Icelandic Sheepdog Standards
- AKC (Herding)
- FCI (Group 5)
- UKC (Herding)
- 12-16"
- 20-30 lbs
- medium-sized spitz
- triangular, prick ears
- tail curled over back
- short and long haired variety
- black, may have white markings
- brown, may have white markings
- grey, may have white markings
- tan, may have white markings
History of the Icelandic Sheepdog
The Icelandic Sheepdog originated in Iceland and is an extremely old breed. The Icelandic Sagas mention dogs arriving on Iceland in 874 with Norwegian settlers and their sheep. These ancestors are believed to be the Norwegian Buhund. Isolation kept them breeding true without outside interference for centuries. Unfortunately, two disasters almost destroyed the breed. The first was when they contracted tapeworm from their sheep in the 19th century. The disease not only killed many of the dogs, but is was also passed onto their owners and led to a ban on all dogs in Iceland’s capital of Reykjavík, a ban that still is in place today (although there are exceptions). In that same century distemper struck and killed ¾ of the breeding stock. Farmers were desperate, offering a horse and two sheep for a single dog. Even after both illnesses the breed recovered and although it remains fairly rare, can still be found in their homeland with their charges.
Related Breeds: