Meet Britain’s newest dog breed! The Icelandic Sheepdog is officially recognized by the Kennel Club, making it the 224th breed in Britain
From crazy Golden Retrievers to cheeky Chow Chows, Britain is home to hundreds of different dog breeds.
Now we have welcomed a new breed to the pack.
The Kennel Club has officially granted recognition to the Icelandic Sheepdog.
This makes it the 224th largest purebred dog breed in Britain.
The Icelandic Sheepdog is believed to have existed in the Scandinavian countries for over 1,000 years, after being brought to Iceland by the original Viking settlers.
About twenty of these medium-sized ‘Icelanders’, which are said to make excellent pets, now live in Britain.
“We are delighted to recognize the Icelandic Sheepdog as an official breed from April,” said Bill Lambert, spokesperson for The Kennel Club.
‘The slow but steady growth in the number of purebred breeds in this country means people have an even wider choice when finding the right dog for them.’
The Kennel Club has officially granted recognition to the Icelandic Sheepdog. This makes it the 224th largest purebred dog breed in Britain
The Icelandic Sheepdog is believed to have existed in the Scandinavian countries for over 1,000 years, having been brought to Iceland by the original Viking settlers
The Icelandic Sheepdog has ancient origins and is even referenced in the Sagas, which are over 1,000 years old.
Believed to be a descendant of the dogs brought to Iceland by the Vikings, the breed has a dense coat, foxy face, pointed ears and a bushy, curly tail.
He comes in a variety of colors, including black and white, red and white, and smoky gray, and is said to make an excellent family dog.
It is the fourth new breed to be recognized in Britain in the past five years.
The Kennel Club also added the Polish Hunting Dog earlier this year, joining the Smooth-faced Pyrenean Sheepdog in 2021 and the Barbet in 2020.
“The process of being recognized as a breed by the Kennel Club takes several generations of dogs,” Mr Lambert explained.
‘But once we recognize a breed, it means we know it has a reliable lineage that will give people a dog with predictable characteristics in terms of temperament, health, exercise and grooming needs, helping dogs find homes with the right owners . ‘
The first three Icelandic Sheepdogs were imported into Britain from Iceland and Germany in 2017.
He comes in a variety of colors, including black and white, red and white, and smoky gray, and is said to make an excellent family dog.
And since then, the breed has been developed here by a small group of enthusiasts, who have even founded their own breed club.
Wendy Laker is part of the group and was the one who submitted the breed to the Kennel Club for recognition.
‘It takes time to build a breed responsibly and gain recognition in Britain, but we have worked hard to bring in lines from different countries and build relationships with passionate breeders, who will ensure the right people breed, buy and I love these amazing dogs,” she said.
‘And in the future this means the breed can compete at Crufts for the prestigious title of Best in Show, which is exciting for everyone who loves these charming dogs.’
In terms of what the dogs are like, Ms Laker describes the breed as ‘friendly, active and intelligent’.
“They can certainly be noisy and bark to warn, this is because they were originally bred as herding dogs that barked to keep animals in a herd, communicate with their owners and protect the young of their flock,” she added .
‘They are medium sized and love being part of the family and taking part in what’s going on, but they also love to relax for a bit!
‘As a Spitz breed, they need regular care and owners who are committed to this and keep their bodies and minds active.’
Following its new designation as a pedigree breed in Great Britain, the Icelandic Sheepdog will be included in the Kennel Club’s Imported Breed Register from 1 April 2025.
Once the breed standard has been drawn up and approved, it is included in the main breed register.