Spitz herding dog Medium size 9-14 kg

Icelandic Sheepdog

A friendly, vocal Nordic herding spitz - trainable and great with family, but talkative and shedding heavily, needing daily activity.

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Find out how this breed matches your household

Quick overview

Medium
Size
9-14 kg, 42-46 cm
High
Activity
High stamina; needs a long daily walk plus play
Moderate
Alone-time tolerance
Handles a normal workday with routine
Easy
Trainability
Willing and quick with consistency
Moderate
Coat care
Double coat; regular brushing and heavy seasonal shedding
Excellent
Fit with kids
Gentle and patient with respectful children
Good
Other pets
Pack-social; usually fine with other dogs
Moderate
Health burden
Hip dysplasia, eye disease, patella issues

The Icelandic Sheepdog typically weighs 9-14 kg, stands 42-46 cm, and lives 12-15 years.

Consider this breed if…

you want a friendly, trainable family dog that loves children,
you can give a daily walk plus play and some training,
you can keep up with a heavy-shedding double coat,
an alert, talkative watchdog voice fits your home and neighbors.

Do not consider this breed if…

you need a quiet dog and cannot tolerate frequent barking,
you or your neighbors will not accept heavy seasonal shedding,
you want a low-energy lap dog for minimal walks,
the dog would be alone for long stretches most days.

A typical day with a Icelandic Sheepdog

  1. 6:30 · Morning
    Brisk 45-60 min walk with sniffing and play
  2. 9:00 · Midmorning
    Settles at home; enjoys being near the family
  3. 12:30 · Noon
    Short walk or a game in the yard
  4. 16:00 · Afternoon
    Training, trick work, or agility, 15-20 minutes
  5. 18:30 · Evening
    Longer walk or hike, then relaxed family time
  6. 21:00 · Night
    Sleeps calmly indoors near its people

Temperament and training

Trainability High
Herding instinct High
Vocality Very high
Friendliness Very high
Sensitivity High
Guarding tendency Moderate
Common owner mistakes
Ignoring the barking early instead of training a quiet cue · Underestimating the seasonal shed and skipping regular brushing · Leaving a people-oriented spitz alone and bored too often

Family and environment

Kids Excellent
Patient and playful; one of its strongest suits.
Dogs Good
Sociable and generally friendly with other dogs.
Cats Conditional
Usually fine when raised together; may try to herd.
Apartment Conditional
Possible with exercise, but the barking can be an issue for neighbors.
House with a yard Suitable
A yard suits an active herding spitz well.
City Conditional
Manageable with training and daily exercise.
Countryside Ideal
Space, activity, and things to watch over suit it perfectly.
Health data provided by RealVetCost
Overall health burden Moderate

Detailed health data - inheritance, prevalence, course, and typical treatment costs - lives in a separate expert database. This is general guidance, not veterinary advice - confirm any decision with your vet.

View the full health profile
Top health concerns
Hip Dysplasia Screen breeding stock; manage weight and joint load
Patellar Luxation Kneecap can slip; surgery if severe
Cataracts / Eye Disease Yearly eye checks help catch changes early
Dental Disease Routine home care and cleanings reduce risk

Similar breeds - by reason

Not visually similar - similar in what they mean for you.

Similar Nordic herding spitz
Norwegian Buhund
An energetic, trainable herding spitz that needs a job and plenty of exercise; bright, friendly, and vocal by nature.
View profile →
Small Scandinavian herding breed
Vastgotaspets
A sturdy little Swedish herder full of energy and smarts - a fun family dog that needs a job to do.
View profile →
Another vocal Nordic spitz
Finnish Spitz
A bright, foxy spitz and a famously vocal barker, rewarding for an active owner who can manage the noise and independence.
View profile →

Frequently asked questions

How much does an Icelandic Sheepdog cost?
The breed is fairly rare outside Iceland and Scandinavia, so in the US expect roughly $1,500-$2,500 from a reputable breeder along with waitlists and possible travel. The lifetime figure is larger: food, routine care, grooming supplies, and dental work add up to several thousand dollars over the years, plus a cushion for the hip, knee, and eye issues seen in the breed.
Do Icelandic Sheepdogs bark a lot?
Yes. Vocality is a defining trait, bred in from watching flocks and warning of aerial predators. They are alert and talkative and will bark at movement, visitors, and birds. Training a reliable quiet cue early helps, but people wanting a silent dog should look elsewhere.
Are Icelandic Sheepdogs good family dogs?
Very much so. They are friendly, affectionate, and known for being excellent and patient with children, while also getting along with other dogs. Their main demands are daily exercise, regular brushing for a heavy-shedding coat, and tolerance for their barking.
How much grooming does an Icelandic Sheepdog need?
It has a thick double coat that sheds year-round and blows heavily twice a year. Weekly brushing keeps it manageable most of the time, increasing to daily during the seasonal sheds. It is not a high-maintenance trim coat, but it does put a lot of hair around the house.