The Icelandic Sheep Dog
The Icelandic Sheepdog, the national dog of Iceland, has accompanied the Icelandic people since the settlement era and is an inseparable part of the country's history and culture. In 2025, we will open a unique exhibition at Lýtingsstaðir in Skagafjörður, dedicated to this remarkable breed and its story. Come and experience this extraordinary exhibition - history, knowledge, and a truly memorable experience await you!
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Highlights from March
March has been quite eventful, and I'm happy to share the latest updates here. The building that will host the exhibition is almost ready, and we can soon start setting up. I've finished writing all the texts for the exhibition panels, which are currently with the designer and will soon go to print. This has been a significant and extensive project, and there will likely be eight panels in total. Initially, I didn't intend to have too much text, but after two and a half years of gathering materials, it didn't feel right to shorten everything significantly, especially since it's been carefully organized. Still, what appears on the panels will only be a fraction of what I've written. I'm also planning to better organize the content on this website to make it more accessible and coherent with the exhibition. Recently, I was asked whether this should be called an "exhibition about the Icelandic Sheepdog" or the "Icelandic Sheepdog Heritage Center" (Sögusetrið Íslenska fjárhundsins). After careful consideration, I believe "Heritage Center" is more appropriate, as the exhibition will be ongoing. At the beginning of the month, Darren Adam, a reporter from RÚV English radio, visited me and interviewed me about the Icelandic Sheepdog and my project. [You can listen to the interview here](https://www.ruv.is/english/2025-03-21-ruv-english-radio-the-icelandic-sheepdog-439412). On March 8th, we hosted a small event we called ["Puppy Cuddling with the National Dog."](https://www.facebook.com/events/593096123885848/?active_tab=discussion) Connie from Breiðanes kennel visited us with her puppies, sired by my dog Sómi and Breiðanes Björt, who is featured in the December month of the DÍF 2025 calendar. We had wonderful visitors and both, young and old, enjoyed cuddling the puppies, There was a lot of engaging conversation about dogs and breeding. Two beautiful male puppies from this litter of seven are still looking for their forever homes as I write this, and I hope they find their families soon. **If you are interested, please get in touch with me!** Quite unexpectedly, one puppy remained with me that day, but I had long dreamed of having a puppy from Sómi. That's how Fönn entered our lives, and the picture above shows her. Now there's lots of joy on the farm, and it's delightful watching her grow and thrive. She is incredibly friendly, gentle, and clever. It's essential to closely monitor what she learns and adopts. Luckily, Sómi and Hraundís are well behaving dogs, so she has excellent role models. Fönn shows great interest in the horses we care for daily and even greets the rams housed in the stable. Lambing season is approaching, and this brings to mind the words of Reverend Jónas Jónasson from Hrafnagil, in his book Íslenzkir þjóðhættir: **"A dog raised in late winter (þorri or góa) is ideal because it's suitably aged for introduction to lambs in spring."** Last Friday, Fönn greeted her first group of tourists and did so admirably. When I was showing the guests the turf house, Hraundís led her onto the turf house roof, where she sat for the first time. You can follow the daily life of our Icelandic Sheepdog team at Lýtingsstaðir on Instagram using the hashtag [#fjarhundur.](https://www.instagram.com/fjarhundur/) Finally, I'm excited to share that a short film recorded in January premiered last Friday. In it, I tell my story here in Iceland and describe my relationship with the animals. The dogs (only two at that time) also have a small role. [You can watch the film here.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_prycnrCIA) That's all the news for now!
