fellfolioHerding dog
Icelandic Sheepdog
The Icelandic Sheepdog is a smaller, weatherproof herder that enjoys company. Barking helped it work livestock and remains part of many dogs’ daily life.
At a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Height at shoulder
- 42 to 46 cm
- Lifespan
- over 10 yearsUK Royal Kennel Club breed profile
- Activity
- Moderate
- Grooming
- Weekly
- Training
- Often cooperative
- Owner experience
- First dog with support
A friendly dog with a voice
Icelandic Sheepdogs helped farmers move sheep and other animals across rough country. They barked to signal and steer the flock. The British standard describes alert, playful, friendly dogs rather than aggressive guards. At home, some Icelandic Sheepdogs also bark at sounds in a shared hallway or at the doorbell.
Teach an early cue to pause barking and reward the moment the dog checks in with you again. Let greetings with visitors unfold calmly. Families with children benefit from giving the dog a place to join in and a settled spot where it can withdraw.
Everyday life
The Royal Kennel Club offers up to an hour of daily exercise as a broad breed guide. An Icelandic Sheepdog enjoys scent-rich walks, simple searches and brief training. Let it find a toy among stones or in grass, call it back and then allow more unhurried sniffing. These searches ask it to concentrate and practise waiting for your cue.
Some individuals are livelier than others. Notice whether your dog settles comfortably after a walk or remains restless. The breed developed to move in difficult weather, but it still needs shade and water when days are hot.
Staying home alone
Dogs learn to stay home alone in small steps. The RSPCA advises no more than four hours at a time. Puppies and dogs that become unsettled when left alone need shorter absences and gradual practice. Arrange someone to care for your dog when you will be away longer.
Day-to-day care
Short-coated and long-coated varieties both have dense, weather-resistant undercoats. Brush thoroughly at least weekly. Heavy seasonal shedding calls for more frequent combing and keeps loose clumps from building in the coat and house. Dirt can hold behind the ears and along the long-coated dog’s tail.
Upright ears are easy to see, but still check the ear openings and between toes after grassland walks. Trim nails that do not wear down naturally. Bathe only when genuinely dirty.
Size and build
The Icelandic Sheepdog is a Nordic herding spitz, slightly longer than tall and sturdily built. The British standard gives ideal shoulder heights of about 46 cm for males and 42 cm for females. Prick ears, a tail curled over the back and a keen expression are characteristic. Both coat lengths have firm outer hair and dense undercoat.
Fawn, red, grey, chocolate and black occur, usually with white markings. Free, enduring movement matters more than an especially full neck ruff. Many have double dewclaws on the rear legs: two additional claws above the paw. They usually do not wear down against the ground during normal walking. Check them regularly and trim them when needed.
Health
The US breed club recommends hip and eye examinations for breeding dogs. In hip dysplasia, the ball and socket of the joint do not fit together properly. This can cause pain and reduced mobility, while inherited eye conditions may affect sight. Ask for both parents’ written results and whether similar problems have appeared in siblings or earlier litters.
Repeated limping, pain on rising or unusual blinking needs veterinary assessment. In a small breeding population, traceable parentage and an open account of health in the family also matter.
Could this breed fit your life?
Could work well if …
- You enjoy a friendly dog that likes outdoor time and short searching games on walks.
- You can manage barking and seasonal shedding at home.
May be more difficult if …
- You need a nearly silent dog.
- Walks, activities and coat care would often be hard to fit in.
Similar needs, different dogs.
Selected by shared size, activity, grooming and training characteristics.
Herding dog
Finnish Lapphund
The Finnish Lapphund’s ancestors helped the Sámi, an Indigenous people of northern Europe, herd their reindeer. It is alert, agile and close to its people. Its dense coat needs regular care and shorter outings in hot weather.
Herding dog
Bearded Collie
The Bearded Collie is a cheerful, agile herder with a long coat. It enjoys walks with its people, and its dense coat needs thorough combing every day.
Guardian and companion
Canaan Dog
The Canaan Dog is an alert working breed from the Middle East. It stays close to familiar people but often watches new visitors from a distance first.
Sources and photograph credit
- Teaching your dog to be left alone
Used in this profile for: Staying home alone
- Canine hip dysplasia (CHD)
Used in this profile for: Health
- Herding Group health testing requirements, Icelandic Sheepdog
Used in this profile for: Temperament, Everyday life, Size and build, Health, Lifespan, Could this breed fit your life?
- Icelandic Sheepdog (Imp), Breeds A to Z
Used in this profile for: Temperament, Everyday life, Day-to-day care, Size and build, Health, Lifespan, Could this breed fit your life?
- Icelandic Sheepdog (Imp) breed standard
Used in this profile for: Size / Weight, Temperament, Everyday life, Day-to-day care, Size and build, Lifespan, Could this breed fit your life?
Portrait · Icelandic sheepdog (3486209844) · Thomas Quine · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Edited
Side view · BIR Grupp 5: ISLÄNDSK FÅRHUND, Tellusdream · Svenska Mässan from Sweden · CC BY 2.0 · Edited
Chewing · Skinna On Stick Patrol · cogdogblog · CC0
Puppy · Szczenię psa islandzkiego (Polska) · Kopieccy · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Edited
