Breed
Standard
Herding Group
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,
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.
|