First dog show in Iceland
In 1969, the Icelandic Kennel Club (HRFÍ) was founded at Hótel Saga in Reykjavík by 29 enthusiasts dedicated to breeding the Icelandic Sheepdog. One of the club’s key objectives was to preserve and promote the breed. On August 25, 1973, HRFÍ held the first dog show in Iceland, which took place in Hveragerði. Jean Lanning from England was the judge at the show and received a special exemption to officiate, as the event was not internationally recognized—HRFÍ had not yet been registered as a breeding club abroad. A total of 60 dogs were entered in the show. The largest group consisted of Icelandic Sheepdogs (23 in total), followed by Poodles (13), Collies (9), and various other breeds. Among the guests at the show was Mark Watson. In 2011, Þorsteinn Thorsteinsson, an Icelandic dog breeder and judge, interviewed Jean Lanning, in which she reminisced about this first dog show in Iceland and her acquaintance with Mark Watson. I would like to republish a part of Þorsteinn's article here, with his permission. The full article can be read in [**Hundalífspóstur**.](https://hundalifspostur.is/2016/03/23/jean-lanning-judge-and-breeder/) ### **Excerpt from Þorsteinn Thorsteinsson’s Article** _"The first dog show in Iceland was organized by the Icelandic Kennel Club at Eden in Hveragerði in August 1973. However, it should be noted that this was an unofficial show, and no championship points were awarded. The judge for this event was none other than Jean Lanning, who found the progress since then to be remarkable. 'If I recall correctly, the show was held in a large glass building. I was sent to Iceland at the invitation of the honorable Mark Watson, a noble and wealthy Englishman who admired Iceland and the Icelandic Sheepdog. I believe your country awarded him the Falcon Order.'”_ Jean Lanning operated a busy dog hotel, where she first encountered the Icelandic Sheepdog. _"From time to time, a sweet little female dog named Kim stayed with us. I believe this was in the 1950s or 1960s, and her formal name was Hrefna of Wensum. Her family had to give her up, so we took her in. She was a delightful dog, and we grew very fond of her. She was successful at championship shows in the Y-group, which was the category for unrecognized breeds at the time.”_ _"One day, Mark Watson visited us. He had just returned from Iceland and was concerned that the breed might go extinct there. At the time, Sigríður Pétursdóttir was breeding Icelandic Sheepdogs on her farm but needed new bloodlines. Mark asked us to breed from Kim and another female dog living in Southampton. Both of these pairings were quite inbred, but Mark was finally able to give Sigríður two puppies. He also bought a pair from her, which he gave to me. We continued breeding the dogs for a while, but I was not entirely satisfied with the soft coat of the new dogs from Iceland. The dogs from Mark Watson’s line had a coarser coat, which I preferred. However, I understand that the breed standard for Icelandic Sheepdogs allows for two coat types. When I have judged them in Iceland, I have been very pleased with the breeding standards. The breed owes a great deal to Mark Watson and Sigríður Pétursdóttir.”_ She continued to talk about Watson and the Icelandic Sheepdog: _"I understand that he took his first dogs to California, but when he returned to England, the population had dwindled somewhat because he lost many dogs to a virus known as Hard Pad at the time. Eventually, he lost interest in breeding dogs and moved to London, where he ran a fine antique shop on Old Brompton Road. I said that he was a distinguished English gentleman—I believe he was the son of some noble lord.”_ Jean noted that no one else had continued breeding Icelandic Sheepdogs in Britain, and unfortunately, the breed died out there. The reasons were a lack of interest and a small breeding population. _"We bred a beautiful female (she appears on many postcards today) who lived with a lovely family in Guildford. They intended to breed from her, but sadly, she was killed in a road accident. Perhaps someone will bring the Icelandic Sheepdog to England again. It would be nice if that could happen.”_ ### **My reflections on the Breed’s Recognition in Britain** I find it remarkable that these are the only records I have come across so far regarding the puppies that Sigríður Pétursdóttir received from Mark Watson. I am also thrilled that the breed has finally been recognized in Britain, as I have written about before. It took many years, despite the fact that the Icelandic Sheepdog was highly sought after in Britain during the Middle Ages and despite Mark Watson’s efforts in the 20th century to breed and exhibit the Icelandic Sheepdog there. ### **Additional Articles (in Icelandic only)** To conclude, I would like to add two articles about Jean Lanning and the dog show in Iceland in 1983: * [**Morgunblaðið, September 7, 1983**](https://timarit.is/page/1579713#page/n27/mode/2up) * [**Vikan, October 27, 1983**](https://timarit.is/page/4503228#page/n5/mode/2up)
Watson's search for typical Icelandic dogs
