Northeast Ohio Shetland Sheepdog Rescue

The following are excerpts

from the official Shetland Sheepdog

standard as adopted by the A.K.C.

 

Temperament: The Shetland Sheepdog is intensely loyal, affectionate, and responsive to its owner. However, they may be reserved toward strangers but not to the point of showing fear or cringing in the ring. Faults are shyness, timidity or nervousness, stubbornness, snappishness or ill temper.

Appearance: The Shetland Sheepdog is a small, alert, rough coated, longhaired working dog. They must be sound, agile and sturdy. The outline should be so symmetrical that no part appears out of proportion to the whole.

Size: The Shetland Sheepdog should stand between 13 and 16 inches at the shoulder.

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 a “standoff” quality.

The hair on the face, tips of ears and feet should be smooth. Mane and frill should be abundant, and particularly impressive in males. Forelegs are feathered, the hind legs heavily so. But smooth below the hock joint. Hair on tail profuse.

Color: Black, Blue Merle and Sable (ranging form golden through mahogany) marked with varying amounts of white and/or tan.