General Appearance
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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.
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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
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Size - 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.
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Disqualifications - Heights below or above the desired size range
are to be disqualified from the show ring.
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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 and Ears
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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Neck - Should be muscular, arched, and of sufficient length to carry
the head proudly.
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Faults - Too short and thick.
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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.
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Faults - Back too long, too short, swayed or roached. Barrel ribs.
Slab-side. Chest narrow and/or too shallow.
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Hips / Loin - 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.
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Faults - Croup higher than withers. Croup too straight or too steep.
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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.
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Faults - Too short. Twisted at end.
Forequarters
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Body Front - 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.
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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.
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Feet - Should be oval and compact with the toes well arched
and fitting tightly together. Pads deep and tough, nails hard and strong.
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Faults - Feet turning in or out. Splay feet. Hare feet. Cat feet.
Hindquarters
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Thighs & Rear - 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.
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Faults - Narrow thighs. Cow-hocks. Hocks turning out. Poorly defined
hock joint.
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Feet as in forequarters.
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Correct Rear (tail moved to side)
Coat
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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.
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Faults - Coat short or flat, in whole or in part; wavy, curly, soft
or silky. Lack of undercoat. Smooth-coated specimens.
Colors
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Colors - 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.
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Disqualification - Brindle.
Gait
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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.
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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
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Personality - 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.
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Faults - Shyness, timidity, or nervousness. Stubbornness, snappiness,
or ill temper.
Disqualification
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