Histoire Naturelle - of the Iceland Dog

NATURAL HISTORY
The Dog
Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon (September 7, 1707 – April 16, 1788)

Buffon published thirty-five volumes of his Histoire Naturelle during his lifetime, and nine more volumes were published after his death. These excerpts are taken from the translation. Here is the original translation: - http://faculty.njcu.edu/fmoran/volivdog.htm
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So there is no confusion, M. Le Comte is talking about all sheep herding dogs in general and our beloved Icelandic Sheepdog also.

Here is also a piece written about the author, Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon: - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges-Louis_Leclerc,_Comte_de_Buffon
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“Besides, by consulting what travellers have said concerning the dogs of different countries, we find that all the dogs of cold climates have long muzzles and erect ears; that those of Lapland are small, and have long hair, erect ears, and sharp muzzles that the Siberian dogs, and those called wolf-dogs, are larger than the Lapland kind; but their ears are still erect, their hair coarse, and their muzzle sharp; that those of Iceland are nearly similar to the Siberian dog - - -

“We may, therefore, suppose, with some degree of probability, that the shepherd’s dog approaches nearer to the primitive race than any of the other kinds; for in every country inhabited by savage or by half civilized men, the native dogs resemble this race more than any other. Besides, in the whole of the New Continent, there was no other variety; neither is there any other at the south and north extremities of our own continent; and in France, and other temperate climates, they are very numerous, though greater attention has been paid to the rearing of other more beautiful kinds, than to the preservation of this race, which has no recommendation but its utility, and for that reason has been abandoned to the care of the sheep-farmers. If it be farther considered, that this dog, - - - - is superior in instinct to all others; that he has a decided character, independent of education; that he alone is born fully trained; that, guided solely by natural powers, he applies himself spontaneously to the keeping of flocks, which he executes with amazing fidelity, vigilance, and assiduity; that he conducts them with an admirable and uncommunicated intelligence; that his talents, at the same time astonish and give repose to his master, while other dogs require the most laborious instruction to train them to the purposes for which they are destined; we will be confirmed in the opinion, that the shepherd’s dog is the true dog of Nature; that he has been preferably bestowed on us for the extent of his utility; that he has a superior relation to the general order of animated beings, who mutually depend on each other; and, lastly, that he ought to be regarded as the origin and model of the whole species.

“The bull-dog what is improperly called the small Danish dog, for it has no other resemblance to the Danish dog than the shortness of its hair, the naked or Turkish dog and the Iceland dog constitute but one race, which, being transported from cold countries, where the fur is always strong, into the warmer climates of Africa and India, have lost their hair; for the naked dog is improperly called the Turkish dog:

“I have put into one group the shepherd’s dog, the Pomeranian dog, the Siberian dog, the Lapland and Iceland dogs, because a stronger resemblance takes place between them than between any of the other kinds, and because all of them have sharp muzzles like the fox, erect ears, and an instinct which induces them to follow and protect flocks.

“ - - - - I have subjoined a table, or genealogical tree, in which all these varieties may be easily distinguished. This tree is drawn in the form of a geographical chart, preserving as much as possible the position of the different climates to which each variety naturally belongs. The shepherd’s dog is the root of the tree. This dog, when transported into Lapland, or other very cold climates, assumes an ugly appearance, and shrinks into a smaller size. But, in Russia, Iceland, and Siberia, where the climate is less rigorous, and the people a little more advanced in civilization, he seems to be better accomplished. These changes are occasioned solely by the influence of those climates, which produce no great alteration in the figure of this dog; for, in each of these climates, his ears are erect, his hair thick and long, his aspect wild, and he barks less frequently, and in a different manner, than in more favourable climates, where he acquires a finer polish. The Iceland dog is the only one that has not his ears entirely erect; for their extremities are a little inclined; and Iceland, of all the northern regions, has been longest inhabitants by half civilized men.

“Most of the Greenland dogs are white; but some of them are black, with very bushy hair. They rather may be said to howl than bark; and they are stupid, and unfit for every species of hunting. They serve, however, for dragging sleds, to which they are yoked by fours and sixes. The Greenlanders eat the dog’s flesh, and make garments of his skin.

“The dogs of Kamtschatka are rude, and half savage, like their masters. They are commonly black or white, and more nimble and active than our dogs. They are great eaters of fish, and are used for drawing sleds. In summer, they have their liberty; but are collected together the month of October, for the purpose of drawing the sleds; and, during winter, they are with a kind of paste composed offish, which is allowed to fermet in a ditch, and given them half boiled.

“From these facts, it appears that the Greenland and Kamtschatkan dogs, and perhaps those of other northern regions, have a greater resemblance to the Iceland dog, than to any of the other races; for the above description of the two Russian dogs, as well as the notices concerning those of Greenland and Kamtschatka, correspond very well, and may be equally applied to our Iceland dog.”