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Bastard of the dog and the fox
Sir Thomas Browne (1605–1682) was an English physician, scholar, and author known for his diverse works on religion, science, philosophy, and nature. He was renowned for his poetic and elegant writing style and the profound insight in his works. One of his most famous works is [_Pseudodoxia Epidemica_ (1646)](https://archive.org/details/BrownePseudodoxia1650Clark/page/n3/mode/2up), also known as **Vulgar Errors**. In this work, he examines common misconceptions and myths of his time, attempting to correct them through reasoning and scientific observation. Among other topics, he discusses the notion that the Icelandic dog, which was imported to Britain and valued both as a working dog and a family pet, could be a hybrid between a dog and a fox ("Bastard of the dog and the fox"). He rejected this idea, pointing out that, despite their similar appearance, dogs and foxes are biologically incompatible. Picture: Plinius, 1565
Famine around the year 990
In the _Saga of King Ólafur Tryggvason_, it is mentioned that around the year 990, there was a famine in the country. Arnór kerlingarnefur then proposed that most, if not all, of the dogs in the country should be killed, as their large numbers meant that many human lives could be saved if the food used to feed the dogs was redirected. However, the farmers did not follow this advice, and the dogs were spared. This chapter is part of the summaries about the history of the Icelandic sheepdog, which can be found online. Notable among these is a proposal by Guðni Ágústsson, a member of parliament, from February 15, 1994, where he presented ideas to promote the stature and respect for the Icelandic sheepdog. See my [blog post](https://www.fjarhundur.is/en/blog/lifandi_listaverk) and an article about Gísli Pálssons book The Icelandic Sheepdog from [_Morgunblaðið_](https://timarit.is/page/1954753#page/n11/mode/2up) dated December 19, 1999. I have long wanted to look up this story, and I spent a good amount of time on it today. I found an English version of the [_Saga of King Ólafur Tryggvason_](https://drive.proton.me/urls/05E2CBKNWR#EEDXrZsbNOW2), and Chapter 226 on page 360 describes the events that led Arnór to make this proposal. I have not been able to find this chapter in an Icelandic version, but it seems to me that the story is only found in **Ólafs saga Tryggvasonar hin mesta** ("The Saga of Ólafur Tryggvason the greatest"). This saga was composed around 1300 and is based, among other sources, on the _Saga of Ólafur Tryggvason_ as compiled by Snorri Sturluson in [_Heimskringla_](https://drive.proton.me/urls/PBR4RP0P9G#1LOrGUFGULRV). However, it expands the narrative with additional material. A later version of **Ólafs saga Tryggvasonar hin mesta** is preserved in _Flateyjarbók_, where the saga is significantly expanded by inserting entire stories or chapters from other sagas connected to King Ólafur Tryggvason. I was not able to examine _Flateyjarbók_ today to find the original Icelandic text, but perhaps that will be a task for another time—who knows? Nevertheless, I am pleased to have found the context surrounding Arnór's proposal.
Archaeological Research
After writing the post about [Dogs during the Settlement Age](https://www.fjarhundur.is/en/blog/hundar-a-landnamsold), I wanted to delve deeper into archaeological studies to enhance my knowledge and gain more insight. Little is known about the appearance of dogs during the Settlement Age, but it is clear that they accompanied the settlers to Iceland in the 9th century. We know that dogs served various purposes and therefore differed in type. Some followed chieftains in both peace and war, such as Sámur, Gunnar's dog at Hlíðarendi, who is believed to have been an Irish wolfhound used for hunting. Small dogs, on the other hand, were known as pets of the aristocracy and clergy. Most settlers were farmers. Their livestock roamed freely and did not stay in groups, as the animals had no natural predators and dispersed widely. Dogs were therefore used to herd the livestock together and drive them home. Neither wolfhounds nor small dogs were suitable for this task in Iceland's vast landscape. However, sheepdogs became indispensable companions for farmers. Archaeological research has shed light on the types of dogs present during Iceland's early settlement years and on the relationships between humans and dogs at the time. Dog bones have been found in 32 Viking Age burials. Animal bone studies in Iceland began in the 19th century. For example, a Viking Age burial was discovered at Hafurbjarnastaðir in 1868, where bones of a horse and a dog were excavated. "Dogs in the Viking Age varied more in appearance than the Icelandic breed today, and they were sometimes buried with humans. It was rarer to kill and bury dogs, and this practice was not as established as horse sacrifices. Dogs always shared a grave with a human, but sometimes only part of their body was buried. Marks on the bones of some dogs