Female Icelandic Sheepdog dogs can reach a size from 16 inches and weighs between 20 and 25 pounds. Skipping training leads to negative behaviors and habits forming that are extremely difficult to break later in life. As farming needs declined in the 20th century, the Icelandic Sheepdog neared extinction. The Icelandic sheepdog is the only known breed that originated in Iceland. Resources to explore include: Before you decide on a dog, be sure to do plenty of research and involve your entire family in the decision. During non-shedding periods, a weekly brush is usually sufficient. As for weight, a healthy number for a male is 30 pounds. The long-haired variation is the same but simply with a much longer coat and bushier tail. This breed might not be a good fit for busy families that leave the house empty for large portions of the day. This is not a breed that can be left alone for long periods of time. The Icelandic Sheepdog is eager to learn and very intelligent. Although time outdoors is a must for the Icelandic Sheepdog, his living space should be indoors with his family. However, Icelandic sheepdogs are susceptible to certain conditions that affect all dogs, such as: Annual vet visits will help your pet maintain optimum health and prevent and recognize any problems sooner. Icelandic sheepdogs are athletic, active, intelligent, and have a lot of energy, so routine exercise is important. A joy to train, you’ll find that the Icelandic Sheepdog is eager to please. This can lead to hair loss, lethargy and weight gain. Brushing their teeth regularly can stop painful dental diseases from being a problem. This breed is intelligent, and when trained with consistency and patience, this dog learns quickly. The Icelandic Sheepdog is commonly nicknamed the “Icie.”. Always make sure that they have clean and fresh water that is easily accessible and available. They are commonly believed to be generally healthy dogs. Raising an unruly puppy into a well-mannered adult can seem like an impossible task for even the most experienced dog owners. We hope to begin training for their new families in areas such as walking on a lead, stairs, potty training and the obedience basics as soon as the youngsters are able. The Icelandic Sheepdog can also compete in dog sports like obedience, flyball, agility, and rally. Overall, the Icelandic sheepdog is very friendly, playful, affectionate, an enthusiastic learner, and makes a great companion. Icelandic Sheepdogs are loving, friendly, and playful. Icelandic Sheepdog History. This breed needs to be taken on a daily walk or jog. This is where spots of color appear on an otherwise white-coated dog. and Kristjansson, T., 2008, “Correlated Pedigree and Molecular Estimates of Inbreeding and Their Ability to Detect Inbreeding Depression in the Icelandic Sheepdog, a Recently Bottlenecked Population of Domestic Dogs,” Conservation Genetics, Your email address will not be published. Review how much Icelandic Sheepdog puppies for sale sell for below. From there, you will be either denied or allowed adoption of the dog. Helpful Dog Training Resource: For help with training your Icelandic Sheepdog, you should take a look at The Online Dog Trainer by Doggy Dan. This is a dog that would really benefit from a secure yard to play in or at least a nearby park. Weight / Height. If you do decide to adopt, you will likely be interviewed by staff as to ascertain whether you will be a good fit for the dog in question. As for the coat colors and patterns that may appear within this breed, many Icies are a single predominating color with white patches. Professional CV Positive, reward-based training is the best way to go. Despite this appearance and temperament, the Icelandic Sheepdog is rare and still rather obscure. This breed is distinguished by its prick ears and curled tail. The male Icelandic Sheepdog dog breed’s height is around 18 inches and weighs around 28 and 30 pounds. See more ideas about icelandic sheepdog, sheepdog, dog breeds. If you decide you would like to adopt an Icelandic Sheepdog, you will quickly come to the realization that there aren’t many dedicated rescue centers out there for this breed. Characteristics of the Icelandic Sheepdog, Where to Buy or Adopt an Icelandic Sheepdog, Czechoslovakian Vlcak (Czechoslovakian Wolfdog): Breed Profile, Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie): Dog Breed Profile, The Polish Lowland Sheepdog: Dog Breed Profile, Croatian Sheepdog (Hrvatski Ovcar): Breed Profile. Doggy Dan is an expert Dog Trainer based in New Zealand. It responds well to positive reinforcement with toy and food rewards, a stable routine, and lots of love. If you can fulfill all their daily requirements and provide a great home for them to live, the Icie can quickly become