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Discover the Icelandic Sheepdog’s rich history, unique traits, and role as a versatile farm dog in and out of the ring.
Jo-Ann Secondino
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This article was originally published in Showsight Magazine, May 2013 issue.
When considering the Icelandic Sheepdog in the breed ring, one must first understand the breed’s history and how these factors have contributed to the shaping of the Icelandic Sheepdog of today.
The Icelandic Sheepdog is descended from a Nordic Herding Spitz brought to Iceland with the original Viking settlers in 874 AD. These Viking masters, the rugged terrain, harsh weather, famine, epidemics, natural disasters, and the daily struggle to survive created a highly adaptable, hardy dog uniquely capable of fulfilling the needs of the Icelandic farmer.
To survive in these lean times, these dogs had to be physically sound, alert and intelligent, have a good work ethic, and be of good temperament. Today’s Icelandic Sheepdog is a direct descendant of those dogs that not only survived the hard times in Iceland’s history but have truly become a living piece of history, a testament to these early settlers and their canine companion’s determination to succeed in their new homeland.
The Icelandic Sheepdog is an all-around farm dog and Viking herder. While not a guardian breed, it will raise an enthusiastic alert when visitors come to their borders without being aggressive. They are tasked with the tending of small and large livestock and are equally capable of driving flocks of sheep to and from mountain pastures, as well as managing herds of horses and cattle.
Icelandic Sheepdogs in the ring should appear alert, confident, and cheerful with a gentle expression. Upon initial examination, a friendly and curious dog should be observed. They have very mobile and expressive ears; it is not uncommon for a dog to greet the judge with a smile, laying their ears back and wagging their tail in greeting. A shy, anxious, or aggressive dog is not typical of the breed; this temperament does not meet the standard and should be judged accordingly.
They are considered to be a breed slightly under medium size with prick ears, curled tail, and rectangular body. The ideal Icelandic Sheepdog male is 18″ and the bitch 16½”. When viewed from the side, they should be rectangular; the length of the body when measured from the point of shoulder to the point of buttock should be greater than the height at the top of the withers. The depth of the chest should be equal to the length of the foreleg. While there are no specified limits in terms of size, an Icelandic Sheepdog who is seen to be overly large or small in comparison to the ideal lacks type. There should be a marked difference in appearance between the sexes.
The Icelandic Sheepdog’s head should appear to be an equal-sided triangle when viewed from the top or the side. Flat cheeks and a filled nose to the top of the ears make up two of the equal sides, and a line between the ears creates the third equal side. A common fault is a long, narrow head with a flat-looking stop and tall, narrow ears. The skull should be somewhat domed and the stop clearly defined. A male should look masculine and a bitch feminine.
Nose leather is black, except on chocolate brown and some cream-colored dogs where it is dark brown. Eyes are medium-sized and dark brown in color; chocolate brown and some cream dogs will have a slightly lighter eye. Eye rims are to be black, except in chocolate brown or some cream dogs, which are to be dark brown. Yellow or protruding eyes are considered a fault; blue eyes are not typical for the breed. Large or round eyes are not desirable, as well as narrow or inclined eyes.
When examining the dog’s scissor bite, one or more missing P1 molars are a common fault; other missing molars are not as common and should be considered when evaluating the dog. The ears should have rounded tips, be triangular in shape, and be very mobile, expressing their mood. Ears must be in harmony with the head and not be too large or small. The height of the ear should be equal to its base; the distance between the ears should match the width of the base of the ear when they are in the most upright position.
Tipped or hanging ears are a deviation from the standard. The neck is moderately long, muscular, slightly arched, and allows the head to be carried high. Short necks where it appears the head is placed directly on the body are not desirable and often indicate steep shoulders. The Icelandic Sheepdog’s chest is often narrow in the lower front part to allow flexibility in movement from side to side; do not confuse this with a narrow front. They should have a long, well-sprung deep chest with well-developed hind ribs; a clearly defined abdomen creates an incorrect outline.
The tail must be high set, curled over, and touching the back. Low-set tails with a sloping croup are common; always note that the standard states a high set tail. The tail must not be tightly coiled at the middle of the back, nor should it curl over the back and rest on the thigh. Saber tails are not to standard.
The Icelandic Sheepdog’s gait should demonstrate agility and endurance with good driving action, covering the ground effortlessly. A graceful flowing trot, demonstrating good drive (push) from the rear in a harmonic pattern, creating an efficient, power-saving gait is desired. While many Icelandic Sheepdogs may never drive sheep to and from their mountain pastures over Iceland’s rugged terrain, they must maintain their ability to do so.
Forequarters should be straight, parallel, strong, and moderately angulated; steep shoulders do not allow for adequate fore movement. The hindquarters should be straight, parallel, and strong as well, with a broad, well-muscled thigh with normal angulation to create adequate drive from the rear. Feet that toe out (eastie/westie) and cow-hocked dogs are common, but straight, parallel legs and feet are desired. Dew claws are required on all four feet; double dew claws on the rear are preferred, while singles are acceptable. The quality of dew claws (bone connected) should be the primary criteria for judging.
Coats should be double, coarse textured, thick, and weatherproof, with a soft undercoat to protect the dogs from Iceland’s harsh weather, whether they are long or short. The Icelandic Sheepdog must be shown in its natural state; trimming is to be severely faulted. They may come in a variety of predominant colors ranging from cream to red, as well as chocolate brown and black. They are always accompanied by white markings; black masks and sabling in their coats may also be present. White should never be the predominant color. If black is the predominant color, it is described as tri-color and should have typical tan points. Solid black saddles or a mantle on a tan-colored dog is a fault.
These dogs should be able to be visible when working in bad light or weather conditions; a light and dark colored dog is easily identified in any landscape under these conditions. Judging the Icelandic Sheepdog is like peering into a history book, seeing the mark of the breed’s Viking founders and their environment on them. Icelandic Sheepdog enthusiasts strive to ensure the breed remains true to their origins and purpose.
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