Dogs

Icelandic Sheepdog

Icelandic Sheepdog
The Icelandic Sheepdog has a smooth gait.
Alternative names
Icelandic Spitz Iceland Dog Íslenskur fjárhundur Islandsk Farehond Friaar Dog Canis islandicus
Country of origin
Iceland
Common nicknames
Classification and breed standards
FCI:	Group 5 Section 3 #289
AKC:	Herding (FSS)
CKC:	Miscellaneous Class
UKC:	Northern Breeds
Not recognized by any major kennel club
This breed of dog is extinct
Notes
The CKC "miscellaneous class" is for breeds working towards full recognition by the CKC.

The Icelandic Sheepdog is a breed of spitz dog originating from the dogs brought to Iceland by the Vikings. Later, dogs were taken from Iceland to the British Isles and became the basis for Border Collies and Corgis. In the Shetland Islands, it was crossed with the Norwegian Buhund and became the Shetland Sheepdog.

Appearance

The Icelandic Sheepdog's distinct features are pointy ears and a curly tail. It is of medium height, and is commonly golden, reddish, black, or grey combined with white. The coat may be long or short.

History

Plague and canine distemper destroyed over 75% of the breed in the late 19th century, leading to a ban on the importation of dogs. The purebred Icelandic sheepdog was again bordering extinction in the late 20th century and in 1969 the Icelandic Dog Breeder Association (HRFÍ) was established, which had among other aims to preserve the breed.

Miscellaneous

The breed is sometimes denoted in Latin as canis islandicus even though it is a breed and not a species.

The icelandic sheepdog often have double spurs on the hind paws.

External links

• ODP - Icelandic Sheepdog

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