indicate that they were well cared for in life, supporting the interpretation that they were buried with their owners." ([Rúnar Leifsson, _Ritual Animal Killing and Burial Customs_, 2018)](https://drive.proton.me/urls/J9DSCKP9SR#2gQ9MSu4H4kW). In studies of dog bones, old, healed fractures have been identified in some cases, and sometimes teeth are missing. It is believed that the dogs were buried in this condition. Such injuries may indicate violence or mistreatment, which is rarely seen in connection with livestock. However, the relationship between humans and dogs has always been characterized by strong emotional bonds. Dogs were much closer to their owners than other animals and often served as companions and loyal friends. (Rúnar Leifsson). It is also interesting to read about how dogs were placed in human graves. Unlike horses, they always accompanied a human and were never buried alone. The placement of the dogs strongly indicates close bonds between humans and animals. Most commonly, the dog's body was placed at the feet of the deceased. This might have mimicked a dog crouching and resting at its owner's side, just as it would in life. In two cases, the connection between human and dog was even closer. In Gautlönd, in southern Þingeyjarsýsla, a man was buried lying on his side in the so-called "fetal position," with a dog placed under one of his knees. A similar placement of a dog is likely in a grave at Dalvík (Brimnes) in Eyjafjörður. Archaeologists there concluded that the deceased was buried in a seated position, with the dog resting between their legs. It is unclear how dogs were killed for burial rituals in most cases. This is partly due to poor preservation and sometimes due to the random selection of samples during excavation. It may also be because some methods of killing left no traces on the bones. The only recorded evidence so far suggests that it was done using poleaxing (blunt force). Beyond Rúnar Leifsson's doctoral dissertation (written in English), which I have largely used as a source for this post, Kristján Eldjárn's book _**Kuml og haugfé**_ (1956) is an invaluable resource for those interested in archaeological studies of graves and burials in the 20th century. Additionally, the publication [_Margt býr í moldinni_](https://drive.proton.me/urls/DZXJT7S52G#nI12j4ZMGmm8) by the Skagafjörður Heritage Museum, which discusses research in the archaeological environment of Skagafjörður from 2000 to 2005, is very interesting and provides accessible knowledge for the public. In research conducted in Skagafjörður, dog bones were found at the places Kolkuós and Keldudalur. Kolkuós was one of the main trading ports in Iceland from the Settlement Age until the 16th century and is located near Hólar, which became a bishop's seat in 1106. Among the finds at Kolkuós were dog bones, including those from a Maltese lapdog, a pet associated with European aristocracy during the Middle Ages. This is the first time such remains have been discovered in Iceland. At the farm Keldudalur, a burial site and remnants of a Christian cemetery were accidentally discovered. Dog bones were found in two graves. In one, bones from an Icelandic dog were identified, while in the other, remains of a so-called "nobleman’s dog" or "Greyhound" were uncovered. Large dogs are known from the sagas, such as the aforementioned Sámur, Gunnar’s dog at Hlíðarendi. Such dogs were not owned by commoners, and these finds, like the lapdog bones at Kolkuós, suggest that dogs were imported as status symbols for local chieftains. (_Margt býr í moldinni_). Picture: right dog scalpula, found in Vatnsdalur. From: [(Rúnar Leifsson. Ritual Animal Killing and Burial Customs. 2018).](https://drive.proton.me/urls/J9DSCKP9SR#2gQ9MSu4H4kW)
Short news
It’s starting to feel like winter outside, and now there’s time to focus intensively on the final stretch for the exhibition. The building is now insulated on the inside, but there’s still plenty left to do. I continue reading and researching, but I also recently traveled abroad and took the opportunity to visit several museums. It’s always fun and educational to see how museums present and process material for exhibitions – which is usually just a small fraction of what’s "behind the scenes." I submitted a grant application this fall, and I hope to receive a positive response. I’ve said before that without the grants I’ve already received, it wouldn’t have been possible to make all of this happen. Regardless of the outcome, the research work over the past two years has been incredibly interesting and educational. I was very pleased to see a post on Facebook the other day by a well-known Icelandic writer and storyteller about the history of the Icelandic sheepdog, where the primary source cited was a blog post from me here on this site about the origins of the Icelandic dog. This shows me that I’m doing something noteworthy here. I plan to hold an open day during Advent to introduce the project and showcase the first visible museum artifacts to my local community.
