Official ICCF Breed Description
Brief Historical Summary
The Icelandic Sheepdog is an ancient northern herding breed that developed in Iceland around a thousand years ago together with the first Scandinavian settlers. These dogs were used for herding sheep and horses, working in harsh, changeable climates and difficult terrain. They were required to be enduring, attentive, independent, and capable of reacting accurately to the movement of livestock. The breed preserved many traits of ancient spitz-type dogs: prick ears, curled tail, dense coat, and lively temperament. In the 20th century the population declined, but dedicated efforts restored the breed. Today the Icelandic Sheepdog is valued both as a working and family dog.
General Appearance
The Icelandic Sheepdog is an agile, strong, and harmoniously built medium-sized dog, giving an impression of liveliness, lightness, and working ability. The format is slightly elongated; the body is strong and muscular but not heavy. The outline is clean and smooth, with a well-defined withers and firm back. The head is wedge-shaped, proportional, with a lively, friendly expression. The ears are erect and mobile, emphasizing the breed’s alertness. The tail is high-set, curled over the back. The coat is dense and thick, short or long, with a pronounced undercoat. Overall type must reflect herding instincts, endurance, and an open, friendly character.
Important Proportions
The Icelandic Sheepdog must maintain balanced, strong proportions that emphasize mobility and herding purpose. Body length slightly exceeds height at withers. The chest is deep and reaches the elbows, ensuring endurance and lung capacity. The head is wedge-shaped and proportional to the body; the muzzle is slightly shorter than the skull. Limb angulation is moderate, ensuring free and light movement. The topline is straight and firm. The tail is high-set and curls over the back, a characteristic feature. Proportions must be harmonious, highlighting energy, functionality, and natural agility.
Behaviour and Temperament
The Icelandic Sheepdog has a vivid, friendly, and attentive temperament, making it a versatile working and family dog. The breed has high intelligence, fast reactions, and strong herding instincts that allow effective livestock control. It is people-oriented, easy to train, and maintains stable interest in interaction. The breed is non-aggressive, open, communicative, and confident, while maintaining alertness to unfamiliar situations without sharpness. Natural energy requires activity and mental engagement. Shyness, nervousness, aggression, or loss of working qualities are unacceptable.
Head
The head of the Icelandic Sheepdog is wedge-shaped, dry, and proportional to the body, emphasizing the breed’s liveliness and openness. The skull is slightly arched, of medium width, with a smooth transition to the muzzle. The forehead is broad but not coarse, without pronounced brow ridges. The muzzle is straight, tapering gradually toward the nose but remaining sufficiently deep. Lips are dry and tight. Jaws are strong, with full dentition and a scissor bite. Expression is friendly, attentive, and intelligent. The head must remain harmonious without coarseness, looseness, or heaviness. A weak muzzle or overly massive skull is unacceptable.
Facial Region
The facial region is dry, clean, and functional. The muzzle is straight, slightly shorter than the skull, tapering smoothly toward the nose. The nose is black or dark, with lightening allowed in light-colored dogs. The nasal bridge is straight. Lips are thin and close-fitting. Jaws are strong, enabling correct grip and herding work. Cheeks are moderately developed, not coarse, supporting the wedge shape. General impression is lively, attentive, and friendly. A short or narrow muzzle, weak jaws, looseness, or pigment faults affecting expression are unacceptable.
Eyes
Eyes are medium-sized, almond-shaped, set moderately wide, creating the expressive friendly, lively, attentive look characteristic of the breed. Color ranges from dark brown to hazel; lighter shades are permitted but less desirable. Eyelids are dry, close-fitting, with good pigmentation. The expression must be open, intelligent, and kind. Round, large, or protruding eyes, weak pigmentation, nervous or overly sharp expression are unacceptable.
Ears
Ears are erect, triangular, medium-sized, mobile, and high-set, emphasizing alertness and liveliness. The base is broad, tips slightly rounded. In rest the ears point forward; when alert, they rise high and move actively. Ear hair is short and dense. Ears must not be too large, heavy, low-set, or turned outward. Semi-erect, dropped, or excessively large ears are unacceptable.
Neck
The neck is medium-length, dry, strong, and well-muscled, allowing free movement and confident head carriage. It is high-set, flowing smoothly into the withers, emphasizing an energetic silhouette. Skin is tight without dewlap. The neck must be long enough for herding work but not excessively stretched. Strong musculature supports stability in difficult terrain. A short, coarse, overly thick, or weak neck is unacceptable.
