About the Breed

Character

The Icelandic Sheepdog is sensitive, very obedient and extremely affectionate. It is sociable, making it a devoted and ideal family dog. It loves the whole family, not the least children whom it would never harm in any way.

It also gets along very well with other animals in the family, - horses, cats, dogs, rabbits, birds of all sizes, ... whatever!

The Icelandic Sheepdog loves people and prefers to be with people all the time, to follow you around everywhere and sleep at your feet. It can learn to be alone for some hours every day, but it is happier where it can be in close contact with its people.

The Icelandic Sheepdog is very watchful and barks at strangers,- but it never bites. all guests are welcomed with kindness and joy. Some of them like to bark at running animals - it's a part of their herding nature.

The dogs are very clever and trainable. They learn quickly and remember very well. They do well in training programs, obedience, agility, fly-ball and whatever you can think of. It simply loves working and playing with people and has a never ending interest in pleasing the master. It has a good nose and has been used in search of people and animals.

The Icelandic Sheepdog loves exercise but is not as demanding as bigger working dogs. Iceland Sheepdogs are calm and easy inside the home, also on those days that you don't have time for the walk.

The breed is extremely healthy and strong both physically and psychically. Most of them only visit the vet for a vaccination once a year. The only fault in the breed is hip dysphasia - HD - a hereditary deformity of the hip joint. It appears in different degrees, but it doesn't seem to bother the dogs, even in heavy degrees.

There are two types of Icelandic Sheepdogs, a long haired one and a short haired both of which generally shed twice a year.. All the dogs have a thick, warm undercoat. All colors are permitted, there are gray, black and silver dogs with white but yellow or reddish with white is the most common color.

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