Þórhildur Bjartmarz, a dog trainer and former chairman of the Icelandic Kennel Club (1997–2005), has extensive knowledge of the history of dogs in Iceland and has compiled sources for lectures she calls _Dog Life in the Nation's History_. Þórhildur discovered various interesting details about Mark Watson’s efforts to save the Icelandic Sheepdog breed. Her articles can be found on her website, [_Hundalífspóstur_](https://hundalifspostur.is/). With her kind permission, I have been allowed to republish this material, for which I am very grateful. In the article [_On the Outlook for the True Type of Dogs_](http://hundalifspostur.is/2016/04/02/on-the-outlook-for-the-true-type-of-dogs/), she published Watson’s correspondence with several Icelanders who assisted him in finding dogs that still carried the characteristics of the Icelandic Sheepdog. Among them was Haukur Snorrason, editor of _Tíminn_. 1. **Letter:** In this letter from Mark Watson to H. Snorrason, he described the types of dog he should look for. _DOGS_ _I want two dogs and two bitches not to be more than seven years old and not younger than one year. They are to be typical Icelandic Dogs. Small Prick Ears, a really good coat, golden colour (Gulkolottur), strong shoulders and not too long in the leg or body, must have a well curled and bushy tail which lies flat on the back._ _In the following book there is a picture of an Icelandic dog which might be helpful to Mr. Arni Thorbjornsson. The book is called “Kennslubok I Dyrafraedi”._ _We saw one good but rather old dog at Hoskuldsstadir and we also saw his mother who is eleven years old and were told the grandmother was very beautiful bitch. We also saw a dog at the farm of David Olafsson at Hvitarvellir which was good except for the ears which were rather large and one was not enough pricked._ 2. **Letter:** From H. Snorrason to Mark Watson in August _Thing regarding the dogs have been moving even if somewhat slowly. But it will necessarily have to take some time if we are to find the right type of dog and be sure we select the right type. Since we have to look for them in isolated district, it is also a question of finding the right people to go there. I thought we would have to wait and see how Thorbjornsson fared in his search in Oraefi before deciding on the next step. We shall now know in a week or so._ 3. **Letter:** _Akureyri, 30th August 1955_ _Dear Mark_ _A. Thorbjornsson returned to Reykjavík from the Oraefi-district today. He has been weather-bound there for a few days. I have just talked to him on the telephone. The result of his trip is very disappointing. He says he has visited all the likely farms in the district, but nowhere found the true type of dog. It seems that the farmers there have been anxious to have their bitches bred by foreign dogs. It is the old story. Anyway his report is in short: Only one dog he was comes anywhere near the true type. He brought back this one photograph, but has no high hope you will like it. The next step I think will be to send a trustworthy man from here to the rather remote Bardardalur in Thingeyjarsysla, and to let Thorbjornsson visit the sheep-folds now in two weeks’ time, in Skagafjord and Hunavatnssysla, when the farmers gather their sheep from the mountains. On the sheepfolds are to be seen most of the dogs from each district. Thorbjornsson has promised to go there in these two districts, and I could arrange trips from here to the eastern districts._ 4. **Letter:** _Translation of letter from A. Thorbjornsson to H. Snorrason, dated 25th Sept. 1955_ _I travelled to Raykjavik on August 20th to fly to Fagurholsmyri. I stayed four days in the Oraefi district and travelled over the whole of it, visiting every farm. It so happened that I could go along with the postman, who was going about the district during these days. I did not have to pay any fare for travelling in his car, and for one night in Skaftafell I was not charged. But I stayed three nights at Fagurholsmyri and paid kr 150,00 for the lodging._ _I saw all the dogs in the district and found that they were not suitable. I took one picture, of a black bitch at Svinafell, which, however, is not satisfactory._ _I am very sorry that the results are so poor._ _Sincerely A. Thorbjornsson_ 5. **Letter:** _Akureyri, Sept. 1955_ _As Thorbjornsson was not able to go to Jokuldalur afterwards, I decided to send my man, Davidsson, who accompanied you to Skagafjord, to Jokuldalur. He spent some time there, and talked to many farmers and had a good look at the dogs I had seen this summer. He is back with a kodacolor film which I am sending you airmail under separate cover. The result is doubtful. In a report on his trip he says:_ _“ In Jokuldalur the dogs seem to be mixed with other types as elsewhere and the individual dogs differ much in colour, built and general appearance. On the farm of Hvanna there are I think some dogs who come closest to the dog Mr. Watson has been describing. The accompanying photographs can be explained as follows:_ **Picture 1: Male Kópur**, a fairly large dog, three years old, yellowish