Iceland’s Only Native Breed

This is a small to medium-sized purebred Spitz dog from Iceland and is, in fact, the only native breed of dog that Iceland has. It is also called the Iceland Dog, Icelandic Spitz, Friaar Dog, Iceland Spitz, Islandsk Spidshunde, Fiaarhundur and Islandsk Farehond. It was bred to guard, control and herd sheep flocks and to help round up other livestock. It also helped with pulling sledges and was (and still is) a loved family companion. They also do well in some shows and events including flyball, herding, obedience, utility and agility. It is of a similar type to the Norwegian Buhund, the Shetland Sheepdog, and the Welsh Corgi. They are commonly used to herd sheep in the Icelandic countryside.

History

The Icelandic Sheepdog very much resembles dogs found in graves in Denmark and Sweden from about 8000 BC. Dog imports to Iceland were limited and from 1901 even forbidden.

In 1650, Sir Thomas Brown wrote, “To England, there are sometimes exported from Iceland … a type of dog resembling a fox … Shepherds in England are eager to acquire them!”

Plague and canine distemper destroyed over 75% of the breed in the late 19th century, leading to a ban on the importation of dogs to Iceland. The purebred Icelandic Sheepdog was again bordering extinction in the late 20th century and in 1969, the Icelandic Dog Breeder Association (HRFÍ) was established to preserve the breed, among other aims.