Standards of the Shetland Sheepdog around the world

Most purebred dog clubs around the world are under the regulations prescribed by the FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale). This organization, based in Belgium, was founded in 1911 by 5 countries which took the responsibility to encourage and preserve the purity of dog breeds as we know them today. Those 5 countries were: Germany, Austria, Belgium, France and the Netherlands. Due to the harsh effect of WWI the initial effort to organize failed and the entity had to be re-created in 1921 by France and Belgium. As described in the Article 2 of their regulations:

The aims of the F.C.I. are to encourage and promote breeding and use of purebred dogs whose functional health and physical features meet the standard set for each respective breed and which are capable of working and accomplishing functions in accordance with the specific characteristics of their breed; to protect the use, keeping and breeding of dogs in the member countries; to support free exchange of dogs and cynological information between member countries and initiate the organization of exhibitions and tests.

FCI has 84 member countries in 4 groups around the world: Americas/the Caribbean, Europe, Oceania/Australia and South Africa. It recognizes 339 dog breeds, each under the protection of the country of origin. Each member country regulates its own breed clubs, registrations and pedigrees, and trains its own judges; the FCI acts as an international coordinating body, making sure that pedigrees and judges are internationally recognized. Also, the FCI sponsors and regulates the World Dog Show and international conformation and performance events.

The Shetland Sheepdog belongs to Group 1 (of 10) - Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs and it’s breed #88, under Great Britain. Its Standard can be found in the The Kennel Club’s (United Kingdom) website. All 84 member countries abide by this Standard.

United States, Canada and other countries around the world are not member countries, just “contract partners” so their aims are not exactly those of FCI. The American Kennel Club (AKC), The United Kennel Club (UKC) and the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) are multi-breed registries. AKC is the largest registry in the world, with more than one million yearly registrations and 5,000 breed clubs and affiliated organizations.

View the American Kennel Club (AKC) Shetland Sheepdog Standard on menu at left.

View the Kennel Club’s (FCI –UK) Shetland Sheepdog Standard on menu on left.

View the United Kennel Club Shetland Sheepdog (UKC) Standard on menu at left.