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Icelandic Sheepdog breed guide
AKC calls the Icelandic Sheepdog Iceland's only native dog breed, a charmingly friendly and faithful all-around herder of small to medium size that is enthusiastically devoted to its humans.
One of some 50 northern spitz breeds, it shows its spitziness in a dense coat, a foxy face, pointed ears and a bushy curling tail.
- Height
- 18 inches male, 16.5 inches female
- Weight
- 30 pounds male, 25 pounds female
- AKC group
- Herding Group
Icelandic Sheepdog temperament
An endearing trait is the facial expression: friendly, happy, always looking as though there is no place the dog would rather be. Icelandics are lively, intelligent and eager to please. AKC calls them easy to train.
They do not respond well to harsh corrections.
Icelandic Sheepdog lifespan
Icelandic Sheepdogs live 12 to 14 years. AKC calls them very healthy. They may be prone to hip and elbow dysplasia and patellar luxation and responsible breeders test their stock.
Icelandic Sheepdog care
The thick double coat has a longer outer layer and a dense undercoat. Icelandics shed a fair amount, more in the shedding seasons that come twice a year, so weekly brushing, daily in season, removes dirt and loose hair.
They enjoy outdoor activities and make great companions on long walks or hikes and moderate exercise every day keeps them healthy through walks, play sessions and canine sports such as herding and tracking.
Icelandic Sheepdog history
About 1,100 years ago Norse settlers sailed west across the Norwegian Sea to the uninhabited island of Iceland. Among the cultural touchstones they brought from Norway were the Nordic language, a taste for epic literature and spitz-type dogs used for herding sheep and rounding up ponies.
Those dogs were forerunners of the modern Icelandic Sheepdog, which AKC calls a beloved national symbol.
AKC trait ratings
| Trait | AKC rating | Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Level | 4 of 5 | Couch Potato to High Energy |
| Trainability Level | 5 of 5 | Self-Willed to Eager to Please |
| Shedding Level | 3 of 5 | No Shedding to Hair Everywhere |
| Barking Level | 4 of 5 | Only To Alert to Very Vocal |
| Adaptability Level | 4 of 5 | Lives For Routine to Highly Adaptable |
| Good With Young Children | 5 of 5 | Not Recommended to Good With Children |
| Good With Other Dogs | 4 of 5 | Not Recommended to Good With Other Dogs |
| Watchdog/Protective Nature | 4 of 5 | What's Mine Is Yours to Vigilant |
More Herding Group guides
Sources
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Icelandic Sheepdog by Canarian, CC BY-SA 4.0
