At a glance the quick version
Wikipedia gives 9-14 kg; the FCI standard sets no weight and the UKC says weight should be in proportion to height.
Coat and looks how to spot one
double coat, short-haired or long-haired
A sturdy, slightly longer-than-tall Nordic spitz with pricked ears and a curled tail. Both coat lengths are thick and weatherproof, with a coarse outer layer over a soft, dense undercoat; long-haired dogs have a fuller tail and feathering.13
Personality what they are like
Happy, curious and playful, with a gentle and confident nature. It greets visitors with an announcement bark rather than suspicion and loves being part of family life.134
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Moderate to high. As an agile working herder it enjoys daily walks, play and jobs to do, and it uses its voice when working stock.13
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Brush the dense double coat regularly, more often during seasonal shedding; long-haired dogs need a little extra attention.13
Home where they are happiest
Hardy in cold, wet weather thanks to its coat; happy in a family home as long as it gets activity and company.13
Company who they like around
Very people-oriented and generally mild with others; the UKC notes little aggression and a low hunting drive, having evolved with no natural predators to face.3
The story where it all began
The breed descends from dogs that arrived with Norse settlers between about 870 and 930 AD and became vital helpers on Icelandic farms. Numbers fell sharply more than once, including in the late 1800s, and dedicated breeders later rebuilt the population.123
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
It is Iceland's only native dog breed.4
- 2
Iceland's parliament recognised the breed as part of the national cultural heritage in 1994.2
- 3
In 1788 the naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin described it as a separate species, Canis islandicus.2
- 4
William Shakespeare mentions an 'Iceland dog' in Henry V.2
- 5
It herds by barking, a style that suited Iceland's open, rugged terrain.3
Recognised by the official bits
- FCI
- Standard no. 289, Group 5 Spitz and primitive types, Section 3 Nordic watchdogs and herders; standard dated 03.07.2018. Wikipedia gives 1972 for the first FCI acceptance.1
- UKC
- Herding Dog Group; recognised 20 January 1996.3
- AKC
- Herding Group; recognised in 2010 (per Wikipedia).2
How many About 5,000 registered worldwide2
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Icelandic Sheepdog. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- BrushingDaily during heavy sheddingevery 3 days
- Double coats insulate against cold and heat, so shaving is not recommended
- Bathevery 10 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
- Ear checkevery 2 weeks
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 8every year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- FCI standard no. 289, Icelandic Sheepdog fci.beused for recognition, origin, height, coat, colours, temperament, history
- Icelandic Sheepdog, Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for other names, weight, lifespan, AKC year, history, fun facts, population
- Icelandic Sheepdog, United Kennel Club ukcdogs.comused for recognition, height, coat, colours, temperament
- Icelandic Sheepdog, AKC akc.orgused for traits, fun fact
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.