Icelandic Sheepdog
Also called Canis islandicus, Iceland Dog, Icelandic Spitz and Íslenskur Fjárhundur
- Great with kids
- Needs space
- Sheds a lot
- Barks a lot
The Icelandic Sheepdog is a small and energetic breed of dog that was originally bred in Iceland for herding and guarding livestock. They are intelligent, loyal, and hardworking, and make excellent working dogs.
- Weight
- 20–40 lb (9–18 kg)
- Height at the shoulder
- 16–19 in (40–48 cm)
- Life span
- 12–15 years
- Exercise
- About 60 minutes a day
- Coat
- Medium, Double
- Origin
- Iceland (nationwide, rural farms), Iceland
Traits
Family and friends
- Children: Great with children
- Other dogs: Good with other dogs
- Strangers: Friendly with strangers
Home and activity
- Energy: Energetic
- Apartment living: Needs space
- Barking: Barks a lot
- Training: Easy to train
Care
- Grooming: Regular brushing
- Shedding: Sheds a lot
- Drooling: Hardly drools
Temperament
Alert
Cheerful
Confident
Friendly
Inquisitive
Playful
Coat colours
Black, chocolate brown, cream, grey, pied, tan and white markings
Males and females
| Measure | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 24–40 lb (11–18 kg) | 20–31 lb (9–14 kg) |
| Height | 17–19 in (44–48 cm) | 16–17 in (40–44 cm) |
Recognized by
American Kennel Club (AKC), Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), The Kennel Club (UK) (KC) and United Kennel Club (UKC)
Caring for an Icelandic Sheepdog
Find pet services near you that suit this breed.
Breeds of a similar size
All medium breeds
Sources
- Breed Standards: Icelandic Sheepdog | United Kennel Club (UKC) (opens in a new tab)
- AKC Breed Standard — Icelandic Sheepdog Association of America (opens in a new tab)
- Icelandic Sheepdog - Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)
- Icelandic Sheepdog Dog Breed Health and Care | PetMD (opens in a new tab)
- Icelandic Sheepdog - Dog Breed Information | AKC (opens in a new tab)
Breed details from The Dog API (opens in a new tab).