Icelandic Sheepdog

The Icelandic Sheepdog is a large dog in the body of a small dog.

This means that it is a dog of great self-esteem and great determination. The Icelandic is a very enduring dog, capable of solving many different tasks. This dog will not necessarily yield to a larger and stronger dog.

It has for centuries been bred on its abilities, rather than for its good looks. Iceland is a large, rural and sparsely inhabited country. Despite the impression left by the many bloody accounts in the Sagas, there has been little or no need for a fierce and aggressive watchdog, and you have been able to concentrate on other important abilities:

They have strong guarding instincts, and the will to sound the alarm by barking.

Protecting the sheep flocks and newborn lambs against birds of prey, hence its characteristic ability to observe and bark at everything that approaches from above.

The dog will want to protect little domestic animals like colts and lambs, but still be interested in hunting little rodents.

And the dog will act as a living fence around the premises that he considers to be the territory belonging to his family.

(History taken from the Icelandic Sheepdog International Committee page http://www.icelanddog.org)