The Icelandic Sheepdog

A Brief Account of the History of the Icelandic Sheepdog

Origin

The Icelandic Sheepdog came to Iceland with settlers and was used to watch and herd sheep, cattle and
horses. Breeds of dogs that resemble the Icelandic Sheepdog can be found in neighboring countries, but
blood analysis of Icelandic dogs has shown that the Icelandic Sheepdog has its origins in the Nordic
countries (Stefán Aðalsteinsson 1998:79; Stefán Aðalsteinsson 2005:9).
In the spring of 1983, blood samples from 56 Icelandic Sheepdogs were analyzed to investigate the origins
of the breed. The results confirmed that the Icelandic Sheepdog is related to a Finnish breed, the Karelian
Bear Dog. The Karelian Bear Dog originated in Russia and is one of the so-called "Laika dogs," but these
dogs have erect ears and a curly tail (Stefán Aðalsteinsson 2005:9; Stefán Aðalsteinsson 2004:26).
These results indicate that the Icelandic Sheepdog came to Iceland from Norway. But the relation to the
Karelian Bear Dog indicates that the dog came to Norway from the east, just like the Icelandic cow (Same
references).

Historical Summary

Very little documentation exists about dogs during the first few centuries Iceland was inhabited. No
descriptions exist for sheepdogs in the Icelandic Sagas, but the Sagas contain few accounts of dogs in
general. There are, though, descriptions of exceptional dogs -- like the dog Samur, who belonged to the
Viking settler Gunnar from Hlidarendi. It is believed that Samur was an Irish Wolfhound. Bones from a large
dog that were discovered during excavations in Greenland are thought to be bones of Irish Wolfhounds
(Deild Íslenska Fjárhundsins, DÍF, 2005; Gísli Pálsson 1999: 5; Stefán Aðalsteinsson 1998 79).
There was great famine in Iceland around 990 AD. Because of the scarcity of food, it was suggested that
most dogs should be killed in order to save human lives. During the Middle Ages, sheepdogs were often
exported, especially to Great Britain, where the breed was a favorite among the aristocracy. In 1492, the
navigator and geographer Marteinn Beheim wrote that Icelanders demanded a great price for their dogs, but
would give their children away because they were unable to feed them (Deild Íslenska Fjárhundsins, DÍF,
2005, Gísli Pálsson 1999:5; Icelandic Sheepdog Committee, 2005).
In 1555, the Swedish ecclesiastic and author Olaus Magnus wrote that Icelandic Sheepdogs were popular
among the Swedish upper class, especially with priests and women. Magnus describes the dogs as light-
colored or white with a thick coat. In 1570, the prominent humanist and physician John Caius noted that
Icelandic Sheepdogs were a favorite among the British aristocracy. He observed that the dogs had such
long and thick coats that their heads could hardly be distinguished from their bodies. In William
Shakespeare’s "Henry VIII," written around 1600, an Icelandic Sheepdog is mentioned. Around 1650,
English translator and satirist Thomas Brown wrote that Icelandic sheepdogs were imported to Great Britain
as family pets but also were coveted by English sheep farmers (Deild Íslenska Fjárhundsins, DÍF, 2005,
Gísli Pálsson, 1999:5).
In 1590, Oddur Einarsson, bishop at Skalholt, describes four Icelandic dog breeds: watchdogs, sheepdogs,
pets or show dogs, and dogs used for fox hunting. Oddur states that the sheepdogs were agile workers
(Stefán Aðalsteinsson, 1981:99).
French naturalist Count de Buffon wrote an account of 30 known dog breeds in Iceland in 1755, and the
Icelandic sheepdog is included. A painting from 1763 features an Icelandic Sheepdog that was born in
Danzig (Gdansk), Poland in 1759 (Gísli Pálsson 1999:5-6).
The naturalists Eggert Ólafsson and Bjarni Pálsson give a detailed account of the Icelandic Sheepdog in their
travel journals from 1752 to 1757. They describe three different dog breeds, the first being the Icelandic
sheepdog. They describe the sheepdog as having a thick, long, and sometimes extra-long coat. The
sheepdog was used not only for herding sheep -- including bringing the flock to the shepherd -- but also to
retrieve puffins from their underground burrows. The other two breeds described were miniature hunting
dogs with a short coat and tail. Hunting dogs existed in Iceland in the 16th and 17th centuries, but are
believed to have become extinct in the late 18th century during a famine known as the Mist Hardship (Stefán
Aðalsteinsson 1998:79).
In most travel chronicles written about Iceland from this time until the 20th century, there are accounts of
Icelandic dogs. The descriptions vary somewhat, but it is clear that a distict dog breed is being described.
The dogs are said to be found in the countryside; they guard the fields, herd sheep, round up ponies and find
lost sheep in snow drifts. At that time, the price for a good dog was comparable to the price of a horse.
(Deild íslenska fjárhundsins 2005; Gísli Pálsson 1999:6; Watson 1956).

