​General appearance altered to ”Should resemble a Collie (Rough) in miniature”.

From Enligsh Shetland Sheepdog Handbook 1935, revised 1920 and 1923 (height).

The Shetland Sheepdog should resemble a Collie (Rough) in miniature, from 12 to 15 inches (30.48 to 38.1 cms), the ideal height being 13.5 inches (34.29 cms).

Skull flat, tapering towards the eyes. Muzzle long, tapering towards the nose, stop slight, cheeks flat. Teeth level, jaws clean cut and powerful. Eyes brown, of almond shape, set obliquely and close together. Expression alert, keen, intelligent. Ears small, placed high, carried semi-erect with tips forward.

Neck long, muscular and arched. Body compact, back level with well-sprung ribs and strong loins; chest deep, shoulders flat, straight front. Forelegs straight with good bone, pasterns flexible without weakness. Hindlegs muscular at thighs with well-bent stifles, giving a racy appearance. Feet oval, toes arched and close together, soles well-padded. Action lithe and graceful, speed and jumping power great for size of dog.

Coat double, the outer coat of long hair, the under coat short, soft and close. Mane and frill abundant, forelegs well feathered, hindlegs above the hocks profusely covered but smooth below, face smooth. Tail long with good brush of hair; carried down with upward swirl at tip.

Usual colours: Tricolour, i.e., Black with Tan and White markings. Black & Tan, i.e., Black with Tan markings. Black & White, i.e., Black with White markings. Sable. Sable & White, i.e., Sable with White markings. Blue Merle. (White markings may be shown in the blaze, collar, frill, legs, feet and brush tip; all or some. Tan markings may be shown on eyebrows, cheeks, legs, stifles and under tail; all or some.) The nose black whatever the colour of the dog.

NUMERICAL STANDARD OF POINTS.
Head and Expression 15
Ears 15
Neck and Shoulders 5
Legs and Feet 10
Hindquarters 10
Back and Loins 5
Tail 10
Coat and frill 15
Size 15
Total: 100

Characteristics: To enable the Shetland Sheepdog to fulfil its natural bent for sheepdog work, its physical structure should be on the lines of strength and activity, free from cloddiness and without any trace of coarseness. Although the desired type is similar to that of the Rough Collie, there are marked differences that must be noted. The expression, being one of the most marked characteristics of the breed, is obtained by the perfect balance and combination of skull and foreface, size, shape, colour and placement of eyes, correct position and carriage of ears, all harmoniously blended to produce that almost indefinable look of sweet, alert, gentle intelligence. The Shetland Sheepdog should show affection and response to his owner; he may show reserve to strangers but not to the point of nervousness.
General appearance: The Shetland Sheepdog should instantly appeal as a dog of great beauty, intelligence and alertness. Action lithe and graceful with speed and jumping power great for its size. The outline should be symmetrical so that no part appears out of proportion to the whole. An abundance of coat, mane and frill, with shapeliness of head and sweetness of expression all combine to present the ideal Shetland Sheepdog that will inspire and secure admiration.
Head and skull: The skull should be refined and its shape when viewed from the top or side is a long, blunt wedge, tapering from ear to nose. The width of the skull necessarily depends upon the combined length of skull and muzzle, and the whole must be considered in connection with the size of the dog. The skull should be flat, moderately wide between the ears, showing no prominence of the occipital bone. Cheeks should be flat and merge smoothly into a well rounded muzzle. Skull and muzzle to be of equal length; central point to be the inner corner of the eye. In profile the topline of the skull should be parallel to the topline of the muzzle, but on a higher plane due to a slight but definite stop. Lips should be tight. Teeth should be sound and level, with an evenly spaced scissor bite.
Eyes: A very important feature giving expression to the dog. They should be of medium size, obliquely set and of almond shape. Colour dark brown, except in the case of merles, when blue is permissible.
Ears: Should be small and moderately wide at the base, placed fairly close together on the top of the skull. When in repose they should be thrown back, but when on the alert brought forward and carried semi-erect with the tips dropping forward.
Neck: The neck should be muscular, well arched and of sufficient length to carry the head proudly.
Body and quarters: From the withers the shoulder blade should slope at a 45-degree angle, forward and downward to the shoulder joint. At the withers they are separated only by the vertebrae but they must slope outwards to accommodate the desired spring of ribs. The upper arm should join the shoulder blade at as nearly a right-angle as possible. The elbow joint to be equidistant from the ground and the withers. The forelegs should be straight when viewed from the front, muscular and clean, with strong bone. Pasterns strong and flexible. The body is slightly longer from the withers to the root of the tail than the height at the withers, but most of the length is due to the proper angulation of shoulders and hindquarters. The chest should be deep, reaching to the point of the elbow. The ribs well sprung but tapering at their lower half to allow free play of the forelegs and shoulders. The back should be level, with a graceful sweep over the loins and the croup should slope gradually to the rear. The thigh should be broad and muscular, the thigh bones to be set into the pelvis at right angles, corresponding to the angle of the shoulder blade. The stifle joint, where the femur bone joins the tibia bone, must have a distinct angle. Hock joint to be clean cut, angular and well let down with strong bone. The hock must be straight when viewed from behind.
Tail: Set on low, tapering bone, must reach at least to the hock joint, with abundant hair and slight upward sweep; raised when the dog is moving, but never over the level of the back.
Feet. Oval in shape, soles well padded, toes arched and close together.
Gait. The action of the Shetland Sheepdog should denote speed and smoothness. There should be no pacing, plaiting, rolling or stiff, stilted up and down movement.
Coat: Must be double, the outer coat of long hair of harsh texture and straight, the under coat soft (resembling fur) short and close. The mane and frill should be very abundant and forelegs well feathered. Hind legs aboce the hocks profusely covered with hair but below the hocks fairly smooth. The mask or face smooth. What are commonly known as smooth-coated specimens are barred.
Colour: Tricolours should be an intense black on the body with no signs of ticking; rich tan markings on a tricolour to be preferred. Sables may be clear or shaded, any colour from gold to deep mahogany, but in its shade the colour should be rich in tones. Wolf sable and grey colours are undesirable. Blue Merles: clear, silvery blue is desired, splashed and marbled with black. Rich tan markings to be preferred, but their absence not to be counted as a fault. Heavy black markings, slate coloured or rusty tinge in either top or undercoat is highly undesirable. General effect should be blue. White markings may be shown in the blaze, collar, chest frill, legs, stifle and tip under tail. All or some of tan markings may be shown on eye brows, cheeks, legs, stifles and under tail. All or some of the white markings are to be preferred whatever the colour of the dog, but the absence of these markings shall not be considered a fault. Black and White and Black and Tan are also recognised colours. Over markings of patches of white on the body are highly undesirable. The nose black whatever the colour of the dog.
Size: Ideal height measured at the wither 14 inches (35.56 cms) for bitches, 14.5 inches (36.83 cms) for dogs. Anything more than 1 inch (2.54 cms) above these heights to be considered a serious fault.
Faults: Domed or receding skull; lack of stop; large drooping or pricked ears; over-developed cheeks; weak jaw; snipy muzzle; not full complement of teeth; crooked forelegs; cow hocks; tail kinked, short or carried over back; white or white colour predominating; pink or flesh coloured nose; blue eyes in any other colour than merles; nervousness; full or light eye; under- or overshot mouth.

