Dog breeds :
Friaar Dog / Iceland Dog / Icelandic Sheepdog / Islandhund / Islandsk Farehond
Orri av Isheim, owner: Birgitte & Anders Fyllgraf
General
The Iceland Sheepdog is a typical Nordic Spitz, having pricked ears and curled tail. Seen from the side while standing the dog is rectangular, longer
than high, the ratio depending on individual harmony. There are two types of coat, but at all times thick and efficiently water-repellent. The ears are very
mobile. Movement is brisk, free and easy; the breed has very great endurance. There is a marked difference in appearance between the sexes.
Characteristics
The Icelandic Sheepdog is a large dog in the body of a
small dog.
This means that it is a dog of great self-esteem and great
determination. A very enduring dog, capable of solving
many different tasks. A dog that will not nescesarily yield
to a larger and stronger dog.
It has for centuries been bred on its abilities, rather than
for its good looks. Iceland is a large, rural og sparcely
inhabited country. Despite the many bloody accounts in
the Sagas, there has been litlle or no need for a fierce and
aggressive watchdog, and you have been able to
concentrate on other important abilities:
Guarding instincts, and the will to sound the alarm by
barking.
Protecting the sheepflocks and newborn lambs against
birds of prey, hence its characteristic ability to observe
and bark at everything that approaches from above.
The dog will want to protect little domestic animals like
colts and lambs, but still be interested in hunting litlle
rodents.
And the dog will act as a living fence around the premises
that he considers to be the territory belonging to his family.
Temperament
The Iceland Sheepdog is lively, friendly, inquisitive and courageous, the countenance is contented, frequently smiling.
History
In 1994 the Icelandic Kennel Club, HRFÍ, and the Icelandic
breed-club, DÍF, after many years of work, succeeded in
convincing the Icelandic Parliament, the Allthingi, that it was a
national responsibility to preserve the Icelandic Sheepdog as an
inheritance of Icelandic culture.
Allthingi decided to give the Minister of Agriculture the mission to
form a committee in Iceland with the purpose to overlook the
future of the Icelandic Sheepdog as a national breed to preserve.
The HRFÍ chairman of that time, Gudrun R. Gudjohnsen, became
one of the committee-members. When the majority of the
committee thought they were ready for a final proposal, HRFÍ did
not agree. According to them, a lot of basic information
necessary for the final proposal was missing.
HRFÍ and DÍF looked for support abroad, mainly in Sweden, and
with the help of the swedish breedclub, Islandhunden-Sverige, the
first international breed-club support was given through a
common document to the Nordic Kennel Union in january 1996,
signed by breedclubs and representatives from Sweden,
Norway, Denmark, Holland and Finland.
This was the real start of official international cooperation
between responsible breedclubs/breedrepresentatives and
resulted in international seminars in Sweden 1996, Iceland 1997,
Holland 1998 and Denmark 1999.
Origin
Iceland (Scandinavia)
Utilization
The dog has pronounced herding instincts, but is not very keen on hunting. It is thus a particularly good
herding dog and an excellent guard without being fierce.
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