JUDGING THE SHETLAND SHEEPDOG
by CHARLOTTE MCGOWAN
S helties are a “newer” breed as established breeds go. The original dogs stood 8-10 inches and were bred for several pur- poses. First, the indigenous dogs were bred to help crofters on Shetland make a living. They helped drive the small sheep into stone pens for dipping and removal of wool. They kept sheep from the meager gardens on these windswept islands, they accompanied sheep to grazing on remote islands, and they kept birds of prey away from lambs and away from fish drying in the sun. The original dogs may have origi- nated in Scandinavia. Then came English vacationers and they became a “rare” breed to be sold as pets. At this point there were crosses with Pomeranians and pos- sibly something like English toy spaniels to make them more attractive small pets. Once they became a breed they needed a name. In appearance, “Shetland Collies” so offended Collie breeders (they looked very little like Collies) that the breed name was changed to Shetland Sheepdog. It was a bit of a rough start. It got rougher when the English Shetland Sheepdog Club (1914) worked hard to create a dog similar to a Collie but much smaller. This type change was accomplished by crossing dogs from Shetland with full sized Collies. Some of the best early dogs were close to the Collie crosses and while they excelled in type, they tended to throw wild size variations. Many of these were shipped to the US to form the base of US breeding.
Today, US Shelties and Shelties in the UK can look very different. What this brief history means to judges is that breeders have battled with major appearance variations and a continu- ing battle with size since the breed was established here... Shelties are generally considered to be a specialist type breed. Why? While the standard clearly states that the dog’s out- line should be so symmetrical that no part appears out of proportion to the whole, there are details, lots of important details, and details that separate the Sheltie from the Collie. A Sheltie must have it all—a beautiful, graceful, functional outline, a beautiful, correctly detailed head, sound legs, agility, and the endearing temperament and will- ingness that has made so many devotees for the breed. In outline, everything must fit together. The outline consists of a graceful curve of the neck into well laid shoulders, a level relatively short back, and a graceful curve of the croup to the set on of the tail. The dog is well angulated with balanced angu- lation front and rear and is longer than tall but never overlong since much of the length has to do with proper angles. Shelties should never appear short on leg (Breeders call these “scorgies.”) Shelties should be extremely agile. They should be able to clear a fairly tall fence. They excel in agility when well made. So short legs are a definite drag on the breed.
The Sheltie head is detailed, distinctive and there is a great degree of difficulty breeding it to be exactly right. As the stan- dard says, it’s all about balance. Skull and muzzle are equal in length. The shape is a refined long blunt wedge looking down or from the side. This refinement has a lot to do with clean flat cheeks to make that wedge shape viewed from the sides. The planes of the head are parallel and the stop is slight but definite. Parallel planes mean a flat skull and a straight line on the top of the muzzle. There is delicate chiseling of the head. Shelties have sufficient muzzle and underjaw to complete the blunt wedge shape viewed from the side. The muzzle is nicely finished and never snipey. But the whole thing is refined, not bulky. Now add the beautiful dark eyes (blue allowed in merles) set slightly obliquely and the beautiful high set small ears tipped ¾ erect. And let the head show a sweet, beguiling, intelligent expression in this exquisitely refined head. Sheltie structure should be exemplary. With excellent angulation in front once again there is balance with the shoulder blade and upper arm of equal length. There is a slight bend in the pastern and the feet should be oval (not round) and compact and strong. There is excellent angulation in the rear with well let down hocks. This angulation balances the angulation in the front. There is no turning in or out looking front or rear. The body has nicely sprung ribs and an oval rib cage. The tail should be
“A SHELTIE MUST HAVE IT ALL—A BEAUTIFUL, GRACEFUL, FUNCTIONAL OUTLINE, A BEAUTIFUL, CORRECTLY DETAILED HEAD, SOUND LEGS, AGILITY, AND THE ENDEARING TEMPERAMENT AND WILLINGNESS THAT HAS MADE SO MANY DEVOTEES FOR THE BREED.”
290 • S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , J ULY 2015
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