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Shetland
Sheepdog Club of
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Preamble--
The Shetland Sheepdog, like the Collie, traces to the Border Collie of
Scotland, which, transported to the 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. DISQUALIFICATIONS
Heights
below or above the desired size range, i.e. 13-16 inches. Brindle
color. Approved May 12, 1959
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