Icelandic Sheepdog
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1 Breed Introduction
The Icelandic Sheepdog, originally from Iceland, dates to the 17th century. A plague once brought it to the brink of extinction, but breeders and enthusiasts in Iceland and Britain worked together to save it. In recent decades numbers have grown; still not many, but no longer at risk of vanishing.
It is Iceland’s only native breed, brought by Scandinavian settlers around 874ā930 AD. Its way of working suits the local terrain and herding style, and for centuries Icelanders have relied on it as an essential herder. Some say it was introduced from Norway as the Fria dog, possibly descended from the Norwegian Buhund; like that breed it resembles spitz types and is mainly a herder, not a hunter.
Key facts: English name Icelandic Sheepdog; origin Iceland; reproduction viviparous; height 33ā41 cm; weight 11ā14 kg; original use herding dog; current use companion dog.
2 Morphological Characteristics
The ideal height is 31ā41 cm and ideal weight 9ā14 kg. It needs a lot of exercise and is troublesome to groom, so it is not suited to city life.
Head arched; ears erect, medium; eyes medium, alert, with brows; muzzle short and neat with a large nose; lips black; front legs very sturdy; dewclaws like the Lundenhund; tail set high and curled; coat colors pale yellow, golden, red, or black long hair; gait agile with good stamina, easy and effortless.
Appearance: A solid head with tight skin; skull slightly longer than muzzle; head triangular from above and side; nose black or dark brown; well-developed muzzle, straight bridge; lips black or dark brown, tight. Eyes medium, almond, dark brown. Ears erect, medium, triangular with rounded tips, turning alertly toward sound. Neck medium, clearly muscular, tight-skinned. Body sturdy, back level, strong, muscular; croup moderately short and broad; chest deep and broad; belly slightly tucked. Tail set high, curled over the back. Front legs straight; hind thighs broad, well-muscled. Feet oval, slightly arched and compact with good pads. Double, thick coat in two typesāshort and longāboth with harsh outer hair and a thick soft undercoat. Face, top of head, ears, and front of legs are shorter-haired; neck, chest, and rear of legs longer. Colors range from pale tan to red-brown and dark chocolate, gray, and black, often with white patches.
3 Personality Traits
A typical working dog, you can read its character from its bark and see its love of exercise from its build; not suited to cities, it needs regular coat care.
A hard-working, agile herder that uses its bark to gather, drive, and find lost stock. Very alert by nature, it warmly welcomes visitors without hostility. Its hunting instinct is weak. It is a cheerful, friendly, curious, playful, fearless companion.
Strong and alert, stubborn yet gentle, fairly vocal; can serve as a guard dog and needs firm training. Not suited to city life, it adapts to cold, is easy to train, and does well in remote villages or factoriesāan excellent watchdog.
4 Care Knowledge
The Icelandic Sheepdog loves peopleāa cheerful, loyal, fearless companion. For city owners its faults are barking and stubbornness, but for a watchdog or guard dog these are virtues. Regular bathing and grooming are essential.
Care knowledge: Bathe only when really dirty and smellyānever every two or three days or daily, which strips the skin’s protective film and leaves it fragile. About every 7ā10 days in summer and every two weeks in winter is reasonable, based on dirtiness. Do not bathe sick or very young dogs (under 2 months); just comb or wipe them. Even healthy dogs should be bathed midday to evening and fully dried.
A main cause of overweight is table scraps. Fun to give, but they have serious effects: the dog may doubt who leads the household (the leader eats first), and scraps may not give proper nutrition. To reduce weight, keep meal times but cut portions (the dog may whine), or add bulky vegetables or a special low-calorie food it will eventually accept. If it only nibbles slowly, don’t add moreāslow eating lengthens meals and adds weight. Once dieting, track weight; any loss in two weeks means you are right. Exercise helps too, but gradually. In the wild this breed’s exercise need is huge, so it is not suited to cities.
5 Feeding Tips
From cold Iceland, the Icelandic Sheepdog is self-restrained about food, loves raw food, and above all fish.
Feeding tips: Puppies need more energy than other stages, so food needs more protein, fat, and minerals. Protein and calcium/phosphorus matter for teeth, bones, and muscle; inexperienced owners should buy good puppy-specific food.
If making puppy food yourself, consult a vet/nutritionist to meet all needs, especially calcium and phosphorusādeficiency harms growth or causes rickets, so add supplements. But excess also hinders growth and causes obesity, bone disorders, or heart/kidney disease. Generally, buy food by life stage. From 2ā3 months feed 3ā4 meals daily; at 4ā6 months reduce to 2. Amount depends on size and need.