Do Icelandic Sheepdogs Make Good Family Dogs?
The Icelandic Sheepdog is an energetic and intelligent spitz-type breed that originates from the rugged landscapes of Iceland. Their strong herding instincts and protective nature once made them invaluable workers on remote Icelandic farms. But do their qualities also make them a good choice as a family companion today?
This article will explore the key traits of the Icelandic Sheepdog and how they fare in family environments. We'll cover their activity needs, trainability, temperament with children, and more. Read on to find out if the iconic Icelandic Sheepdog will be a good addition to your family!
Key considerations if you're considering an Icelandic Sheepdog for your family:
- Require at least an hour of rigorous daily exercise.
- Independent thinkers that need dedicated training.
- Wary of strangers but devoted to family. Need socialization.
- Gentle and playful with children when trained properly.
- Prone to some health problems like dysplasia. Screen breeders.
- Need significant grooming and shed heavily twice per year.
If you can provide the high activity levels this breed needs and commit to their training and grooming requirements, the loyal Icelandic Sheepdog can make a delightful family companion. Make sure everyone is ready to invest the time and energy this active breed deserves!
High Energy Requirements
The Icelandic Sheepdog was bred to herd sheep across vast terrain in Iceland. This means they have high exercise needs and energetic temperaments. Key facts about their activity levels:
- Require 60-90 minutes of exercise daily. This is a must to prevent destructive behavior or neurotic tendencies from setting in. Activities can include long walks or hikes, playing fetch, jogging, swimming, agility, and more.
- Love to run and need regular opportunities to sprint and play in a securely fenced area. Stretching their legs is a must.
- Enjoy interactive games and mental stimulation. Learning tricks keeps their minds engaged.
- Prone to nuisance barking, digging, and chewing if under-exercised.
- Not ideal for apartments or small living spaces. A home with a fenced yard is best.
- Adapt well to many climates and can exercise rain or shine.
If you can't commit to providing at least an hour of daily exercise, an Icelandic Sheepdog is likely not a good match for your family's activity levels. Their exercise needs are among the highest of any breed.
Intelligent But Stubborn
The Icelandic Sheepdog is a highly intelligent breed that can be trained to do just about anything. However, they are also independent thinkers with stubborn streaks, presenting some training challenges:
- Excel at agility, obedience, herding, and other dog sports. They love structured activities that challenge their minds and bodies.
- Independent nature makes them less eager to please than other breeds. Motivation and persistence are needed during training.
- Can be strong-willed and stubborn, requiring a confident owner who can establish themselves as pack leader.
- Respond best to positive reinforcement training and rewards like praise, play, and treats. Force-based methods will cause them to shut down.
- Boredom sets in quickly during repetitive training. Keep sessions short, varied, and fun.
- Often housetrain easily thanks to their natural cleanliness and predictability. Crate training helps.
While very intelligent, the Icelandic Sheepdog's independent streak means they are better suited to experienced dog owners. Expect training to take dedication and patience compared to more biddable breeds.
Wary of Strangers But Loyal to Family
The Icelandic Sheepdog bonds very closely with their family while remaining politely wary of strangers. Key facts about their temperament:
- Extremely devoted and affectionate with their immediate family members. Crave attention and closeness.
- Initially wary around strangers. Early socialization is critical. When socialized properly, they are polite but aloof with new people.
- Make excellent watch dogs. They are observant and will alert bark when someone approaches their territory.
- Protective instincts make them unlikely to wander away from home. They prefer to keep family members in sight.
- Can be reserved around other dogs unless well socialized from a young age. Get along best with dogs they are raised with.
- Coexist well with other pets like cats when raised together. Prey drive may kick in around small pets outdoors.
The Icelandic Sheepdog bonds closely with family while remaining politely reserved and protective of their territory when strangers are present. They are loyal companions.
Gentle and Playful With Children
Despite their protective tendencies, Icelandic Sheepdogs tend to do very well with children when raised alongside them, especially if socialized early on:
- Patient, gentle, and affectionate with kids when properly introduced.
- Active and playful. They love playing games and tend to keep up with kids' energy.
- Sure-footed and cautious around young kids, rarely knocking them over.
- Alert, watchful nature makes them excellent at keeping tabs on where kids are.
- May try to herd running children. Training is needed to curb this tendency.
- Toddlers should always be supervised, as the dogs may play too roughly.
- Socialization must begin early and be frequent to prevent wariness around visiting kids
When raised with children and properly socialized, the Icelandic Sheepdog makes a loyal and fun-loving family companion. Supervision is still required due to their herding instincts.
Potential Health Issues
While generally healthy, there are some health conditions that can impact the Icelandic Sheepdog:
- Hip and elbow dysplasia - Screen breeding dogs and maintain healthy weight.
- Luxating patella - Common in smaller breeds. Avoid obesity and injury.
- Eye issues like cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, and coloboma. Veterinary eye exams recommended.
- Hypothyroidism - Autoimmune disorder. Symptoms include lethargy, coat changes, and obesity. Medication prescribed by vet can manage it well.
Responsible breeding for health and temperament is important when getting an Icelandic Sheepdog. Expect average lifespan to be 12-14 years.
High Maintenance Coat
The Icelandic Sheepdog has a distinctive long double-coat that requires significant grooming:
- Thick double-coat consists of coarse long guard hairs over a soft, dense undercoat. Provides insulation and water resistance.
- Shed heavily twice per year as seasons change. Requires daily brushing during shedding periods.
- Needs brushing 2-3 times per week year round. More when shedding. Use an undercoat rake and slicker brush.
- Should not be shaved as the coat provides insulation from cold and heat. Trimming around feet and ears for tidiness is ok.
- Bathing just a few times per year. Over-bathing damages the coat oils.
Be prepared to invest 15-30 minutes per brushing session if you want to keep your Icelandic Sheepdog matt-free. Professional grooming can help manage the heavy seasonal shedding. The coat does require a commitment.