Body
The body is strong, compact, and harmonious, emphasizing mobility and endurance. The topline is straight and firm. Withers are well defined. The back is strong and of moderate length. The loin is short, slightly arched, and muscular. The chest is deep, sufficiently long; ribs are moderately sprung, providing lung capacity. The abdomen is moderately tucked up. The croup is slightly sloping, wide, and muscular, supporting correct drive. A narrow chest, loose body, weak back, or excessive length are unacceptable.
Tail
The tail is a characteristic feature of the breed. It is high-set, thick at the base, of medium length, curled in a ring or half-ring and lying over the back or slightly to the side. At rest it may lower, but during movement it rises and curls. The coat on the tail is dense with rich feathering. The tail must be proportional and fit the outline. Short, low-set, tightly twisted, or straight tails, or tails that do not form a ring, are unacceptable.
Front Limbs
Front limbs are strong, straight, and functional, supporting active work. Shoulder blades long, well laid back, close-fitting, forming correct angulation. Upper arm muscular and about equal in length to the scapula. Elbows close-fitting, directed backward. Forearms strong and straight. Pasterns firm, slightly sloping. Feet compact, round, tight, with strong pads, suitable for rough terrain. Weak pasterns, toeing in, narrow front, or insufficient bone are unacceptable.
Hind Limbs
Hind limbs are strong, well-angulated, and muscular, providing energetic drive and stability. Thighs long, broad, muscular. Stifles well-defined. Lower thighs strong, equal in length to the thighs. Hocks low-set, firm, and dry. Metatarsi short and vertical. Feet compact and strong. Cow-hocks, straight stifles, or weak joints are unacceptable.
Gait and Movement
Movement must be light, free, energetic, and stable, reflecting herding purpose. Limbs move straight and parallel without crossing or looseness. Front limbs give good reach; hind limbs provide strong, even drive through a firm back. The topline remains stable. The trot is long, smooth, efficient, allowing prolonged work. Stiffness, short steps, toeing in or out, irregular rhythm, or weak ligaments are unacceptable.
Coat
The coat is dense and double-layered, adapted to northern conditions. The outer coat may be short or long, always dense, straight or slightly wavy, but never soft or curly. The undercoat is very thick and insulating. On the neck, chest, and tail the coat is more abundant. On face and ears it is shorter. The breed must not appear decorative. Soft, silky, curly coat, lack of undercoat, or excessive looseness are unacceptable.
Permissible Colours
The Icelandic Sheepdog appears in a wide range of natural colours: fawn, red, cream, chocolate, grey, black-and-white, and multicolour patterns with white markings. White may appear on head, chest, legs, tail, but must not dominate unless in a defined bicolor pattern. Pigmentation of nose, eyelids, and lips must be dark. Seasonal lightening is acceptable. Dirty tones, insufficient pigment, excessive mottling, or unnatural transitions are undesirable. Albinism is unacceptable.
Size
The Icelandic Sheepdog is medium-sized, balancing lightness and strength. Height at withers: males 46–48 cm, females 42–46 cm. Size must correlate with correct proportions and musculature. Weight varies but must not be heavy or loose. Dogs that are too tall, too light, or overly massive are undesirable.
Faults
Faults include deviations reducing working ability or breed type: weak bone, narrow chest, soft topline, insufficient musculature, excessive looseness. In movement: short steps, stiffness, weak drive, toeing in/out. Light eyes, weak pigmentation, incorrect ear set, coarse head, or coat faults (softness, curliness, lack of undercoat) are faults. Behavioural faults include shyness, excessive alertness, nervousness, or low working motivation.
Disqualifications
Disqualifying faults include serious structural or mental defects: unexplained aggression, extreme shyness, panic reactions, unstable temperament. Incorrect bite, significant tooth loss, eyelid defects, entropion, ectropion, lack of nasal or eyelid pigment. Excessive white markings, incorrect tail, lack of undercoat, curly coat, serious gait defects, congenital deformities, or signs of mixed ancestry.
Important Notes
The Icelandic Sheepdog is valued for working ability, stability, and natural mobility. Breeding must preserve balance between appearance, temperament, and function. The breed must not become decorative: too soft coat, loss of working reaction, or reduced endurance are undesirable. Age, coat condition, and season must be considered in evaluation. Nervous system weakness or loss of herding instinct are more serious than minor structural faults.
Conclusion
The Icelandic Sheepdog is lively, intelligent, and enduring, capable of working in harsh conditions and serving as a reliable companion. It combines activity, friendliness, human orientation, and natural herding instincts. The standard emphasizes harmonious structure, mental stability, correct movement, and coat quality. The breed must retain mobility, function, and open character.
