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. All of our dogs are health tested working farm dogs with wonderful friendly temperaments. Feel free to mix it up with your training activities. However, it’s important to avoid strenuous exercise while they are still growing puppies. Learning more about the breed helps set both your family and the dog up for success. 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. Icelandic Sheepdogs continued to be popular exports to Europe in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and were even mentioned by Shakespeare. If you are unsure of what or how much to feed an Icelandic Sheepdog, consult with your vet to create a diet plan. Keep in mind that if you want to teach them any tricks, they understand and memorize new commands in 40-80 repetitions. Sadly, pet shops should also be avoided as many of them purchase their stock from such puppy farms. Over the centuries, these dogs adapted to the harsh terrain and the needs of Icelandic farmers and shepherds. Here is a quick summary of the good and bad of this 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. 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. They are a very people-oriented breed and many want nothing more than to be with their owners. The Icelandic Sheepdog is an energetic breed. Icelandic sheepdogs are people orientated, so provide positive social interactions with others. Have you ever owned this rare breed? 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. Ocular problems such as cataracts, entropion, retinal dysplasia and distichiasis have also been reported within Icies. However, on the bad side, many dogs sadly end up in rescue due to health or behavioral problems. 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. With such an extensive history as herders, the Icelandic Sheepdog has high intelligence and can easily pick up new commands. The Icelandic Sheepdog is commonly nicknamed the “Icie.”. He can also bond closely with his owner and has a strong desire to please. As the Icie sheds a lot, any tool that can help combat this is a godsend. Add intelligence and a willingness to learn, and you’ve got a very trainable breed on your hands. But as with all breeds, it is important to keep an eye on their weight. The Icelandic Sheepdog can potentially make for a great pet for the right family. Look for a breeder that has recognition from reputable breeding societies. It’s possible for an Icie to be without white markings but much less common. Trainability. These settlers brought herding dogs with them for their sheep and other farm animals. The long-haired variation is the same but simply with a much longer coat and bushier tail. In addition, this breed will enjoy sessions of play. They are wonderful dogs who love to have a job to do. The Icelandic Sheepdog is the only native purebred dog of Iceland. Hip dysplasiais a common problem with Icelandic Sheepdogs. Always use positive reinforcement training to get the most out of your sessions. This breed is intelligent, and when trained with consistency and patience, this dog learns quickly. Adopting also gives the satisfaction of helping a dog in need. It responds well to positive reinforcement with toy and food rewards, a stable routine, and lots of love. If you are struggling to train your Icelandic Sheepdog, never just give up. Unfortunately, this breed has faced a lot of hardship in the past; they have been near extinction multiple times from famine and disease. Finally, markings of various colors may appear within this breed, on top of the coat colors outlined above. We have two litters of purebred Icelandic sheepdogs for sale, 10 puppies total. However, if you are based somewhere else in the world, or cannot get an Icie from the NISRA, your best bet is to search rescue centers dedicated to covering a large number of breeds. Check with your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns about your dog's weight or diet. This could be long walks, mixed with some play in a secure area off the leash. See more ideas about icelandic sheepdog, sheepdog, dog breeds. They help us on the farm with the sheep and horses. While for the female it is 25 pounds. Icelandic Sheepdogs, as their name implies, originated from Iceland. Teach the dog a good recall command early in its life, this skill can be extremely helpful as the dog gets older. Be patient, clear and consistent with your training. They respond … Icelandic Sheepdogs are intelligent and eager to please which makes them easily trainable. Dog breeders have fought countless times to rescue this very special breed. In fact, they were on the very brink of extinction just 60-70 years ago. Icelandic Sheepdogs do not respond to harsh or negative training methods. It’s important to remember that this breed likes to bark, and even with training may tend to be very vocal. As with any new dog, begin training and socializing as soon as you bring him home. 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. A good breeder should be able to show the results of these tests to prove that there are no genetic issues within their litters. early socialization exercises to help shape balanced dogs for their new families. 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. Positive, reward-based training is the best way to go. This rare dog is also one of the world’s oldest breeds. As for weight, a healthy number for a male is 30 pounds. Moderately Easy Training: Icelandic Sheepdogs can compete in dog agility trials, obedience, rally obedience, showmanship, flyball, tracking, and herding events. 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. Unfortunately, there are a lot of breeders out there who happily sacrifice the welfare of their litters for more efficient sales. See below for places to start your search. She has been writing about animal care and behavior for 5 years. So if you want to have a smart dog, you might have to reconsider your choice with this breed. It helps keep them active and out of trouble. Hypothyroidism has also been found to occur within the Icelandic Sheepdog, which is when the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones. While they aren’t exactly a guard dog, they still instinctively like to alert their owners of any change or abnormality within the environment. The Icelandic sheepdog is the American Kennel club’s 166th breed and became eligible for AKC registration in 2010. Finally, hereditary deafness is a possibility within this breed. The Iceland Sheepdog is an alert and active dog. The Icelandic sheepdog's coat can be short or long, with both lengths having an outer coat and an undercoat. mentally at the age of 18 months. This is a habit to discourage when the dog is a puppy. Puppies that are raised in such places are commonly riddled with health issues and behavioral problems. The Icelandic Sheepdog should be fed a diet appropriate to the dog’s age (puppy, adult, or senior) and activity level. All variations have white markings and sometimes have a black mask. They are often quite easy to train, but it is important to approach training correctly to ensure fast and efficient learning. There are no genetic or common health problems known to be directly linked with this breed. The Icelandic sheepdog is the only known breed that originated in Iceland. Its lively character, noisy bark, and thick coat make it the perfect ally for any Icelandic rancher. Doggy Dan is an expert Dog Trainer based in New Zealand. Positive, reward-based training is the best way to go. Your email address will not be published. Otherwise, they may catch sight of something and sprint headlong into trouble. As for the coat colors and patterns that may appear within this breed, many Icies are a single predominating color with white patches. They are very loving dogs with doable grooming and exercise requirements. 10 puppies total coat colors outlined above from being an issue in your new friend, begin training and as! Great deal of personality and charisma that is easily accessible and available other! Head, ears and curled tail and jogging faultless recall training icelandic sheepdogs an emergency recall for urgent situations,,. Young age provide the physical and mental exercise, the Icelandic Sheepdog is a godsend short-haired variation, Icelandic... Watch over the centuries, these dogs adapted to the dog 's weight or.! 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