Population Fluctuations

In earlier times, the dogs were so important that several were kept at each farm. Whether they were used to
drive sheep to grazing fields in the morning and home at night, or for driving the flock to the mountains in the
spring and back in the fall, the dogs were a necessity (Stefán Aðalsteinsson 1981:99).
In 1869, it is estimated that the dog population in Iceland was around 24,000. But by 1883-1887, the
population had dropped to 10,000 (Deild íslenska fjárhundsins 2005; Gísli Pálsson 1999:6). The
explanation for the decline is an 1869 law, which required that all dogs be highly taxed except for a limited
number of sheepdogs allocated to each farm. The law was enacted because dogs were the intermediate
hosts of taenia, a large tapeworm that caused intestinal infections in humans and infections in the head of
sheep (sheep measles). Though the law resulted in a large drop in the number of dogs in Iceland, the main
cause of tapeworm infestations was a general lack of hygiene among the public (Same source; Stefán
Aðalsteinsson 1981:86).

During the 19th century and early 20th century, foreign dog breeds were imported as the population of the
Icelandic sheepdog had been greatly reduced. Christian Schierbeck, a Dane with an Icelandic medical
degree and the author of "The True Iceland Spitz," traveled a lot in Iceland during this time. Schierbeck
maintains that true Icelandic Sheepdogs could only be found on farms in remote areas of the country. During
his two years of travel in Iceland, Schierbeck -- who was an owner of an Icelandic sheepdog himself --
managed to locate only 20 dogs with the distinct features of the breed. Schierbeck held the Icelandic
Sheepdog in high regard, stating that the breed has a strong spatial orientation and is especially well-suited
to driving herds of sheep from the mountains in the fall. He maintained that the dogs recognize every member
of the herd and are a great necessity for every farmer. Schierbeck went on to state that after the Icelandic
Sheepdog population was reduced to a quarter of its original size due to different pandemics and distemper,
the price of a dog equaled the price of a horse and two sheep. In 1901, Iceland enacted a law banning the
import of all dogs (Deild íslenska fjárhundsins 2005; Gísla Pálsson 1999:6 og Watson 2005).
In the latter part of the 19th century, the Danish Army experimented with using Icelandic Sheepdogs in the
field. The dogs were trained to carry orders from one army unit to the next. Although the dogs performed
their duties successfully, these experiments were discontinued and the dogs were transferred to different
owners.
Icelandic Sheepdogs were first exhibited at a dog show at the Tivoli in Copenhagen in 1897. Three dogs
took part in the show. In 1898, the Icelandic Sheepdog was recognized as a breed in Denmark. The English
Kennel Club entered an Icelandic Sheepdog into its registry in 1905. At the same time, the club published a
breed standard that had been translated from Danish. The breed was rarely shown in England, but an
Icelandic Sheepdog advanced to “Best in Show” competition at the Crufts Dog Show in 1960 (Same
sources; Watson 1956; Palmer 1985:94).
The Iceland enthusiast Mark Watson, known for his tremendous contributions to saving the Icelandic
Sheepdog, traveled extensively in Iceland. During his first trips to the country around 1930, he located
several Icelandic sheepdogs in the countryside. But during his later trips around 1950, the Icelandic
Sheepdog was almost nowhere to be seen except in remote locations such as in Breiðdalur, where 90
percent of the dogs showed the distinct characteristics of the breed. It is clear that during this time the breed
was in grave danger of becoming extinct (Deild íslenska fjárhundsins [DÍF], 2005; Gísli Pálsson 1999:7;
Icelandic Sheepdog International Comittee 2005; Watson 1956; Stefán Aðalsteinsson 2004:26).
In order to save the breed from extinction, Watson decided to export a few males and females to California.
Páll A. Pálsson, the chief veterinary officer in Iceland, helped Watson export the dogs, but he kept one of
the females from the Vestfjords area. Soon after the dogs arrived in California, they were stricken with
distemper and some did not survive. Those who did live were bred, and the breed was kept intact. Later,
Watson moved back to England with the dogs and continued his breeding program. But over time, English
enthusiasts began breeding according to their own desires -- the dogs became shorter, more compact and
smaller-boned (see same sources; Palmer 1985:94).

Organized Breeding

Páll A. Pálsson was among the first people to realize that the Icelandic Sheepdog was facing extinction, and
he arranged to breed the female he had kept at the Keldur clinic. Organized breeding was also funded by
the Ministry of Agriculture at the town of Hveragerði (Deild íslenska fjárhundsins [DÍF], 2005).
In 1967, Sigríður Pétursdóttir started a substantial breeding program at the farm Ólafsvöllur in
Skeiðahreppur, in cooperation with Páll A. Pálsson. Sigríður worked with Mark Watson and other breeders
in England, who provided her with invaluable assistance and information. Because Sigriður’s first dogs were
too closely related to continue breeding, she obtained permission to import two puppies from Mark Watson
in England, since the breeding stock in Iceland was very poor at that time. With these few dogs, Sigríður
started her pioneering work in breeding the Icelandic sheepdog (Same source; Gísli Pálsson 1999:8-9).
In 1969, the Icelandic Kennel Club (HRFÍ) was established, and one of its goals was to protect and
advance the breeding of the Icelandic Sheepdog. Eventually the club became a member of the Fédération
Cynologique Internationale (FCI) and the Nordic Kennel Union (NKU). Today, the Icelandic Kennel Club
is an umbrella organization for owners and amateur breeders of many different breeds, but the Icelandic
Sheepdog breed club is still the largest in the organization (Same source:9; Hundaræktarfélag Íslands
[HRFÍ], 2005).
The Icelandic breed club, DÍF, was established in 1979. Its mission is the protection and advancement of
the breed under the auspices of the Icelandic Kennel Club (HRFÍ). In 1996, the president of HRFÍ, Guðrún
R. Guðjohnsen, initiated the foundation of the Icelandic Sheepdog International Committee (ISIC) in order
to encourage cooperation among countries in preserving the Icelandic Sheepdog. In addition to Iceland, the
ISIC members are Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Germany and Canada (Gísli Pálsson 1999:10;
Icelandic Sheepdog International Committee 2005).
The popularity of the Icelandic Sheepdog has increased in recent years. Though the breed is not common, it
is not in danger of becoming extinct. Every year, around 100 puppies are born in Iceland and a considerable
number are exported to Europe and North America (Deild íslenska fjárhundsins 2005, [DÍF]).