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 the whole. Abundant coat, mane and frill, shapeliness of the 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 the size of dog. Skull flat, moderately wide between the ears, with no pronouncement of occipital bone. Cheeks flat, merging smoothly into well rounded muzzle. Skull and muzzle of equal length, dividing point inner corner of eye. Top-line of skull parallel to top-line of muzzle, with slight but definite stop. Nose, lips and eyerims 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 the lower teeth and set square to the jaws. A full complement of 42 proprely 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 only separated 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 the 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 hocks, with abundant hair and slight upward sweep. May be slightly raised when moving but never over level of the back. Never kinked.
Gait and 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 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. Hind legs above hocks profusely covered with hair, below hocks fairly smooth. Face smooth. Smooth-coated specimens highly undesirable.
Colour: Sable: clear or shaded, any colour from pale gold to deep mahogany, in its shade, rich in tone. Wolf-sable and grey undesirable. Tricolour: intense black on body, rich tan markings preferred. Blue merle: clear silvery blue, splashed and marbled with black. Rich tan markings preferred but absence not penalised. Heavy black markings, slate or rusty tinge in either top or undercoat highly undesirable; general effect must be blue. Black & White and Black & Tan: are also recognised colours. White markings may appear (except on black and tan) in blaze, collar and chest, frill, legs and tip of tail. All or some white markings are preferred (except on black and tan) but absence of these markings not to be penalised. Patches of white on body highly undesirable. All colours are enchanced by being rich in tone.
Size: Ideal height at withers: dogs: 37 cms (14.5 ins); bitches: 35.5 cms (14 ins). More than 2.5 cms (1 in) above or below these heights highly undesirable.
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.

From the English Shetland Sheepdog Handbook of 2005. Only minor changes were done compared to the previous breed standard, changes in italic.

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 the whole. Abundant coat, mane and frill, shapeliness of the 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 the size of dog. Skull flat, moderately wide between the ears, with no pronouncement 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 eyerims 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.
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.
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 the lower teeth and set square to the jaws. A full complement of 42 proprely placed teeth highly desired.
Neck: Muscular, well arched, of sufficient length to carry head proudly.
​Forequarters: Shoulders very well laid back. At withers only separated 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 hocks, with abundant hair and slight upward sweep. May be slightly raised when moving, but never over level of the back. Never kinked.
Gait and 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: Sable: clear or shaded, any colour from pale gold to deep mahogany, in its shade, rich in tone. Wolf-sable and grey undesirable. Tricolour: intense black on body, rich tan markings preferred. Blue merle: clear silvery blue, splashed and marbled with black. Rich tan markings preferred but absence not penalised. Heavy black markings, slate or rusty tinge in either top or undercoat highly undesirable; general effect must be blue. Black & White and Black & Tan: are also recognised colours. White markings may appear (except on black and tan) in blaze, collar and chest, frill, legs and tip of tail. All or some white markings are preferred (except on black and tan) but absence of these markings not to be penalised. Patches of white on body highly undesirable.
Size: Ideal height at withers: dogs: 37 cms (14.5 ins); bitches: 36 cms (14.2 ins). More than 2.5 cms (1 in) above or below these heights highly undesirable.
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 and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.
Note: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.