How to Identify an Icelandic Sheepdog

An Icelandic Sheepdog may have a short-haired or long-haired coat. ^[8]

1. 1
   Know how to spot the short-haired coat. In a short-haired coat, Icelandic Sheepdogs should have an outer coat that is medium in length, with a relatively coarse feel. The undercoat should be soft and thick, and the length of the dog's hair on the tail should be in proportion with their coat. ^[9]
2. 2
   Identify the long-haired coat. Icelandic Sheepdogs with a long-haired coat have a longer outer coat, that is relatively coarse. The undercoat should be soft and thick, and once again, the tail hair length should be in proportion with the rest of the dog's coat. ^[10]
3. 3
   Recognize some general traits of this breed's coat. Regardless of what length their coat is, all Icelandic Sheepdogs should have hair that is of a shorter length on their ears, face, the top of their head and the front of their legs. The dog's hair should be longer on their chest, the back of their thighs and their neck. ^[11]
4. 4
   See what color the dog's coat is. Regardless of coat length, Icelandic Sheepdogs may be predominantly black, grey, chocolate brown, or tan (in a variety of shades). The predominant color should always be accompanied by white. ^[12]
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1. 1
   Find out if the dog is affectionate. Icelandic Sheepdogs are affectionate dogs who typically want to be friends with anyone they meet. ^[13]
2. 2
   Look for loyalty. Icelandic Sheepdogs are known to be very loyal dogs, who enjoy being with their family. ^[14]
3. 3
   Take note of bird-watching. Icelandic Sheepdogs are known to love watching (and sometimes barking at) birds, so this is something you have to be aware of, since having a pet bird may not be the best idea with this breed. ^[15]
4. 4
   Be aware of barking. Icelandic Sheepdogs bark pretty much whenever they see something, and will need consistent training from an early age in order to help them learn to only bark when necessary. ^[16]
5. 5
   Recognize an outgoing personality. Icelandic Sheepdogs are outgoing, though they should not be pushy or aggressive. ^[17]
6. 6
   Understand that this dog is sociable. As mentioned earlier, Icelandic Sheepdogs love making new friends. In fact, they love being around people in general and typically do well with children (though, like any dog, they will need supervision when around them). ^[18]
7. 7
   Realize that this dog likes to chase things. Icelandic Sheepdogs like chasing things, cars in particular, so they will need to be leashed whenever they are not in a fenced-in area. ^[19]
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