Description. The Icelandic Sheepdog is a medium sized dog standing 12-16 inches and weighing 20-30 pounds. They have dark lips that are almost black, and a large nose that is between a half and a third of the entire head size. They have a proportional head that is of an arched type, with brown, medium sized, eyes. Their thick muscular neck leads down to a deep chest and sturdy, straight, front legs. Their body is longer than their height and rectangular in appearance. This breed comes with two coat types, one being the short haired and the other long haired. Whichever coat the dog has they are thick and very resilient to the weather. The two sexes have an obvious different look to them.

History. The Icelandic Sheepdog is the only native breed of Iceland. They were first seen in Iceland in the late ninth century AD and arrived with the Viking settlers. It was found to be a hardy dog that adapted well to the local terrain and conditions. Farming in Iceland was not easy, and probably still isn’t, but this dog soon became indispensable, due to its great ability to herd the animals on the farms, no matter what the weather. Due to a decline in the use of dogs this breed became so small in numbers they were nearing extinction. Thankfully, due to renewed interest in the breed, this is no longer the case. As the Icelandic Sheepdog first arrived with the Vikings the belief is that this breeds ancestors were the Norwegian Buhund. The breed was first approved in 2008 by the AKC.

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Temperament. As a breed the Icelandic Sheepdog is hardy, resilient, agile and strong. They are a little smaller than might be expected, but are extremely good at what they do. They are primarily a working dog and have the traits to show it. They make good watchdogs and will bark at any presence. Unfortunately they are friendly that the barking is excitement, not guarding. They are as likely to play with a burglar as they are a dear friend. They generally lack any aggressive tendencies and love children. They are playful and inquisitive and love to be with the family. As with all dogs you must train and assert yourself with this breed. They train fairly well as they are intelligent and love to please. Training should always be in a firm consistent friendly fashion. The Icelandic Sheepdog needs daily exercise and quite a bit of it. Two decent walks a day and playtime would keep them happy. They do not do well if left alone, they want to be with the family. If you meet the training and exercise needs of this dog you will have a marvelous pet that loves everyone. Remember although he would play with an intruder, he did tell you they were there.

Health issues. The Icelandic Sheepdog lives to about 12 years and has no serious problems associated with the breed

Grooming. As a seasonal shedder the Icelandic Sheepdog will require stripping, especially if living in a warmer climate (compared to Iceland). Regular brushing will help and it is important to trim their dew claws regularly. Beyond this their coat is fairly easy to care for.

Living conditions. This breed requires a good amount of exercise and will not do well if left alone for long periods. They will require at least an average sized yard or garden. Whilst they may adapt to life in an apartment it is not recommended. The Icelandic Sheepdog is best suited to an active family with young to teenage children.

If you can't find a local breeder in your area don't worry, many breeders are using the major airlines like American, Delta, Continental and Northwest airlines for shipping their puppies.

At this time the airlines will ship puppies to the following States: Alabama AL - Alaska AK - Arizona AZ - Arkansas AR - California CA - Colorado CO - Connecticut CT - Delaware DE - Florida FL - Georgia GA - Hawaii HI - Idaho ID - Illinois IL - Indiana IN - Iowa IA - Kansas KS - Kentucky KY - Louisiana LA - Maine ME - Maryland MD - Massachusetts MA - Michigan MI - Minnesota MN - Mississippi MS - Missouri MO - Montana MT - Nebraska NE - Nevada NV - New Hampshire NH - New Jersey NJ - New Mexico NM - New York NY - North Carolina NC - North Dakota ND - Ohio OH - Oklahoma OK - Oregon OR - Pennsylvania PA - Rhode Island RI - South Carolina SC - South Dakota SD - Tennessee TN - Texas TX - Utah UT - Vermont VT - Virginia VA - Washington WA - Washington, D.C. - West Virginia WV - Wisconsin WI - Wyoming WY - Hawaii HI.