Shelties in Australia
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The Shetland Sheepdog
is classed in Group 5, as a working dog.
The Shetland Sheepdog
ANKC registrations in Australia in 1998 totalled 1,314. This is around
8% of all working dog registrations in Australia. While their have been
some minor fluctuations in sheltie registrations, there has been
no substantial changes in Australia over the last ten years. What is
more notable is the drop in popularity of the Working Dog Class overall,
from 28,250 registrations in 1986 to 16, 423 in 1998. For more registration
statistics on dogs in Australia see the ANKC
site. For a good example of the ANKC breed standard, we turn to a shetland sheepdog who won Best Exhibit in Show at two of Australia's Royal Shows in 1998: Hillacre Wee MacGregor
Below is the ANKC Breed Standard for the Shetland Sheepdog. For an elaboration of the standard see that done by the English Shetland Sheepdog Club. |
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GENERAL APPEARANCE
- Small, long haired, working dog of great beauty, free from cloddiness
and coarseness. Outline symmetrical so that no part appears out of
proportion to whole. Abundant coat, mane and frill, shapeliness of
head and sweetness of expression combine to present the ideal.
CHARACTERISTICS - Alert, gentle, intelligent, strong and active. TEMPERAMENT - Affectionate and responsive to his owner, reserved towards strangers, never nervous. HEAD AND SKULL - Head refined; when viewed from top or side a long, blunt wedge, tapering from ear to nose. Width of skull in proportion to length of skull and muzzle. Whole to be considered in connection with size of dog. Skull flat, moderately wide between ears, with no prominence of occipital bone. Cheeks flat, merging smoothly into well rounded muzzle. Skull and muzzle of equal length, dividing point inner corner of eye. Topline of skull parallel to topline of muzzle, with slight but definite stop. Nose, lips and eye rims black. The characteristic expression is obtained by the perfect balance and combination of skull and foreface, shape, colour and placement of eyes, correct position and carriage of ears. MOUTH - Jaws level, clean, strong with a well-developed underjaw. Lips tight. Teeth-sound with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. A full complement of 42 properly placed teeth highly desired. EYES - Medium size obliquely set, almond shape. Dark brown except in the case of merles, where one or both may be blue or blue flecked. EARS - Small, moderately wide at base, placed fairly close together on top of skull. In repose, thrown back; when alert brought forward and carried semi-erect with tips falling forward. NECK - Muscular, well arched, of sufficient length to carry head proudly. FOREQUARTERS - Shoulders very well laid back. At withers separated only by vertebrae, but blades sloping outwards to accommodate desired spring of ribs. Shoulder joint well angled. Upper arm and shoulder blade approximately equal in length. Elbow equidistant from ground and withers. Forelegs straight when viewed from front, muscular and clean with strong bone. Pasterns strong and flexible. BODY - Slightly longer from point of shoulder to bottom of croup than height at withers. Chest deep, reaching to point of elbow. Ribs well sprung, tapering at lower half to allow free play of forelegs and shoulders. Back level, with graceful sweep over loins, croup slopes gradually to rear. HINDQUARTERS - Thigh broad and muscular, thigh bones set into pelvis at right angles. Stifle joint has distinct angle, hock joint clean cut, angular, well let down with strong bone. Hocks straight when viewed from behind. FEET - Oval, soles well padded, toes arched and close together. TAIL - Set low; tapering bone reaches to at least hock; with abundant hair and slight upward sweep. May be slightly raised when moving but never over level of back. Never kinked. GAIT/MOVEMENT - Lithe, smooth and graceful with drive from hindquarters, covering the maximum amount of ground with the minimum of effort. Pacing, plaiting, rolling or stiff, stilted, up and down movement highly undesirable. COAT - Double; outer coat of long hair, harsh textured and straight. Undercoat soft, short and close. Mane and frill very abundant, forelegs well feathered. Hindlegs above hocks profusely covered with hair, below hocks fairly smooth. Face smooth. Smooth coated specimens highly undesirable. COLOUR - SIZE - FAULTS - Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree. NOTE - Male animals should
have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
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