or golden colour. Tail well curled, ears not very well pricked. Mother is Nafna black in colour. Said to be a clever sheep-dog. From Hvanna Jokuldalur. Well suited for our purposes except that the ears are not quite right. **Picture 2:** **Female Brana** is 14 monts old, yellowish rather low on the leg, ears well pricked, tail curled. Mother is Nafna, black, 9 years old, has not had whelps for some time. This mother is a pretty dog and very clever. **Picture 3: Male Mosi,** 6 months old. Brown in colour, white feet. Ear well pricked, tail curled. Mother is Brana. **Picture 4: Male** from Finnastadir, Eyjarfjord-district, yellowish, ears are not well pricked, but otherwise it has the right built. **Picture 6**: Nafna, the black female, 9 years old, mentioned above. Mother comes from farm Hjarðarhagi in Jokuldalur, a blak female, now very old, said to be clever. **Picture 8:** Dog in Jokuldalur, not of the right type, but common on the farms there. **Picture** \*\*VIII:\*\*The common dog type in Jokuldalur, and neighbourhood. Yellowish, rather long on the leg, tail not quite curled. Ears well pricked. Owner: Farmer at Skjoldolfsstadir. _All the dogs described pictures 1-7 could be bought. Seem to be likely to start breeding of Iceland type sheep dog. In my view the best dogs I have seen are “Brana” the female described under picture II, and the dog Mr. Watson saw in Hoskuldsstaðir in Skagafjord when I accompanied him there.”_ _This is the report of Mr. Davidsson, but hopes his photographs have turned out, I do not know. I hope they are good enough to give you the necessary information as to whether we should plan to take any of the dogs from Hvanna. In a few days I trust to have the information and film from Thorbjornsson, and will then write you again._ 6. **Letter:** _Akureyri, October 5th 1955_ _Dear Mark._ _As to the dogs we have not found anything better than Brana and Bosi, and so far only the two which ca be said at all to be satisfactory. I have talked on the telephone to the farmer at Hvanna owner of Brana, and he will come to terms and let us have the dog. It can be flown here from Egilsstadir at a short notice. He says Brana has had whelps twice. She is not pregnant now he states. When she last came in season he says he is not sure._ _I cabled today and I had come to a satisfactory arrangement of Bosi. The farmer cane here and we had a lengthy discussion. He finally agreed to let us have the dog, and I can send form him when we are ready. He would like to have a photograph of Bosi in his new surroundings, and to know when he dies. All of which I promised we would do._ 7. **Letter:** _Akureyri, October 26 th 1955_ _I have received the following from the owner of Brana, Einar Jónsson, farmer in Jokuldalur. In a letter dated October 8th he says_: _„I have been thinking what price to put on Brana. It comes to this: If one is to put a price on a dog at all, it will have to be 1000 kronur, and perhaps more. What do you think? This bitch, Brana, is in many ways a very pleasant dog, very kind and has nothing of the ferocity sometimes characteristic of dogs. And then she is fast becoming an excellent sheepdog. She was rather poor at that in the beginning, but the more often we take her along to the pasture, the better she becomes. It is of course most important that she will turn out well for this American, and it be proved that she is of a pure and old Icelandic stock. I am not in the habit cheating anybody or anything, but sincerely mean that under these circumstances I can well put this price on Brana.“_ _So is the farmers letter. It gives you an idea of the price situation. Probably the Bosi owner will think similarly._ **This was the final results of these trips, looking for dogs in the year 1955. We do not have the picture Davidsson took in Jokuldalur** **November 28th** Brana and Bosi was sent from Iceland to London, San Francisco and finally to Wensum kennel California. _**Des 5th** Watson sent message to H. Snorrason:_ _Dogs arrived Saturday. Good condition, Brana is on heat. Please cable me urgent, if she was on heat when she left Reykjavik on November 28 and if so date she started heat. Is there any possible chance she could have been bred with any strange dog or that she got bred with Bosi. Reply urgent. Mark_ _**January 31st** wrote Watson:_ _**Yesterday Brana had four fine pups and I am very pleased.**_ The search for typical Icelandic dogs continued in 1956. You can read more in the [Saga section](https://www.fjarhundur.is/en/saga) of this website, where stories are told about the dogs whose names and pictures we have. * **Bósi frá Höskuldsstöðum** (1955, from Skagafjörður) * **Brana frá Hvanná** (1955, from Jökuldalur) * **Konni frá Lindarbakka** (1956, from Breiðdalur) * **Auli frá Sleðbrjót** (1956, from Jökulsárhlíð) * **Vaskur frá Þorvaldsstöðum** (1956, from Breiðdalur) I have found [one more article](https://timarit.is/page/1027157#page/n11/mode/2up) from 1956 about Watsons search, but it is only in Icelandic.
CONTACT
Lýtingsstaðir, 561 Varmahlíð.
Phone: +354 893 3817
fjarhundur@fjarhundur.is
