Live Life Team
This is an ancient, pure breed of Spitz, believed to have originated from dogs brought to Iceland by the Vikings as early as 10,000 years ago. It was bred for herding and guarding of sheep and horses and is still used on farms today.
In the 19th century, canine distemper was introduced to Iceland, killing 75% of all Icelandic dogs. A long-term ban was introduced on all dog imports, which has kept the breed pure, although it is exported elsewhere. In the late 1960s, the dog was again becoming rare; as a result, the Icelandic Dog Breeder Association was formed and a new breeding standard established.
The Icelandic is a small to medium sized dog, rectangular in build. It is compact and solid, with a strong back, deep chest and muscular, powerful limbs. It stands around 44 cm (17 inches) at the shoulder. The head is triangular with pricked, mobile ears. The tail curls, Spitz style, over the back. There is a tendency towards double dew claws, but this is not considered a fault.
The coat can be long or short, thick with a dense undercoat. Colours include fawn and tan, with white markings on the chest.
The dog has an agile, forward driving gait and great traits of endurance. A hardy, energetic breed, it is both loyal and affectionate. A breed that was designed to locate lost sheep as well as herd them, it has a loud bark that tends to express itself when the dog gets excited.