Inbreeding

Pieter Oliehoek, a Dutch biologist and specialist in genetic diversity (1999:5, 33), studied inbreeding in the
general population of the Icelandic Sheepdog from the time standardized breeding began in 1967 until 1999.
His results show the imminent threat of a decrease in genetic diversity in the population. All Icelandic
Sheepdogs that exist today are the descendants of 23 unrelated dogs, but three of the original dogs are
dominant in the genetic pool. The genes of these three dogs are behind 80 percent of the population, greatly
reducing the number of alleles available. Furthermore, Oliehoek found that it is impossible to rectify the
contribution of the descendants in the genetic pedigree.
Oliehoek's (1999:33, 39) study showed that inbreeding has minimally affected the Icelandic Sheepdog
through time -- for instance, inbreeding has not influenced the number of puppies being born. However,
Oliehoeks maintains that even though the breed has survived inbreeding, it is imperative to preserve the
genetic diversity that exists in the breed. Otherwise, the adaptation of the breed could be compromised and
certain genetic disorders could become fixed in the genetic pool. Therefore, Oliehoeks stresses the
importance of preserving small family groups, since even the smallest families have up to 60 percent of their
genetic makeup from three of the original 23 descendants.

Characteristcs/Traits

The characteristics of the Icelandic Sheepdog include his wide smile and confident and lively temperament.
The Icelandic Sheepdog is a tireless herding dog who loves to bark -- a trait that is very useful when
bringing in livestock from the fields or moving herds down the mountains. The dog is happy and sweet-
tempered, full of curiousity and loves to work. The breed is useful for many different farm chores, but today
most Icelandic Sheepdogs are kept as house pets.
Icelandic sheepdogs have been trained to assist with search and rescue, both in Iceland and abroad. The
dogs have also been trained as companion dogs for autistic children. But Icelandic Sheepdogs are still used
for herding and to search for sheep lost in snowdrifts. During bad weather when visibility is limited, the dog's
sense of smell allows him to locate sheep when people are unable to. The dog’s nose is also very useful in
collecting eggs, and the Icelandic sheepdog has been trained to locate the eggs of distict species of birds.

Original Icelandic Text: Þorsteinn Thorsteinson, Spring 2005

Translated by Anna Sigrúnardóttir and Thordur Runólfsson, Spring 2008

References

Deild íslenska fjárhundsins. 2005. 26. mars. Vefslóð: http://www.simnet.is/dif.

Eggert Ólafsson. 1981. Ferðabók Eggert Ólafssonar og Bjarna Pálssonar. Um ferðir þeirra á Íslandi árið
1752-1757. 1. bindi. Jón Eiríksson og Gerhard Schöning bjuggu frumútgáfuna til prentunar. Steindór
Steindórsson þýddi árið 1942. Bókaútgáfan Örn & Örlygur, Reykjavík. (In Icelandic)

Gísli Pálsson. 1999. Íslenski fjárhundurinn. Bókaútgáfan á Hofi. (In Icelandic)

Hundaræktarfélag Íslands. 2005, 26. march. Webpage: http://www.hrfi.is.

Icelandic Sheepdog International Comittee. 2005, 26. march. Webpage: http://www.icelanddog.org/.

Oliehoek, Pieter. 1999. Inbreeding, Effective Population Size, Mean Kinship and Cluster Analysis in the
Icelandic Sheepdog as a Small Population. Wageningen.

Palmer, Joan. 1985. Stóra hundabók Fjölva. Íslensk ritstjórn og meðhöfundur Þorsteinn Thorarensen.
Fjölvaútgáfan, Reykjavík. (In Icelandic)

Stefán Aðalsteinsson. 1981. Sauðkindin landið og þjóðin. Bjallan, Reykjavík. (In Icelandic)

Stefán Aðalsteinsson. 1998. „Uppruni íslenskra húsdýra“. Um landnám á Íslandi. Fjórtán erindi. Ráðstefnurit
V, bls. 73-80. Guðrún Ása Grímsdóttir sá um útgáfuna. Vísindafélag Íslendin