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Icelandic Breed
Standard
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Breed Standard
GENERAL APPEARANCE: The Icelandic Sheepdog is a Nordic
herding Spitz, slightly under medium sized with prick ears and a
curled tail. Seen from the side the dog is rectangular. The
expression is gentle, intelligent and happy. A confident and lively
bearing is typical for this dog. There are two types of coat, long
and short, both thick and extremely weatherproof. There is a marked
difference in appearance between the sexes.
SIZE, PROPORTION, SUBSTANCE:
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Ideal height: Dogs 18; Bitches 16 ½.
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Rectangular and strong. Seen from the side, the dog is
rectangular, the length of the body measured from the point of
shoulder to point of buttock is greater than the height at the
withers. The depth of the chest is equal to the length of the
foreleg.
HEAD: Strongly built with close fitting skin. Triangular
when seen from above or the side.
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Skull - Slightly longer than
muzzle and somewhat domed.
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Stop clearly defined though neither
steep nor high.
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Nose Black. Dark brown in chocolate brown and some
cream dogs. The nasal bridge is well-developed and straight. Muzzle
slightly shorter than skull. tapering evenly towards the nose to
form a blunt triangle when seen from both above and from the side.
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Lips - Black, close fitting. Dark brown in chocolate brown and some
cream dogs.
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Bite: Scissor bite.
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Teeth - Complete dentition.
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Cheeks Flat.
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Eyes Medium size and almond shaped. Dark brown. Slightly
lighter in chocolate brown and some cream dogs. Eye rims are black.
Dark brown in chocolate brown and some cream dogs.
-
Ears Erect and
of medium size. Triangular with firm edges and slightly rounded
tips. Very mobile, reacting sensitively to sounds and showing the
dogs mood.
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Faults - yellow or round protruding eyes.
NECK, TOPLINE, BODY:
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Neck Moderately long and muscular
with no loose skin. The neck is slightly arched and
the head is carried high.
-
Body rectangular and strong. The length
is in proportion to the height and in harmony with
general appearance.
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Back level, muscular and strong.
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Loins broad
and muscular.
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Croup moderately short and broad, very slightly
sloping and well-muscled.
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Chest long, deep and well-sprung.
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Belly
Slight tuck up.
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Tail high set, curled over and touching
the back.
FOREQUARTERS: When seen from the front the forelegs are
straight, parallel and strong.
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Angulation - Shoulders are
well laid back, oblique and muscular.
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Dewclaws Required and may be
double.
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Forefeet slightly oval, toes well-arched and tight with
well-developed pads.
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Faults No dewclaws.
HINDQUARTERS:
When seen from behind the hind legs are
straight, parallel and strong.
-
Thighs Broad and well-muscled.
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Dewclaws Required. Well-developed double dewclaws desirable.
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Hind
feet Same as forefeet.
-
Faults No dewclaws.
COAT: Double coat, thick and weatherproof. There are two
types:
-
Short-haired The outer coat of medium length,
fairly coarse, with a thick, soft undercoat. The tail is bushy
and the hair length is in proportion to the coat.
-
Long-haired
The outer coat is longer than the above, fairly coarse, with a
thick, soft undercoat. The tail is very bushy and the hair
length is in proportion to the coat.
-
In both lengths, the hair
is shorter on the face, top of the head, ears and front of the legs; and longer on the neck, chest and back of the thighs.
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In
the show ring, presentation is to be in a natural, unaltered
condition.
-
Specimens where the coat or whiskers have been
altered by trimming or clipping shall be so severely faulted as to be effectively eliminated from competition.
COLOR: Several colors are permitted but a single color
should always be predominant.
The predominant colors are:
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Various shades of tan, ranging from cream to reddish brown;
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chocolate brown, grey, and black.
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White always accompanies the
predominant color.
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The most common white markings, which are often
irregular, are a blaze or a part of the face, collar, chest, socks
of varying lengths and tip of tail.
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Lighter shading often
occurs on the underside of the dog from throat to tip of tail.
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On
tan and grey dogs, a black mask, black tips to the outer hairs and
even occasional black hairs often occur.
-
Black (tri-color) dogs have
a black coat, white markings as mentioned above and traditional
markings
in any of the various tan colors on the cheeks, over the eyes
(eyebrows) and on the legs.
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Patches of the above colors on a white background (pied) are permitted.
-
White should not be
totally predominant.
-
Fault a solid black mantle or saddle on any
of the tan colored dogs.
GAIT: Displays agility and endurance with good driving
action covering the ground effortlessly.
TEMPERAMENT: The Icelandic Sheepdog is a hardy and agile
herding dog which barks, making it extremely useful for
herding or driving livestock in the pastures, in the mountains or
finding lost sheep. The Icelandic Sheepdog is by nature
very alert and will always give visitors an enthusiastic welcome
without being aggressive. Hunting instincts are not strong. The
Icelandic Sheepdog is cheerful, friendly, inquisitive, playful and
unafraid. A confident and lively bearing is typical for this dog.
FAULTS: Any departure from the foregoing points should be
considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault
should be regarded should be in proportion to its degree.
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