Dogs during the settlement of Iceland
There are no written records or detailed descriptions from the Age of Settlement. Our knowledge comes mainly from the books _Landnámabók_ and _Íslendingabók_, which are both from the 12th century. There are few sources regarding dogs from the first centuries of settlement in Iceland. No descriptions of sheepdogs can be found in the _Icelandic sagas_, and there is very little mention of dogs in general. However, one can mention Gunnar at Hlíðarendi’s dog, Sámur, who is believed to have been an Irish wolfhound. Knowledge comes also from archaeological investigations. In Keldudal in Hegranes in Skagafjörður, a burial site was accidentally discovered when the foundation for a new guesthouse was being dug. Upon initial investigation, it became clear that this was the remains of a Christian burial ground, and that it was at least partially older than the Hekla eruption in 1104. Later, a burial mound area was also found on the site. In extensive archaeological investigations conducted in 2002–2003, not only human remains were found, but also animal bones in several burial mounds. Some of these were from full-grown tall and short-legged dogs, which tells us about the existence of dogs in various sizes and "types" shortly after the Age of Settlement. Interested parties are referred to the [investigation report.](https://www.glaumbaer.is/static/files/pdf/Rannsoknarskyrslur/bsk-2013-135-keldudalur-i-hegranesi-2002-2003.pdf) As far as I can see unfortunately only available in Icelandic. Although we have only limited sources from the Age of Settlement, we can imagine how the dog, which later became the Icelandic Sheepdog, came to the country and became part of daily life, in both joy and sorrow. Let us now turn to a story found in the book [_The Icelandic Sheepdog: The Dog of the Vikings_](https://www.amazon.com/-/de/dp/B0CTXFXBFP/ref=sr_1_1?__mk_de_DE=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=3KO80S3TVFP2V&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.KKoPt-Sp8bbQESMfuZdsRvxS_u5scLmbD34te5uG78ATgFTI8X50WmepSZYTxJWBKecVwRXPPI2QYcypKsEecfXiABDFXH31-jTOFvYU5rPGbUZOm_kG5HRpiOuXm7QHgl9cWhRqGECUE-3TXYlzGFksTYUommn1Tnbr_LsfRx6bh74HM6ZOrgJqIEh-qq4HTCFh21nAMyrAD42izvCPlkCsWmyuXDt7gaIJP14pPQI.zcXY1hx1-7fQz7vvkCTNMzjxBLZhQHhZb4WpNqyHCOo&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+Icelandic+sheepdog&qid=1729243660&sprefix=the+icelandic+sheepdog%2Caps%2C213&sr=8-1) by Tom Verbeeck, which was published earlier this year and is an excellent read for friends of the Icelandic Sheepdog. In the book, Tom discusses the relationship between the Vikings and their dogs, which I find particularly fascinating because it gives us some insight into how they chose their dogs before embarking on their journey to Iceland. "The journey from the mainland to Iceland was quite an undertaking. Most people who ventured on the crossing were small farming families, drawn by the promise of land and freedom. There are no written sources that tell us about the crossing, but most likely, a farmer who had taken the leap would have told the following story: In the late summer, as the days began to shorten and a cool breeze crept through the air, I gathered with my family our most valuable possessions. We had heard the stories, the rumors of an untamed land in the north waiting to be discovered and inhabited. Iceland, so the winds whispered, offered a fresh start, a chance for a better life amidst the abundant resources and space of the unknown land. Our knarr, a sturdy trading ship that served as a sort of home away from home, lay ready at the rugged coast. Her hull had cleaved through the fierce waves of many seas, and now she was poised to carry us, brave souls, to the promise of a new future. The knarr, laden with wooden crates, food supplies, and clothing, also provided space for a farmer's most cherished possession: his herd. The sun reflected off the sparkling waters as we guided our sheep, cattle, and horses into the cargo hold. Straw and hay were carefully spread to provide a comfortable shelter for our faithful companions during the long journey ahead. The air was filled with a mixture of excitement and nervousness, for while we dreamed of a fresh start, we knew the path would not be without its challenges. The sail was hoisted, and the wind propelled our knarr forward with powerful gusts. The seas were unpredictable, at times rough and wild, then calm and reassuring. Days passed as we sailed northward, the horizon always shrouded in a haze of hope and promise. Our dogs, faithful companions who were as much a part of our family as the livestock we transported, barked excitedly as they roamed the ship back and forth. The journey was no simple feat. Along the way, we