The Icelandic Spitz

One might consider upon first seeing the Icelandic Spitz dog that it belongs to the northern families of dogs which are the sled dogs and hunting dogs of the north. However its history is well chronicled as being a herding dog. It is believed that the Icelandic Spitz is a direct descendant of the Norwegian Buhund. Another name for this breed is actually the Icelandic Sheepdog. As early as 800 AD the dogs were brought to the shores of Iceland by the Vikings. The breed flourished in Iceland and was valued highly for its sheep herding abilities. Unfortunately the breed was decimated nearly to the point of extinction in the late nineteenth century by an outbreak of distemper. To further complicate matters, a ban on the importation of all mammals into Iceland was established, in part to prevent further outbreaks of this dreaded disease and also Plaque. finally in 1969 the Icelandic Dog Breeders Association was established in an effort to increase and preserve the genetic pool of the breed. Due in part to the efforts of both British and Icelandic breeders the Icelandic Spitz dog is beginning to make a shaky comeback.

The standard for the breed was first established in 1898. Today it is registered with the F.C.I. in the northern group and is a member of the Foundation Stock service of the American Kennel Club. Furthermore it is also registered with both the Canadian Kennel Club and the United Kennel Club.

The Icelandic Sheepdog or Icelandic Spitz is a heavily furred dog which carries the typical curled tail and small prick ears of other Spitz types. It is not considered a hunting breed in any respect and carries within its genetic makeup a very strong herding instinct. It is believed that this breed was used in the development of the Corgi, the Border Collie and the Shetland Sheepdog. The herding instincts of the Icelandic Spitz are legendary. The coat colors are generally red with white although there can be dogs of black or gray with a mask appearance to the face. The coat can be of the short or long variety. When the coat is short it is called a “brush coat” and the long haired variety is termed the “rough coat”. A distinctive feature of this breed is that the hind legs often carry the double dew claws, similar to the dew claws found on the rear legs of the Great Pyrenees.

The Icelandic Spitz is a friendly and affectionate family dog but does need to be well socialized from the beginning. This is a dog which matures slowly and can be quite a lively and boisterous puppy even at the age of 18 months. Because this is a dog with highly developed herding instincts, if he considers his family as his “herd” he will not become a wanderer. Actually this dog will be a territorial dog by nature and makes a good watchdog, protective of the children within his “flock” and extremely loyal.

***************************************************
* Article Source: Michael Russell
* Your Dog Guide
* Visit us for more information.
***************************************************

Yahoo! News Search Results for spitz
Yahoo! News Search Results for spitz

Trade talk centers on Spitz
The Green Bay Packers have received one or more calls asking if offensive lineman Jason Spitz is available in a trade, while other teams are waiting to see whether he or teammate Evan Dietrich-Smith will be released on Saturday, NFL sources said this week.
Spitz: Schools spark adult fights over money
Want to start a fight? Just say the word. If the word is school, a donnybrook is bound to break out.
Spitz: The 'fungus' of Natick man's life
When he looks back on 82 years of life, Arthur Wallace sees fungus. Lots and lots of fungus.
NY1 From The Floor AM: Investors Hopeful They Can Ride Yesterday's Rally
NY1's Rebecca Spitz previews the day on Wall Street from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.
Girls volleyball: Southampton Academy 3, BSH 1
Southampton Acad. ------------------------- 19 25 25 26 BSH ------------------------- 25 23 14 24 Highlights: Aileen Toomey (BSH) ace, 4 kills, save, 2 assists; Abbie Spitz (BSH) 2 aces, kill, 3 assists; Jamie Hall (BSH) 3 aces, kill, 3 saves Records: Southampton Academy 2-0 VCC, 2-0; Blessed Sacrament Huguenot 0-2, 0-2
After repairs, 1880s-era Spitz Clock will start ticking again
An antique clock on the Santa Fe Plaza that hasn't worked for a month should be keeping time again soon.
Spitz: Katrina left lessons in Ashland
After Hurricane Katrina, the Ashland businesswoman, also the Daily News' 2005 Woman of the Year, came to symbolize the local efforts to help Gulf Coast evacuees.
BIG TEN BASICS: Getting to know Indiana
By: Max Olson officially: Indiana University and nbsp; location: Bloomington, Ind. and nbsp; population: 69,291 ...
Who Is The Second-Best All-Around Male Swimmer Of All Time?
Who Is The Second-Best All-Around Male Swimmer Of All Time? -- September 2, 2010
Fehrenbacher and Haussy share first
    Olney teammates Michael Fehrenbacher and Joshua Haussy tied for first place Wednesday at Richland Country Club.     Fehrenbacher and Haussy each carded a 4-over-par 40 on the back nine. The Tigers beat the Newton Eagles 165-201 to improve to 10-0 overall and 3-0 in the Apollo Conference.     ?We didn?t play as well as we could?ve but not that bad,? Olney coach Curt Nealis said. ?We were ...