No other dog breed lists Iceland as its country of origin. According to the FCI standard, its ancestors arrived with the first Viking settlers between 870 and 930. It gathered sheep and cattle using its voice: barking is a working tool for the Icelandic Sheepdog (Íslenskur Fjárhundur).
| FCI | Group 5 (Spitz and primitive types), Section 3 Nordic Watchdogs and Herders, Standard No. 289, without working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Iceland |
| Size (height at the withers) | ideal: males 46 cm, females 42 cm |
| Weight | not specified in the FCI standard |
| Life expectancy | no reliable study figure found (N/A) |
| Coat | dense, extremely weatherproof double coat, short-haired or long-haired, each with relatively coarse outer hair and thick, soft undercoat |
| Colours in the standard | fawn and red from cream to reddish brown, grey shading, chocolate brown and black, always with white markings; black and brown dogs usually with tan markings; also piebald |
A farm dog from Europe’s edge
According to the standard, it became indispensable on farms, adapting its working style over centuries to harsh life there. Today’s breeding descends almost entirely from a few dogs selected in remote Icelandic areas between 1955 and 1965 (Oliehoek et al. 2009). The FCI definitively recognised it in 1972. The same FCI section includes the Norwegian Buhund (Norsk Buhund), also a herding spitz.
Cheerful, curious and vocal
Cheerful, friendly, curious, playful, confident and gentle: that is the standard. It reliably announces visitors without aggression, which can become an issue in a rented flat. Teach quiet on cue and provide a fixed retreat early.
A herding dog wants to cooperate
Movement should be agile and enduring, with strong drive and effortless reach. Long outings with search tasks, treibball, tricks or herding practice keep it satisfied. It usually enjoys children, provided nobody rewards herding at heels and trouser legs.
Two coats, both weatherproof
Short-haired or long-haired, weekly brushing usually suffices; comb out undercoat more often during shedding. The standard favours double hind dewclaws. Check them regularly, as little wear means they can grow into the skin.
A small gene pool, open questions
So much diversity has been lost from 36 founders that only the equivalent of 2,2 equally represented founders remains (Oliehoek et al. 2009). In Swedish X-ray screening from 2007 to 2016, 23,9 per cent of 218 young Icelandic Sheepdogs had hip dysplasia grades C to E, and 6,4 per cent grades D or E (Engdahl et al. 2026). Researchers linked bilateral posterior-polar cataracts with CPT1A variants, but say they are unsuitable for genetic testing (Ricketts et al. 2025). Ask for both parents’ hip results and eye examinations. A reliable lifespan figure is lacking.
A good choice if
you seek a medium-sized, robust family and outdoor companion, enjoy working together and find a vocal temperament charming.
Less suitable if
thin walls and sensitive neighbours are part of your life, or the dog would spend many hours alone.
Find other Nordic herding spitz breeds in the Swedish Lapphund (Svensk Lapphund) and Finnish Lapphund (Suomenlapinkoira) entries. The breed quiz shows whether such a vocal dog suits you; our book offers more detail: “Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir?” (book in German). For the first weeks with a puppy, there is the free Puppy Starter Pack. If your Icelandic Sheepdog already lives with you, that bushy curled tail looks lovely on a magazine cover on canvas or a poster in a wooden frame.
Further reading
- Border Collie: when the cleverest dog has no job
- Autumn shedding in dogs and cats: what is normal and what is not
- Leaving your dog alone: learning without drama (step by step)
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI-Standard Nr. 289 Íslenskur Fjárhundur (Islandhund) (fci.be, German version dated 25.09.2018, valid standard published 15.06.2018) and FCI breed page No. 289; Oliehoek PA et al., History and structure of the closed pedigreed population of Icelandic Sheepdogs, Genetics Selection Evolution 2009; Engdahl K et al., Prevalence of hip and elbow dysplasia in young adult dogs in Sweden, Veterinary Record 2026; Ricketts SL et al., Common variants in the CPT1A gene are associated with cataracts in Northern breeds of domestic dog, PLOS ONE 2025; McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024 (breed not included).
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