Icelandic Sheepdog Care

The Icelandic Sheepdog (commonly called the "Icie" for short) is a friendly, active herding dog with a history of protecting sheep and other livestock from predatory birds and other carnivores. In fact, even now Icies have the peculiar habit of staring at the sky and barking loudly at any birds they see! Quirks aside, these affectionate dogs are beloved by owners everywhere--in part because they don't take a lot of work to maintain.

Below you'll find plenty of details on Icelandic Sheepdog care: puppy development, exercise needs, diet and nutrition, and more. For answers to all your questions about caring for an Icelandic Sheepdog, read on!

Icelandic Sheepdogs are athletic and pretty active, so they'll need a good bit of exercise to keep them happy, healthy, and long-living. With their history as livestock herders, Icies are intelligent and task-oriented, so they respond best to activities that stimulate them mentally as well as physically.

Specifically how much exercise does an Icelandic Sheepdog need each day? The typical adult Icie, depending on its age and overall activity level, will do well with an hour of proper physical activity per day. You can start exercising your Icie puppy at three months of age by taking it on short (5- to 10-minute) leashed walks, then increasing the walks' length and frequency as the puppy grows.

A few things to keep in mind when exercising your Icelandic Sheepdog: first, puppies younger than nine months old shouldn't participate in activities that include a lot of jumping, running, and navigating of stairs, as doing so can injure their still-developing bones and joints. And regardless of age, an Icie will need to be leashed when in public. These dogs have high prey drives, and are liable to chase interesting-looking critters--especially birds!--if given the chance; they're also know to be fond of chasing cars. A leash will help you keep your Icie from chasing every crow (or Chevy) it sees when you're out and about. Finally, Icies form strong bonds with their human family members, and are known to suffer separation anxiety if left alone--so they'll be more eager to perform exercises in which one or more of their humans also participates.

Precautions aside, it's important to exercise your Icie every single day. If bored or restless, a dog of this breed will become frustrated, disobedient, and destructive (especially if left alone); Icies are also frequent barkers, so if under-exercised they'll likely bark until you're sick of the sound. Consistent exercise will be good for the dog's peace of mind--and your own sanity as well. A few exercise ideas:

• Walking: Two 20-minute walks per day is a good target
• Fetch: An Icie will love chasing a ball or stick
• Hide-and-Seek: Great indoor rainy-day activity; give the dog a treat when it finds you
• Canine Sports: These dogs excel in obedience and agility trials, flyball, and other competitions
• Hiking: Excellent bonding activity; bonus if you can find a remote area where the dog can be off-leash

When indoors, it's a good idea to give your Icie access to one or more balls or toys that will allow the dog to burn excess energy. It's also recommended that you establish a regular exercise schedule for your Icie, such as walks after breakfast and dinner and a play period in the afternoon.

In terms of shedding and drooling, these dogs need a moderate amount of care. Icelandic Sheepdog shedding is fair for most of the year, and heavier during the spring and fall shedding seasons; drooling is basically a non-issue.

Icies have thick double coats that shed an average amount--but every spring and fall they "blow" their coats while a new one grows in, and the shedding will be heavier during these 2- to 3-week periods. Weekly brushing, owners say, will minimize the shedding somewhat; daily brushing will be required during shedding season. Owners of these dogs can expect to use the vacuum on floors and lint rollers on clothes and furniture from time to time to pick up stray hairs.

Icelandic Sheepdogs rarely drool--possibly in anticipation of food, but that's about it. If your Icie is drooling excessively, it may be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care will be necessary.

Like all breeds, Icelandic Sheepdogs will need food that's packed with animal proteins and carbohydrates for energy, vitamins and minerals for digestive and immune health, and omega fatty acids for coat and skin wellness. This means that the best Iceland Dog food is premium dry kibble, because it has balanced portions of the above-listed ingredients your Icie will need to maintain its health and longevity.

Taste of the Wild and Blue Buffalo are two brands that have excellent lines of premium kibble. These high-quality foods, while more expensive and difficult to obtain, are much better for your Icie to eat on a daily basis. Cheap, generic dog food is not recommended for Icelandic Sheepdogs, because it contains mostly empty "filler" ingredients that won't sustain the dog's health in the long term, and may even shorten its lifespan.

But how much of this premium food will an Icelandic Sheepdog need? The average adult Icie, depending on its age, size, and activity level, will need 2-2½ cups per day, divided into two meals. An Icie puppy, again depending on its age, will need a bit less: about 1½ cups per day, divided into three meals (not two) until the age of six months. For further details on feeding an Icelandic Sheepdog from puppyhood through maturity, here's a feeding chart:

*--Around this time, transition to adult food by first mixing in a bit of adult formula with the puppy formula. Over the course of a week, with each meal add a little more adult food to the mixture, until the dog is eating it entirely.

If possible, try to stick to the above-listed portions. Constantly overfeeding your Icie may cause the dog to become overweight--and a fat Icelandic Sheepdog will have joint, breathing, and digestive problems, not to mention a shortened lifespan. You can help control your Icie's weight by establishing consistent feeding and exercise schedules, by not feeding the dog table scraps or other "human" food, and by not leaving food in the dog's bowl all the time, thereby allowing it to eat anytime it wants. It's better to put your Icie's bowl down only at mealtimes, then pick it up 20 minutes or so after the dog begins eating.

If you're worried your Icelandic Sheepdog is overweight, give the dog this simple test: run a hand along its side, and if you can't feel any ribs, it's diet time. Reduce your Icie's daily food consumption by one-fourth, and add an extra walk or play period to its daily exercise schedule.