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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.
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.
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. Disqualification-- Brindle.
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