faced challenges, from rough storms to calm days where we longed for the land we hoped to reach. But eventually, after weeks of determination and perseverance, the rugged coast of Iceland loomed before us. We felt the tension in the air as we stepped ashore and carefully led our animals onto land. The ground beneath our feet was rough and untouched, a canvas waiting to be shaped and cultivated by us. We were pioneers, intrepid farmers embarking on a new life in this unknown land. With the knarr in the distance, rocking on the waves, as a witness, we began to establish our settlement, our sheep and cattle grazing on the vast meadows, while our dogs eagerly scanned the hills for signs of life. Thus began our adventure in Iceland, with our ships as silent witnesses to our determination and perseverance. The knarr and its crew, with livestock and dogs on board, brought us to a new chapter of our lives, where we planted our dreams and hopes in the fertile soil and began to forge our future in the rugged landscape of the unknown land. With each passing day, our bonds with the land grew stronger and deeper. Our sheep grazed on flower-strewn hillsides, finding sustenance amid the lush vegetation. The cattle traversed the valleys, seeking respite by clear streams, while our horses tested their sturdy legs on the rugged paths we began to forge. Our dogs, loyal companions seamlessly adapted to our new life, were indispensable. They raced eagerly across the hills, searching for our scattered herds. Their keen senses and vigilant nature aided not only in guarding our livestock against potential threats but also in guiding the sheep back home once found. The barking of the dogs filled the air as they led the herd back to the farm, their tails proudly curled on their backs. During lambing season, we kept our sheep close, knowing the vulnerable newborns required extra care and protection. Our dogs were ever-present, their watchful gaze on the lookout to deter potential birds of prey eyeing our precious lambs. Their actions akin to a dance of protection and care, tirelessly guarding the herds and aiding us in preventing a loss that would hinder our efforts. Our settlement grew and flourished, through the hard work of our hands and the faithful dedication of our animals. The dogs always by our side. During the day, they played an active role in the farm work; herding the livestock, guarding the property, and offering a helping paw where needed. In the evenings and nights, lounging at our feet or on the bed, sharing their warmth with us on cold dark nights. The seasons changed and the years passed. Our dogs were not just guardians and workers, but also beloved companions and friends. They shared our joys and sorrows, our triumphs and setbacks. And as we shaped our new life in Iceland, the dogs became a vibrant thread in the fabric of our existence, a constant reminder of our connection to the land, the livestock, and each other. And so, the history of our settlement is infused with the presence and dedication of these remarkable animals. They were part of our daily life and formed an indelible part of our memories. Their loyalty, devotion, and versatility aided us at every step of our adventure in Iceland, and their legacy lives on in the hearts of us and future generations." **Thank you for taking us along on this journey, Tom!**
Martin Behaim 1492
Another name that appears in the historical accounts of the Icelandic sheepdog is Martin Behaim, and here I will briefly summarize a few words about him. **Martin Behaim** (1459–1507) was a German cartographer, explorer, and merchant from Nuremberg. He is best known for having created the oldest surviving globe, the so-called ["Erdapfel" (1492)](https://globus1492.gnm.de/en). On the globe, all the known lands of the time are depicted, as they were before the discovery of America. Much is written on the globe about the countries, including a small note about Iceland. Iceland is placed north of the northwest corner of Scotland, a bit north of the Arctic Circle. It is oval-shaped with small indentations here and there. Next to the country, the following is written in German: "**In Iceland, there are beautifully white people, and they are Christian. They are accustomed to selling their dogs for high prices, but they give their children to merchants for free, so that others may provide for them.** In Iceland, there are also octogenarians who have never tasted bread; no grain grows there, and instead of bread, people eat dried fish. In Iceland, you can find stockfish, which is exported to our country." Source: [Landfræðisaga Íslands. Eptir Þorvald Thoroddsen](https://baekur.is/bok/ce2fb989-1c57-4fca-87e5-eb09c7e41f4b/1/114/Landfraedissaga#page/n113/mode/2up).