a loving member of the family. It’s important to remember that this breed likes to bark, and even with training may tend to be very vocal. During these times of extreme shedding, brushing is recommended more often to help manage the excessive hair. Jan 20, 2017 - Explore Gloria Bling's board "Icelandic Sheepdogs" on Pinterest. The Piebald pattern may also appear within this breed. The Icelandic Sheepdog is no longer at risk of being extinct. Icelandic Sheepdogs generally gain: 2 Pounds per week until 26 weeks old. If you know of any rescue centers wholly devoted to the Icelandic Sheepdog, let us know and we’ll add it to the article. She has been writing about animal care and behavior for 5 years. Icelandic Sheepdogs can compete in dog agility trials, obedience, rally obedience, showmanship, flyball, tracking, and herding events. Keep in mind that if you want to teach them any tricks, they understand and memorize new commands in 40-80 repetitions. You will be asked about your previous experience with dogs and your current family situation. Teach the dog a good recall command early in its life, this skill can be extremely helpful as the dog gets older. Finally, markings of various colors may appear within this breed, on top of the coat colors outlined above. The Icelandic Sheepdog is an energetic breed. Unfortunately, there are a lot of breeders out there who happily sacrifice the welfare of their litters for more efficient sales. The Icelandic Sheepdog can have a limitless amount of love and devotion to give to the right family. If you’re interested in similar breeds, check out: There are so many amazing dog breeds to choose from, so be sure to check out our other dog breed profiles to find the perfect companion for you and your family. The Icelandic sheepdog is the American Kennel club’s 166th breed and became eligible for AKC registration in 2010. Feel free to mix it up with your training activities. But as with all breeds, it is important to keep an eye on their weight. This popular… However, on the bad side, many dogs sadly end up in rescue due to health or behavioral problems. Trimming their nails can help prevent discomfort. There are two distinct types of coat within this breed; a short-haired and a long-haired. As a matter of fact, they’re the only dogs native to the country. Believed to be loyal companions of ancient Norsemen, who came to Iceland in the early 9 th century, Icelandic sheepdogs are the country’s native breed of dog. Our litters are raised in our home on our farm and are socialized appropriately. Herding instincts and trainability can be measured at noncompetitive herding tests. As with any dog breed, proper training is needed for the Icelandic sheepdog. You should keep up training even after the basics have been mastered, as this dog wants to be challenged with a variety of different training, exercise and play tasks. The Icelandic Sheepdog has a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years. Brush the coat once to twice weekly to remove loose fur and prevent matting. This is a habit to discourage when the dog is a puppy. Make sure your dog isn’t overweight. Instead, it is important to search for a breeder with a discerning eye. Thankfully, they succeeded. It helps keep them active and out of trouble. Required fields are marked *. It can affect either one ear or both. The Icelandic sheepdog should be fed a diet appropriate to the dog's age and activity level. These affectionate dogs like to be at the heart … Icelandic sheepdogs are active and need daily exercise. Conversely, the hair is longer on the neck, chest and the back of the thighs. This breed is known to be vocal, mostly barking at other animals. Due to the undercoat of this breed, they do experience a loss of their coats twice a year. There are no genetic or common health problems known to be directly linked with this breed. As the Icie sheds a lot, any tool that can help combat this is a godsend. Have you ever owned this rare breed? If you intend to buy an Icelandic sheepdog from a breeder, ask about any health tests given to the parents. Don't miss out on the perfect companion to life with a purrfect friend. Your email address will not be published. The Icelandic sheepdog is a small-to-mid-sized working dog, also known as a spitz (with its characteristic fuzzy and dense coat, pointy ears and muzzle and bushy tail). Learn about which human foods are safe for dogs, and which are not. Breed Group: Herding Height: 16.5 to 18 inches Weight: 20 to 45 pounds Life Span: 12 to 15 years This hardy Nordic breed is said to have come to Iceland on the longboats of early Viking settlers. While out on the walk make sure the dog heels beside or behind the person holding the lead, never in front, as instinct tells a dog the