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The Canine Chronicles Directory
Icelandic Sheepdog
The Icelandic Sheepdog is a small, Nordic herding Spitz-type dog. The skull is slightly
longer than the muzzle and is somewhat domed. They have a clearly defined stop.
The nose of this breed can either be black, brown or chocolate brown. The muzzle
is often darker than the rest of their bodies, and some have black markings above
their eyes like eyebrows. The lips are close fitting and are also black, brown or
chocolate brown depending on the coat color. The teeth should meet in a scissor
bite. The medium-sized eyes are almond shaped. The ears are erect, triangle-shaped
with firm edges and slightly rounded tips. The neck is moderately long and muscular
with no loose skin. The chest is long and deep and the back is level. The unusual
tail is set high, curls over and touches the back. The thick, double coat is weatherproof.
There are two coat varieties: short haired and long haired. Coat colors include
shades of tan, ranging from cream to reddish brown, chocolate brown, grey and black.
Several coat colors are permitted but one color should always be predominant. There
is usually some white found on the coat.
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Temperament
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The Icelandic Sheepdog is lively, active, affectionate and loyal. They are not wanderers
nor do they hunt. They like to have close contact with their families and do not
like to be away from them. They are gentle in nature and get along well with children.
Though they are playful and loving, they need firm discipline and early socialization.
They like to bark at birds, aircraft and running animals making them good watchdogs.
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Height, Weight
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Height: 12-16" ; Weight: 20-30 lbs.
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Health Problems
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Though normally a healthy breed, they can be prone to hip dysplasia.
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Living Conditions
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The Icelandic Sheepdog needs human contact and do not like to be left alone. This
breed should never be left outside by themselves. This active breed needs lots of
space as well as a job to do. They do best in a country-like setting. They need
an owner who can give firm discipline and is active.
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Exercise
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This breed needs lots of space to run. They enjoy long daily walks as well as long
sessions of play.
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Life Expectancy
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About 12-15 years
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Grooming
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This breed is easy to care for. They are very clean with an easy-care coat. Brush
weekly and clip their dewclaws regularly.
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Origin
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The Icelandic Sheepdog is Iceland?s only native dog and was brought to Iceland by
the Viking settlers around 874 AD. The Icelandic Sheepdog is an agile herding dog
which barks, making it very useful for driving stock in the pastures as well as
the mountains. This breed has grown in popularity over the past few decades, but
their numbers still remain very small, putting them in danger of extinction. They
are recognized by the UKC and recently by the AKC.
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Group
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Herding
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