- History of Icelandics 12

These are some photos (below) of an extremely rare tiny-mini-Icelandic given to me by a student in my Rally class and my Fundamentals class at Sportsmens Dog Training Club, an American Kennel Club (AKC) all breed obedience club. A friend imported her from Iceland to give to me! Isn't that nice?


Click on photos once or twice to enlarge them.


Working Dogs of the World, London, 1947, Clifford L. B. Hubbard


Mr. F. W. Anderson in 1932 stated, "The hair was rough and longest on the back, hindquarters and tail, and colored all black, and black and with white or brown markings on the face, chest and root of the tail: the bushy tip of the tail was often white."

"Description. A summing up of the various descriptions augmented by later reports received suggests that the prevalent type in Iceland today is one with a wide, flat head, tapering sharply to a pointed muzzle; small ears which are set high, triangular, and carried erect to the front with the tips falling over; the eyes are small round and dark; the jaws strong with even teeth. The neck is short and fairly thick, muscular and apparently abundantly covered with rather long hair which forms a stand-off ruff or frill (suggesting some collie influence); the chest of moderate depth, and the loins showing almost negligible tuck-up; the legs are relatively short, but well boned, sturdy and straight, with small cat-like feet; the tail is long, set low and carried low with a final upward curl.
"The coat is short on the face and head, ears and front of the legs, but long on the neck, back, flanks and hindquarters, with a harsh texture generally; the longest hair is on neck and tail. Colour is generally black or black with white or gray points on the chest, feet and tail-tip. Height is about 20 inches, and weight 45 - 50 pounds."

(From The Iceland Dog 874 - 1956, Mark Watson )


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"The Iceland Dog (also known as the Icelandic Sheepdog)
Revised Standard of Points, 1956

General Appearance: A spitz type of slightly under middle size, lightly built, with a game temperament.

Head: Light, rather broad between the ears.

Skull: Broad and domed.

Muzzle: Rather shorter than long; stop, marked but not sharp.

Nose: Black.

Lips: Short and tight.

Ears: Large at the base, triangular in shape, pointed and erect.

Eyes: Small and round; dark in color with a lively expression.

Neck: Short, strong and slightly arched, carrying the head high.

Shoulders: Straight, not sloping.

Chest: Large and deep.

Belly: Drawn up.

Body: Strong and rather short but light.

Legs: Clean, straight and muscular; stifles not too bent.

Feet: Oval, pads well-developed.

Tail: Of moderate length,very bushy and carried curled over the back.

Coat: Hard, of medium length, longer round the neck, on the thighs and at the underside of the tail. The coat is flat on the body and is short on the head and legs; forelegs without feather.

Color: White with fawn markings, golden, light fawn with black tips to long hairs, and occasionally all black.

Height: From 15 to 18 inches.

Weight: About 30 lbs."

(From The Iceland Dog 874 - 1956, Mark Watson )