De Canibus Britannicis 1570
**John Caius** (1510–1573) was an English physician, scholar, and founder of Gonville and Caius College at Cambridge. He was a well-known Renaissance humanist and authored _De Canibus Britannicis_. [_De Canibus Britannicis_](https://www.gutenberg.org/files/27050/27050-h/27050-h.htm#dogges), written in Latin in 1570, is one of the first works to systematically categorize British dog breeds, describing their types, roles, and characteristics. It provides insight into the use of dogs in Elizabethan England, including breeds for hunting, guarding, and companionship. In a chapter on foreign dogs, he writes about Icelandic dogs: **„Externos aliquos & eos majusculos, Islandicos dico & Littuanicos, usus dudum recepit: quibus toto corpore hirtis, ob promissum longumque pilum, nec vultus est, nec figura corporis. Externa prælata. Multis tamen quòd peregrini sunt, & grati sunt, & in Melitæorum locum assumpti sunt: usque adeo deditum est humanum genus etiam sine ratione novitatibus. ἐρῶμεν ἀλλοτρίων, παρορῶμεν συγγενεῖς, miramur aliena, nostra non diligimus.“** "Some foreign dogs, particularly larger ones like Icelandic and Lithuanian, have long been used here. These dogs are entirely covered with hair, with long, flowing coats, and neither their face nor body shape is visible. Foreign dogs are favored. Because they are foreign, they are highly valued and have replaced the Maltese dogs, as humanity has a fondness for novelties, even without reason. We love what is foreign but neglect our own." It seems that Icelandic dogs, with such thick coats that their head and body are hard to distinguish, were highly favored by the British aristocracy. It is also worth noting again that William Shakespeare referenced the Icelandic dog in _Henry V_, written around 1600: **"Pish for thee, Iceland Dog! Thou prick-ear'd cur of Iceland!"**
Olaus Magnus 1555
I decided to look a little further back in time. In the short summaries of the history of the Icelandic sheepdog that can be found, Olaus Magnus is often mentioned. It is usually phrased like this: "In 1555, Olaus Magnus wrote that Icelandic dogs were popular with priests and noblewomen. He also describes the dog as light-colored or white with a thick coat." I tried to find more, possibly the original text, because I prefer to examine the source itself to better understand the full picture, but I was unsuccessful. Perhaps it's not surprising, as this description comes from his work **Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus** (History of the Northern Peoples), which was written in Latin. The work was published in Rome in 1555 and is considered one of the most significant works about the culture and life of the Nordic peoples in the 16th century. **But who was Olaus Magnus?** Olaus Magnus (1490–1557) was a Swedish bishop, explorer, and author, best known for his work **"Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus"**. He was born in Linköping, Sweden, and was educated in both Sweden and Germany. He traveled extensively across the Nordic countries, gathering information about the peoples and cultures of the north. Olaus was a strong advocate of the Catholic Church and lived in exile in Rome after the Reformation in Sweden. He dedicated his life to writing and preserving the history and culture of the Nordic countries. Both his works and his drawings are still highly regarded today for their magnificent depictions of the culture and nature of the Nordic regions. **"Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus"** focuses particularly on the Nordic countries, including Iceland, Sweden, Norway, and Finland. It also covers various aspects of daily life, such as hunting, fishing, farming, and even magic. Olaus Magnus emphasizes the harsh weather and difficult living conditions, but he also describes unusual customs, religions, and strange figures from folklore. The work is adorned with many illustrations. Olaus Magnus also drew a remarkable map, **Carta Marina**. This is one of the oldest maps that accurately depicts the northern regions. **Carta Marina** is not only a geographical map but also an important source of medieval ideas about the world, especially about the Nordic countries. For example, the map features illustrations of sea monsters in the northern seas, which at the time were believed to be real creatures by sailors and travelers. This map has been highly significant for historical understanding of the Nordic countries and was a major advancement compared to earlier cartography. **Carta Marina** is both a work of art and a scholarly piece, providing insight into the world of the Nordic peoples in the 16th century. Those interested are directed to the following websites to read more about Olaus and view the illustrations: ["Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus"](https://gallery.lib.umn.edu/exhibits/show/olausmagnus/historia) [Olaus Magnus - History of the Nordic Peoples (from 1555) - Illustrations with Comments](https://www.avrosys.nu/prints/prints23-b-olausmagnus-intro.htm) [Carta Marina](https://gallery.lib.umn.edu/items/show/1026)
