Icelandic dog: characteristics and photos

If you decide to get yourself a reliable, faithful and intelligent pet, then the Icelandic sentry dog will do just fine. Breeders engaged in the cultivation of this breed can confidently state that there have been no shortcomings in its nature and the complexities of caring for it.

A bit of history

Icelandic dog, or, as it is also called, shepherd huskie - is a small national breed of Iceland, originating back in the IX century. It is believed that its ancestors are the dogs of the Germans and Celts who came to these lands in the VII century from Scotland and Ireland, and later from Norway.

Specially create a breed of dogs, which would be ideal for helping the shepherds, no one was going to. The species that these animals have now, is entirely the merit of evolution. The main estate of Iceland were farmers, so the husk, thanks to her shepherds' talents, quickly won their love and respect.

The Icelandic dog was used to guard the sheep, escort them to pastures and back home. When there was a danger for the herd from the side of predators, the husk showed seemingly completely uncharacteristic courage and aggressiveness towards the enemy and defended its wards to the last breath. And this is despite its relatively small size and good nature.

We can say that the attitude towards Icelandic dogs in farm families has always been special. They were treated not simply as a labor force, but as full-fledged members of the family, although they lived on the street with the rest of the animals.

At the very beginning of the XIX century, the country erupted an epidemic of canine plague, which almost destroyed this breed. But then enthusiasts came to the aid, and they managed to keep the Icelandic huskies. I must say that in Europe they have not become popular.

The Icelandic guard dog standard was adopted in 1898 in Denmark. It is also officially recognized in the UK. Unfortunately, the breed has not yet received a sufficiently wide distribution. In the whole world there are about 3,500 of its representatives.

Description

Icelandic shepherd husk is a well-built, strong and strong animal. Her ability to protect the house and graze is highly valued. Icelandic dog, whose characteristic is almost flawless, is always full of vitality and extremely hardy. It can be used to operate under any weather conditions and terrain types. She also has a good orientation on the terrain, she is very patient and unperturbed.

Character

The animal has a calm, friendly and cheerful disposition. She is affectionate, faithful and loving dog. Icelandic husk well coexists with other pets. In addition, she gets along very well with young children.

Animals of this breed almost never show their aggressiveness, except when they feel any danger. They quickly become attached to people and like to be in their society. If such a dog is left for a long time alone, it can experience great stress.

Care

Icelandic dog, the photo of which is presented in this article, has two layers of wool. The first one can be either long or short, but it is always straight, thick and coarse, which perfectly protects the animal from virtually any weather. The second layer is the undercoat. It is always soft, dense and thick. Moulting takes place constantly, but is intensified 2 times a year - in spring and autumn.

In order not to have an arbitrary hair loss, the animal must be combed with a rather stiff and dense brush. To bathe a dog should only in case of emergency. You also need to trim her claws from time to time.

Education

Since the Icelandic dog is very intelligent, it does not need special training. It will be enough to pass with her the course of so-called general obedience. It is strongly discouraged to apply despotic and rude methods to it. It is much better if the training is carried out consistently on the basis of firmness and justice. She learns very quickly and always seeks to earn the love and affection of her masters.

Content

Icelandic dog is completely unadapted for living in a city apartment. Since it was originally used as a working breed, it just needs regular physical activity, as well as constant active activity. That is why it is best to keep such a dog in a private house or on a farm, where there will be plenty of free space for walks or there will be some work.

Icelandic husky can also be used for small game hunting, but it can be more useful if it protects livestock.

As already mentioned above, shepherd huskies have not managed to gain popularity in Europe, having remained known only in the territory of their historical homeland. They are still used there as shepherds and guards. In addition, they have become part of the bright national identity of Iceland, which attracts tourists from all over the world.