Icelandic Sheepdog: temperament, size, care and health

About the Icelandic Sheepdog

The Icelandic Sheepdog is a small to medium spitz-type herding dog that stands about 16.5 to 18 inches at the shoulder. It is sturdy, slightly longer than tall, with prick ears, a wedge-shaped head and a tail that curls tightly over the back. The dense double coat comes in a short or longer version, in shades of tan, chocolate, grey, black and cream, with white markings often seen on the chest, legs and face. Many have double dewclaws on the hind legs, a trait associated with the breed.

The Icelandic Sheepdog was developed to gather sheep and ponies on the open farmland and to alert the farmer to strangers and strayed animals. It is a friendly, outgoing dog that has found an audience as a family pet, mostly in Scandinavia and North America.

Temperament and family life

This is a cheerful, adaptable and people-oriented breed. Icelandic Sheepdogs get along with children and visitors and enjoy being at the center of family activity. They are curious and playful and usually accept other pets, particularly if introduced early. A tendency to herd can show up as chasing or nudging, which is easy to channel with training.

The breed is famously vocal. It was bred to bark at farm gates, at strange animals and at anything that needed announcing, and that habit comes along into the home. Teaching a quiet command and providing exercise and company helps, but anyone who dislikes barking should look elsewhere. They do not do well when left alone for long periods and can become noisy or destructive.

Exercise and training

Icelandic Sheepdogs have a steady, moderate energy level and love a daily walk, a hike or a play session. They are sturdy and happy to join family outings in any weather, and they take readily to games such as fetch. Agility, herding, rally and obedience provide good outlets.

They are intelligent and respond well to positive methods. Training sessions should be short and cheerful, and early lessons should include a quiet cue and polite greetings. A fenced yard helps, since they like to explore and can be quick to follow an interesting scent or sight.

Grooming and shedding

The coat is weather-resistant and not difficult to keep, but it sheds. Weekly brushing is enough for much of the year, and the seasonal blowout calls for daily sessions with an undercoat rake. The longer-coated variety has some feathering that needs a little more care. Baths are rarely needed, as the coat tends to shed dirt.

Trim the nails regularly, since the double dewclaws can overgrow and snag. Check the ears and brush the teeth.

Health

The breed is generally sturdy. Hip dysplasia is the joint problem most often discussed, and responsible breeders have hips checked. Eye conditions, including distichiasis, in which extra eyelashes irritate the eye, and progressive retinal atrophy, occur and call for eye examinations. Patellar luxation is reported. The gene pool was once very small, so a thoughtful breeder who tracks relatedness is a good sign.

This is general information, and a veterinarian is the person to ask about a particular dog.

History

The breed is generally traced to dogs brought to Iceland by Viking settlers from the late ninth century onward. It became a central farm helper on the island. Plague and canine distemper destroyed most of the breed in the late nineteenth century, and it again came close to extinction in the twentieth, after which Icelandic and foreign breeders worked to bring it back. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 2010.

Is the Icelandic Sheepdog right for you?

An Icelandic Sheepdog suits an active family that wants a friendly, medium-small dog and accepts barking and a shedding coat. It is a poor match for a noise-sensitive household or for someone who wants a quiet apartment companion.

The Finnish Lapphund shares the northern look and gentle approach. The Norwegian Buhund is a more energetic cousin. For a short-legged option with similar friendliness, see the Pembroke Welsh Corgi.