Icelandic Sheepdog

Seen of sable, yellow, red, and black and white.

A double coat comprising a thick, soft undercoat beneath a thick and glossy topcoat. The fur is thicker on the neck, legs and tail. 

Dark brown/chocolate brown

Well-proportioned is the Icelandic Sheepdog being both long in body but tall and reasonably stocky. The head is wide and the muzzle broad and short. Ears are medium-sized and triangular with slightly rounded tips. The ears of this dog are mobile and alert, and are often telling of the dog’s mood.  

The Icelandic Sheepdog has a pleasant personality and if trained and treated correctly is affectionate and loyal. 

An active and playful dog, the Icelandic thrives upon interaction with its family. 

Confident and peppy is the Icelandic. This is not a dog that is quick to anger or fright. 

This is a highly intelligent dog but requires a firmness of training; it is easily bored by repetition and thrives on varied lessons. 

Icelandic Sheepdogs are not hunters; they are herding dogs. As such they do not have a high prey drive. They are however very alert to other animals, including birds, at which they will bark enthusiastically.

Icelandics are not reserved around strangers and will greet visitors to their home with enthusiasm and love. 

This breed of dog needs a lot of human contact for its peace of mind; it needs to feel part of the clan. They become very unhappy when deprived of the chance to be with people. 

If left alone for long periods of time this dog becomes agitated, barks excessively and chews furniture and carpets.

Training of the Icelandic Sheepdog can be challenging. It must be carried out by a confident master who is consistent and varies their style of training. Harsh training techniques will not work with any dog. 

The Icelandic’s bark is perhaps the least desirable characteristic of such an elegant dog. 

This dog is keen to please its owner and it will remember that running off is not going to be met with praise. Reinforcing the ‘recall’ command is always worthwhile. 

If it finds itself at home for long periods of time without human company, or feels anxious due to other reasons, the Icelandic Sheepdog will be destructive.  

Icelandics are prone to obesity when fed too many treats or too much human food.

Icelandic Sheepdogs are exceptionally alert to any movement around them. They will bark incessantly when they feel threatened or excited.

An Icelandic Sheepdog needs to be challenged physically and mentally in order to stay happy and out of trouble. That being said, this is a good choice of first dog.  

This dog loves to be outside and thrives on high intensity exercise and endless adventure. Neither a flat nor a small garden will suffice for such an adventuresome dog. 

An energetic dog is the Icelandic. With a dog such as this you need to be fit and willing to devote a fair amount of time to long walks. Icelandic Sheepdogs are better suited to rural life than they are urban life. 

Once trained, an Icelandic Sheepdog is exceptionally obedient. It will be comfortable with travel as long its owners are in sight. 

Although the Icelandic Sheepdog is not known for its high prey drive it will still be interested in small scurrying (and flying) animals. It is however unlikely to hurt a cat even if it gives chase. 

Icelandic Sheepdogs interact well with other dogs. The male dogs tend to be more relaxed than the females when they meet other canines. 

Young children that run around the house of an Icelandic may find themselves being herded like sheep. Icelandics enjoy the chase, whether that is of animals or people. 

Because it is a dog that requires lots of exercise the Icelandic Sheepdog may not be the perfect choice of dog for someone of senior years. 

The long, dense and furry coat of the Icelandic sheds consistently throughout the year. There is a peak of shedding in the months leading up to and throughout summer. 

The Icelandic Sheepdog is generally healthy and robust. It's life expectancy is 12 years.

The Icelandic Sheepdog has been bred to work outdoors in countries within the Arctic Circle. It is a dog that seeks adventure and does not complain. 

This dog does not tolerate hot weather overly well. A ‘thin and trim’ haircut will help the dog to get through the hottest time of the year. 

The double coat of the Icelandic Sheepdog keeps the dog warm. 

If your Icelandic is not exercised as regularly as it should be and is fed too much human or substandard food it will become obese. 

• Hip dysplasia
• Progressive retinal atrophy

The canine ancestors of today’s Icelandic Sheepdog are believed to have accompanied early Viking settlers to the island of Iceland between 874 and 930 AD. It wasn’t until the early 1700s that the Icelandic Sheepdog arrived in the United Kingdom. The popularity of the dog has increased gradually since then, but the dog has never been a best-seller.