Shetland Sheepdog Standard

General Appearance

Small, long haired, working dog of great beauty, free from cloddiness and coarseness. Outline symmetrical so that no part appears out of proportion to whole. Abundant coat, mane and frill, shapeliness of head and sweetness of expression combine to present the ideal.

Characteristics

Alert, gentle, intelligent, strong and active.

Temperament

Affectionate and responsive to his owner, reserved towards strangers, never nervous.

Head and Skull

Head refined; when viewed from top or side a long, blunt wedge, tapering from ear to nose. Width of skull in proportion to length of skull and muzzle. Whole to be considered in connection with the size of dog. Skull flat, moderately wide between ears, with no prominence of occipital bone. Cheeks flat, merging smoothly into well rounded muzzle. Skull and muzzle of equal length, dividing point inner corner of eye. Topline of skull parallel to topline of muzzle, with slight but definite stop. Nose, lips and eyerims black. The caracteristic expression is obtained by the perfect balance and combination of skull and foreface, shape, colour and placement of eyes, correct position and carriage of ears.

Mouth

Jaws level, clean, strong with a well-developed underjaw. Lips tight. Teeth - sound with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws. A full complement of 42 properly placed teeth higly desired.

Eyes

Medium size, obliquely set, almond shape. Dark brown except in the case of merles, where one or both may be blue or blue flecked.

Ears

Small, moderately wide at base, placed fairly close together on top of skull. In repose; thrown back; when alert brought forward and carried semi-erect with tips falling forward.

Neck

Muscular, well arched, of sufficient length to carry head proudly.

Forequarters

Shoulders very well laid back. At withers separate only by vertebrae, but blades sloping outwards to accomodate desired spring of ribs. Shoulder joint well angled. Upper arm and shoulder blade approximately equal in length. Elbow equidistent from ground and withers. Forelegs straight when viewed from front, muscular and clean with strong bone. Pasterns strong and flexible.

Body

Slightly longer from point of shoulder to bottom of croup than height at withers. Chest deep, reaching to point of elbow. Ribs well sprung, tapering at lower half to allow free play of forelegs and shoulders. Back level, with graceful sweep over loins; croup slopes gradually to rear.

Hindquarters

Thigh broad and muscular, thigh bones set into pelvis at right angles. Stifle joint has distinct angle, hock joint clean cut, angular, well let down with strong bone. Hock straight when viewed from behind.

Feet

Oval, soles well padded, toes arched and close together.

Tail

Set low; tapering bone reaches to at least hocks; with abundant hair and slight upward sweep. May be slightly raised when moving but never over level of back. Never kinked.

Gait/Movement

Lithe, smooth and graceful with drive from hindquarters, covering the maximum amount of ground with the minimum of effort. Pacing, plaiting, rolling or stiff, stilted up and down movement highly undesirable.

Coat

Double; outer coat of long hair, harsh textured and straight. Undercoat soft, short and close. Mane and frill very abundant, forelegs well feathered. Hindlegs above hocks profusely covered with hair, below hocks fairly smooth. Face smooth. Smooth coated specimens highly undesirable.

Colour

Sables: Clear or shaded, any colour from pale gold to deep mahogany, in its shade, rich in tone. Wolf sable and grey undesirable. Tricolours: Intense black on body, rich tan markings preferred. Blue Merles: Clear, silvery blue, splashed and marbled with black. Rich tan markings preferred but absence not penalised. Heavy black markings, slate or rusty tinge in either top or undercoat highly undesirable; general effect must be blue. Black & White and Black & Tan: are also recognised colours.
White markings may appear (except on black and tan) in blaze, collar and chest, frill, legs and tip of tail. All or some white markings are preferred (except on black and tan) but absence of these markings are not to be penalised. Patches of white on body highly undesirable.

Size

Ideal height at withers: Dogs 37 cms (14 1/2 inchs); Bitches 35,5 cms (14 inchs). More than 2 1/2 cms (1 inch) above or below these heights highly undesirable.

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.

Note

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