leader leads the way, and that leader needs to be the human. They have almost gone extinct more than once. Accounts from Iceland up to the twentieth century mention Icelandic Sheepdogs and their various jobs, including herding, finding lost sheep in the snow, rounding up ponies, and gathering puffins. They are a very people-oriented breed and many want nothing more than to be with their owners. Here is a quick summary of the good and bad of this breed. The Happy Puppy Site is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk, The Happy Puppy Site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. e-mail me for a puppy application: colleen@crossbreezefarm.com Five of our dogs on vacations with us: Obesity can further increase the risk of the health issues above. If you are unsure of what or how much to feed an Icelandic Sheepdog, consult with your vet to create a diet plan. However, the Icelandic Sheepdog can certainly make for an amazing and loving companion in the right family. They are small to medium dogs, reaching heights of around 18 inches if male and 16.5 inches if female. Herding breeds are great, but their brains and active traits mean they need a mix of mental and physical exercise to keep them happy. As with any dog breed, proper training is needed for the Icelandic sheepdog. Training. Icelandic Sheepdogs, as their name implies, originated from Iceland. Healthy today, the Icelandic Sheepdog is a small, furry sheepdog used for herding, guarding and as a working dog. Dog breeders have fought countless times to rescue this very special breed. They do not waste any effort on training or caring for their puppies beyond the bare minimum and do not screen for genetic health problems. Icelandic Sheepdog Association of America. Unfortunately, this breed has faced a lot of hardship in the past; they have been near extinction multiple times from famine and disease. Giving your pet a chance to be with the family and work off excess energy will keep her calmer and happier. Along with their coat, remember grooming extends to the nails and teeth of the dog too. All the parents have a good show record, and are gentle and fun family dogs. They require daily brushing during these times to ensure dead hair is removed before it gets all over your house. These dogs have a long history and are believed to go way back 1,100 years ago. This breed is known to be vocal, mostly barking at other animals. It’s possible for an Icie to be without white markings but much less common. Positive rewards-based methods work best with this breed. Icelandic Sheepdog obey for the first command 30% of the time or better. In all other aspects, Icelandic Sheepdogs make excellent family companions – they are obedient, sociable, and only need moderate exercise. Personality. Joint issues such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and patellar luxation have all been found to be at a possible high risk within this breed. This hardy, athletic, and intelligent breed was developed to herd livestock in the mountainous regions of Iceland. The cost to buy an Icelandic Sheepdog varies greatly and depends on many factors such as the breeders' location, reputation, litter size, lineage of the puppy, breed popularity (supply and demand), training, socialization efforts, breed lines and much more. They are often quite easy to train, but it is important to approach training correctly to ensure fast and efficient learning. As a herding dog, the Icelandic Sheepdog is intelligent and able to think for himself. Home visits may also occur. Here are some of the most common color combinations you may see. Icelandic Sheepdog Trainability. This breed is loving and people-oriented. All of our dogs are health tested working farm dogs with wonderful friendly temperaments. You shouldn’t have too much trouble training this breed; As such affectionate dogs, Icies are very motivated to please. See below: If you decide to purchase or adopt an Icelandic Sheepdog, there are some products and accessories on the market that can help simplify things. You may have to prepare to help deal with these potential issues, especially seeing as the small population of this breed means there may not be a lot of choice on offer. Here are some resources that may help with training. Tabitha has 10+ years of experience working in veterinary medicine and animal rescue. But has some natural insticts to be aware of. As with any herding breed, they are more likely to chase cars and run after small animals, so you will need to keep the dog leashed or in a fenced yard in areas where cars pass often. The Icelandic Sheepdog if not being kept as a working dog would be happy to join you for hikes, long walks, jogging, having a romp through some woods, going to a dog park to play doggy