Icelandic Sheepdog

by Janice Jones     |Last Updated 08-26-2021

The Icelandic Sheepdog is an old breed that has stayed around for a reason. This breed is  loyal, cheerful, attentive and hardy  with plenty of energy to play.

At the same time, they are affectionate and ready to cuddle with their family. They have a personality that will make them fit right in as a member of the family.

Dog Breed Ratings Got You a Little Confused?
Here's a little help in understanding them

• Playfulness:   Most Playful = 5    Least Playful = 1
• Affection:  Most Affectionate = 5   Least Affectionate = 1
• Friendliness Towards Strangers: Most Friendly = 5  Least = 1
• Good With Children:  Great= 5    Not Good with Children = 1
• Good With Dogs:  Great = 5   Not Good Around Dogs = 1
• Exercise Required:  Extensive Daily Exercise = 1  Minimal = 1
• Ease of Training:  Very Easy = 5     Difficult = 1
• Watch Dog:  Excellent Watch Dog = 5  Minimal = 1
• Grooming:  Time Consuming = 5   Minimal = 1
• Shedding:  Heavy Shedder = 5     Minimal = 1
• Cold Tolerance:  Well Tolerated = 5   Poor Tolerance = 1
• Heat Tolerance:  Well Tolerated = 5  Poor Tolerance = 1

History of the Icelandic Sheepdog Breed

The Icelandic Sheepdogs is a spitz type breed, one of the most popular breed types in the world. Ancient spitzes are the bases for many of our modern breeds.

They are known for their fox like snouts and northern European breeds, such as this one, are known for their thick coats. A clue into their history can be found in their name, these herding dogs come from Iceland.

It’s likely that this breed originated from Scandinavia. There’s stuff to back up this theory, there are skeletons that many bare similarities to the sheepdog we know today.

These dogs are well known as the Viking Dog too, another name pointing to their history. Vikings would have used these dogs to assist in maintaining their herds. This is considered to be the way in which they managed to get to Iceland, their ultimate country of origin.

Historical accounts suggest that when the Vikings came and took over Iceland in the 9th century, they brought these dogs with them. As a result of their isolation in the country, there are very few other breeds that live there.

To this day, the breed remains the most common dog in the country. Having lived there for what is now a millennium, it’s not likely that they’re going to die out anytime soon.

While the breed has a steady population now, this was not always the case. There was a significant portion of Iceland’s history in which their existence was threatened due to a myriad of problems.

There are cases of disease outbreaks and famines that resulted in significant drops in the breed’s population. Towards the end of the 10th century, there was a very considerable famine in the country, leading many of these dogs to die so that more food could be given to the people.

As result of this decrease in population, the price for an Icelandic Sheepdog was that of a horse or a cow.

The breed carried on in the country for centuries, surviving many successive famines and disasters alike to the one in the 10th century. They found themselves most threatened by extinction in the late 19th century when the majority of their population was killed by disease.

Their isolation was further compounded when there was a ban on bringing animals into the country in 1901. This ban was followed by the two World Wars. Once again, it would have been expensive to own one of these dogs and impractical to do so. Instead, people would spend their money on food.  

This hardy breed prevailed. This was through the efforts of the Icelandic Dog Breeder Association, which was founded in 1969. 

In between the 1930s and 70s, a man named Mark Watson helped to introduce these dogs to the outside world. He helped to breed them into a more consistent appearance and temperament, another step towards their officiality as a breed. On top of this, he brought Icelandic Sheepdogs to the US and other countries.

Today, the Icelandic Sheepdog is not an especially common breed, ranking as the 153rd most popular breed in the AKC.

Personality

Grooming

This breed isn’t known for being especially difficult to groom. Their thick coats will shed according to drastic weather changes, such as before the winter or summer.

They will shed their thick undercoat during these seasonal molts.  During these times regular brushing and combing is needed to reduce the amount of hair that will begin to fall wherever they are.

Most owners recommend brushing once or twice a week during the rest of the year.  Regular brushing will prevent the thick coat from getting matted.  Due to their reasonably regular shedding, they really only need bathed as needed or at least twice a year.

They are not hypoallergenic meaning that they would not be a good choice for someone with allergies.

While they don’t need their nails painted, they certainly need them clipped. If a dog’s nails get to be too long, they can become uncomfortable and dig into their paws.

The Icelandic Sheepdog is known for having nails that grow relatively quickly. Most owners recommend clipping them at least once a month. You can tell if a dog’s nails become too long by listening to them clicking against the ground as they move. If you hear the click, it should be time to clip.

Dogs aren’t famous for having fantastic dental care, but it is an integral part of the grooming process. Brushing a dog’s teeth will prevent tartar buildup, keep their teeth clean and make their breath fresher. Most owners recommend brushing a dog’s teeth at least twice a week.

Another vital part of the grooming process is checking a dog’s ears. Dogs’ ears can hold in bacteria that will cause ear infections. Thanks to the shape of the Icelandic Sheepdog ears they have more airflow, preventing things from getting stuck in them.

All the same, it is recommended to check and clean a dog’s ears at least once a week. This will remove excess wax and any bacteria that has been caught in it.

For the Icelandic Sheepdog Lover

Health Issues

Before buying any pet, an owner must be prepared to pay for any sort of preventative or emergency healthcare. This is on top of making sure they get to the regular vet visit.

Dogs get sick like people do, so it’s important to be ready for any sort of health issue down the road. There are also outside problems like ticks and fleas that need to be taken into consideration.

It’s important when getting a purebred breed that you look into the sort of health issues that the breed is prone to.

While some dogs of a breed may not be affected by any of the health issues they are known for, it is still crucial when buying one. The Icelandic Sheepdog is known to be a reasonably healthy dog with a long lifespan. All the same, it is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to knowing their possible health problems:

• Hip Dysplasia
• Patellar Luxation
• Eye issues
• Elbow Dysplasia
• Autoimmune thyroiditis

Another critical thing to consider when purchasing a purebred dog is the source. It is crucial that you know the breeder that you’re getting the dog from and their knowledge of the breed.

Any qualified breeder will be able to answer any of your questions about the breed and be able to pass health checks for their dogs. Any breeder that suggests that this is unnecessary or seems to know very little about their dogs should not be considered.

References

Breed Parent Club

The American Kennel Club