10 Things to Know Before Getting an Icelandic Sheepdog
Thinking about bringing home an Icelandic Sheepdog? You already know they're charming — those fluffy ears and bright, curious eyes are hard to resist.
But here's the truth most cute puppy photos won't tell you: this is a working dog with a big personality and even bigger needs.
Get it right, and you'll have a joyful, loyal hiking buddy who snuggles up at night. Get it wrong, and you'll have a bored, barking bundle of frustration.
So before you fall for the fluff, let's walk through exactly what life with this breed looks like — the good, the loud, and the surprisingly clever.
A True Viking Legacy
Here's where the personality starts to make sense.
The Icelandic Sheepdog is Iceland's only native breed, tracing back to dogs brought over by Viking settlers more than a thousand years ago.
These spitz-type dogs weren't bred to sit pretty. They had a job: herding sheep across rugged, mountainous terrain in brutal weather.
That working-dog spirit is still very much alive today. When you understand what they were built to do, everything else — the energy, the barking, the cleverness — clicks into place.
“This isn't a decoration. It's a thousand-year-old worker in a fluffy coat.”
So what does that working history mean for your day-to-day life?
Super Friendly, Super Clingy
One of the best things about Icelandic Sheepdogs is how deeply affectionate they are.
They're happiest right in the heart of family life — following you from room to room, always wanting to be part of the action.
But there's a catch: this is not a dog that copes well with being left alone for long hours.
If your schedule keeps you out of the house all day, this breed will struggle — and so will you.
Velcro Loyalty
Expect a shadow. They want to be wherever you are, doing whatever you're doing.
Great With Kids
Playful, patient, and sturdy enough for family life when socialized early.
Good With Pets
They usually get along with other animals — especially with early introductions.
Watch The Birds
They were bred to ward off sky predators, so that prey instinct can still kick in.
Love to Bark — A Lot
Let's be honest about the loudest part of this breed.
Icelandic Sheepdogs are talkers. They'll bark at birds, new sounds, visitors — and sometimes just for the fun of it.
It's part of their watchdog wiring, and in the open Icelandic countryside it was a feature, not a bug.
In an apartment with thin walls? That's a different story.
Quick poll
Could you live with a dog that barks... a lot?
All that alertness comes from a body built to move. Let's talk energy.
High-Energy and Built for Action
Here's the number that scares off casual owners: these dogs need around two hours of exercise a day, minimum.
Walks, hikes, fetch, agility courses — they thrive when they have a job to do.
Without enough physical and mental stimulation, they get bored. And a bored herding dog can get destructive fast.
~2 hrs
Daily exercise this breed needs to stay happy and out of trouble
Now, here's a safety point too many first-timers miss.
Because of their strong prey drive, it's not safe to let them off-leash in open, unfenced areas.
Simply put: if it moves, they'll chase it — no matter how good your recall is.
- A daily long walk or hike
- Fetch, tug, or active play sessions
- Puzzle toys or training games for the brain
- Off-leash freedom in unfenced open space
- Relying on a quick potty walk as "enough" exercise
Smart and Trainable — With the Right Approach
Good news for anyone nervous about training: these dogs are eager to please and genuinely fun to work with.
They're sharp. Sometimes too sharp — plenty of owners report their Icelandic Sheepdog figured out how to open doors on its own.
But that intelligence comes with a condition.
These are sensitive dogs. Harsh corrections backfire and shut them down.
How to train an Icelandic Sheepdog
- Keep it positiveTreats, praise, and play get you far more than pressure ever will.
- Stay consistentSame cues, same rules, every time. Mixed messages confuse a clever dog.
- Make it short and funQuick, upbeat sessions hold their attention better than long drills.
- Channel the brainGive them problems to solve so they don't invent their own — like opening doors.
That thick coat is beautiful. Here's what it asks of you.
Grooming: Manageable But Not Mess-Free
Icelandic Sheepdogs wear a thick double coat — gorgeous, weatherproof, and yes, it sheds.
Expect the heaviest shedding in spring and fall, when they "blow" their coat and the fur tumbleweeds arrive.
The upkeep, though, is very doable if you stay ahead of it.
Weekly Brushing
One good brush a week keeps loose fur under control — bump it to daily during heavy shedding season.
Monthly Bath
A bath about once a month is usually plenty for this coat.
Nail Trims
Keep nails short to protect their joints and your floors.
Ears & Teeth
Routine ear checks and tooth brushing round out simple, regular care.
Health and Lifespan
Here's some reassuring news: the breed is generally healthy and typically lives around 12–14 years.
Like many medium-sized breeds, though, they can be prone to a few issues worth knowing about.
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Now for the big question: does your life actually fit this dog?
Living Space and Lifestyle
This is where it all comes together.
These dogs do best in homes with a yard where they can stretch their legs and explore safely.
Apartment living can be tough thanks to the combination of high energy and enthusiastic barking.
And because they're so bonded to their people, they simply aren't a fit for anyone away from home most of the day.
Active families
IdealHikers, runners, and outdoorsy households are their dream home.
Homes with a yard
GreatSafe, fenced space to burn energy suits them perfectly.
Families with kids
GreatPlayful and affectionate with early socialization.
Apartment dwellers
ToughBarking and energy make close quarters a challenge.
People away all day
Not idealThis clingy breed struggles with long hours alone.
Bird owners
CautionOld prey instincts toward birds can still surface.
Pros
You'll love them if...
- You want a loyal, cheerful hiking companion
- You have time and energy for daily activity
- You have a yard and an active lifestyle
- You enjoy a dog that's always by your side
Cons
Think twice if...
- You want a quiet, low-maintenance lap dog
- You're out of the house all day
- You live in a small apartment with close neighbors
- You can't commit to ~2 hours of daily exercise
Frequently Asked Questions
They can be — but only for active first-timers ready to commit to daily exercise and consistent, positive training. Their intelligence and eagerness to please make them rewarding, but their energy and barking can overwhelm someone expecting a mellow starter dog.
Yes. Barking is baked into their watchdog nature. They'll sound off at birds, sounds, and visitors. Early training and a solid "quiet" cue help manage it, but expect a vocal dog.
Not long. They're deeply people-oriented and prone to loneliness and boredom when isolated for hours. A few hours is fine; full workdays alone are not a good fit for the breed.
Generally, yes. They tend to be playful, affectionate, and patient family dogs, especially when socialized early. As always, supervise interactions with very young kids.
Usually, with early socialization. They often live happily alongside other pets. Birds are the exception — their instinct to ward off sky predators can still surface.
Plan for around two hours a day of physical and mental activity. Walks, hikes, fetch, and puzzle games all count. Skimp on this and boredom-driven destruction tends to follow.
For most owners, it's the combination of high exercise needs and frequent barking. Both are manageable with structure and training, but neither disappears entirely.
Like most herding breeds, expect high adolescent energy through the first year or two. Consistent exercise and training help enormously, but a truly "calm" Icelandic Sheepdog is still an active dog.
Sviatoslav Oleksiv founded The Pets and Love in 2019. A lifelong pet owner and Rhodesian Ridgeback enthusiast, he writes and edits our guides to help fellow pet parents give their animals the best care.
Every guide follows our editorial standards. This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice — always consult a licensed veterinarian about your pet's health.