games, run free off leash safely and socialize. The Icelandic Sheepdog has the typical pricked ears, curled tail, thick coat and fondness for barking of his Spitz relatives, along with a cheerful and curious nature. Obedience and socialization training should be carried out from a young age to help ensure the Icie grows up to be a well-mannered, controllable adult. Icelandic Sheepdogs at Crossbreeze Farm These dogs are truly members of our family. Such places are colloquially named “puppy farms” due to these immoral practices. Add intelligence and a willingness to learn, and you’ve got a very trainable breed on your hands. After the Iceland Sheepdog suffered a bout with distemper and tapeworms in the late 1800s, a ban on all mammals was issued for Iceland. It responds well to positive reinforcement with toy and food rewards, a stable routine, and lots of love. Sadly, pet shops should also be avoided as many of them purchase their stock from such puppy farms. The Icelandic sheepdog's coat can be short or long, with both lengths having an outer coat and an undercoat. If you are based within the U.S. or Canada, there is one good rescue center that you may be able to use: the National Icelandic Sheepdog Rescue Alliance. Luckily, we have written some great resources on the topic. They should be able to prove the genetic health of their puppies via health evaluations and allow you to meet the parent dogs. It’s always worth taking a look at similar breeds before making any final decisions, just to see if any may be a better fit for you and your family. However, a breed club was established with the aim of conserving the breed in 1969. If you are struggling to train your Icelandic Sheepdog, never just give up. Training from a young age can help prevent your Icelandic Sheepdog from barking too much. Ultimately, only you can answer that question. Always use positive reinforcement training to get the most out of your sessions. To keep these pups physically and mentally healthy, try including puzzle toys, agility, scent work, long exploratory walks, runs, and training throughout the life of the dog. Icelandic sheepdogs are people orientated, so provide positive social interactions with others. For the short-haired variation, the coat is of medium length with a coarse overcoat and a thick, soft undercoat. Learning more about the breed helps set both your family and the dog up for success. Icies do well on high-quality dog food. Training: The Icelandic Sheepdog is a very smart breed. A Icelandic Sheepdog with healthy weight will not have any ribs visible. Therefore, it’s imperative that you teach your Icie a faultless recall and an emergency recall for urgent situations. They have a great deal of personality and charisma that is evident in their extensive problem solving capabilities. Knowing this, it can help you understand why these pups bark at anything and everything they see or hear—it is normal behavior for this breed. For this breed, a hip evaluation and an ophthalmologist evaluation are recommended. However, it’s important to avoid strenuous exercise while they are still growing puppies. They require at least moderate exercise each day to stay fit and happy. See below for places to start your search. On the good side, adopting allows you to get a dog that is already an adult. He can also bond closely with his owner and has a strong desire to please. While for the female it is 25 pounds. This can lead to negative behaviors taking place when you are not home. early socialization exercises to help shape balanced dogs for their new families. Additionally, they can get along with kids and other pets, provided that they are socialized from a young age. This can be anything from other animals, joggers and even cars. Otherwise, they may catch sight of something and sprint headlong into trouble. However, they still might not fit every family. This will ensure that your dog is always on his toes and learning as much as possible. A good breeder should be able to show the results of these tests to prove that there are no genetic issues within their litters. Therefore, it’s imperative that you do your utmost to ensure you purchase your Icie from a reputable and trustworthy breeder. How to find a puppy and raise a happy, healthy dog, May 7, 2019 By Ryan Jones Leave a Comment. Training Your Icelandic Sheepdog With such an extensive history as herders, the Icelandic Sheepdog has high intelligence and can easily pick up new commands. Keep this in mind, and think of your neighbors before making any decisions. The head of the Icelandic Sheepdog is quite fox-like: medium-sized, erect ears, a muzzle that is slightly shorter than the skull, and an intelligent and alert expression. 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