Icelandic Sheepdog

Temperament: Friendly, Playful, Inquisitive

Group: Herding Group

Height: 41.9–45.7 in

Weight: 11.3–13.6 lb

Life Expectancy: 12.0–14.0 yrs

Energy Level: Energetic

Trainability: Eager to Please

Shedding: Seasonal

Grooming Frequency: Weekly Brushing

Icelandics are one of the 50 or so northern breeds from around the world classified as spitzes. The breed’s “spitziness” is expressed by a dense coat, foxy face, pointed ears, and a bushy, curling tail. Icelandics, standing no higher than 18 inches at the shoulder, are just under what we’d consider medium sized. They come in several predominant colors, always accompanied by white markings. An endearing trait is the facial expression: friendly, happy, always looking as though there’s no place they’d rather be than with you. The Icelandic Sheepdog, Iceland’s only native dog breed, is a charmingly friendly and faithful all-around herder of small-to-medium size. A densely coated Nordic spitz-type breed, Icelandics are enthusiastically devoted to their humans.