Icelandic Sheepdog
🧠 Temperament & character
The Icelandic Sheepdog is cheerful, friendly and remarkably lively, and at the same time very affectionate and attentive. He is a sociable family dog who loves children and usually gets on well with other dogs. Typical is his readiness to bark – as a herding dog he learned to announce birds and dangers loudly. He seeks the closeness of his people and works along enthusiastically.
📜 Origin & history
The Icelandic Sheepdog came to Iceland with the Vikings in the 9th century and remained there almost unchanged for over a thousand years. He drove and herded sheep, horses and cattle in the harsh landscape and was indispensable to the farmers. In the 20th century the breed was several times on the brink of extinction; targeted breeding efforts secured its survival.
✂️ Grooming, care & training
The Icelandic Sheepdog occurs in a short-haired and a long-haired variety, both with a dense, weatherproof double coat that needs regular brushing. As an active herding dog he requires plenty of exercise, play and mental occupation to be balanced. He is clever, eager to learn and easy to motivate, which is why he shines in dog sports such as agility or obedience. His tendency to bark should be worked on from an early age.
🩺 Health
The Icelandic Sheepdog is in general a healthy, long-lived breed with a life expectancy of around 12 to 14 years. Hip and patella problems as well as cataract and other eye diseases can occur. Because the breed comes from a small population, responsible breeders pay particular attention to genetic diversity and have the hips, knees and eyes examined. In this way the Icelandic Sheepdog remains the robust breed it is known to be.
🏡 Who is this breed right for?
The Icelandic Sheepdog is a wonderful family dog for active people who like to spend time outdoors. Thanks to his friendly, teachable nature he is also suitable for open-minded beginners. He most likes to live right in the middle of the family and should not be left alone much; a house with a garden suits him, but with enough exercise an apartment is also possible. His readiness to bark should be considered where neighbours live close by.