Sharp is the guests eye
Since we do not find many descriptions and depictions of the Icelandic sheepdog throughout the ages from Icelanders themselves, travel books and accounts by foreign travelers often give us a good picture of the Icelandic dog, both in words and images. A book that contains at least two descriptions of the Icelandic dog is [By Fell and Fjord or Scenes and Studies in Iceland](https://drive.proton.me/urls/3Q1KHSM1N8#bDgLp2dOvXp3) by Elizabeth Jane Oswald from the year 1882. I plan to make an extract from the book and add the stories of Kári and Móri to the history section of the website. I also recommend browsing through the book; see the link above. Narratives like these are extremely important for preserving the history of the dog—how it looked, what it was used for, and so on. And as is often the case, it proves that the sharp eye of the guest is invaluable for describing what they see, while it seems ordinary to people who have grown up here. Image by Auguste Mayer, 1836.
Bósi
Bósi Growl, my Bósi, never bite — better heed this warning! Or someone — turning snappish — might smash your jaw some morning. And never join the gibing pack of "gentlefolk" that flatters until a man has turned his back — then tears his name to tatters. [Jónas Hallgrímsson (1844-5)](https://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/Jonas/Bosi/Bosi.html) The French explorer Paul Gaimard visited Iceland in 1835 and 1836. During the second summer, he led a scientific expedition on behalf of the French government. His scientific work, _Voyage en Islande et au Groënland_, was published in nine volumes after his return. Gaimard became so famous in Iceland that [Jónas Hallgrímsson (an Icelandic poet, author, and naturalist) wrote a poem about him.](https://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/Jonas/Herra/Herra.html) The book _Voyage en Islande et au Groënland_ (1840–1842) contains numerous drawings, reports, and studies on the nature, wildlife, and culture of Iceland. The image above is from this book. The following description accompanies it: This is a rare print titled _"Mammifères Plate 7 - Chien Islandais (Canis familiaris Islandicus)"_, depicting the Icelandic sheepdog. It is a copperplate engraving with contemporary hand coloring on vellum paper. The engraving was made by the artist Massard, after a drawing by Werner. Such prints are not only significant as works of art but also serve as scientific documents from the 19th century. They were often created to provide detailed descriptions of animal species, with a focus on their natural characteristics, and in this case, the Icelandic sheepdog is depicted. According to the inscription on the print, this is number 1 of 5 prints, and I am pleased to announce that I recently acquired this very print for the exhibition.
Njord
I was searching for information about this picture, which is also in Watson's book and marked as Njord, but no further explanation is provided. It was once again [Jørgen Metzdorff](https://naskur.dk/) who was able to help me, as he knew that this picture was printed in the Danish magazine _Vor Hunde_. Most likely, Njord was one of the Icelandic Sheepdogs that lived in the Copenhagen Zoo. The drawing of Njord closely resembles the dog in the photograph of the dogs in [_Københavns Zoologiske Have_](https://drive.proton.me/urls/MHDE8XE8QR#DiBpN4PYfz5e). That photo was taken in 1898/99 and shows some of the last dogs that lived in the zoo. They had a dream to breed and showcase different national dog breeds – Icelandic Sheepdogs, Greenland Dogs, and the Great Dane. The picture hung for a long time in the zoo director’s office. Jørgen tried to find more information in the zoo’s archives but was unfortunately not lucky in uncovering anything further. Thus, the mystery of Njord will remain unsolved.
Who was Pillar?
In my search for old pictures and drawings, I came across a picture of "Pillar," which appears in the book _Dogs of all Nations_ by Mason, which I mentioned in the blog post [_Les Races de Chiens_ (1897)](https://www.fjarhundur.is/en/blog/les-racen-de-chiens-1897) a few days ago. However, my Danish research colleague, [Jørgen Metzdorff](https://naskur.dk/), provided me with more information about this picture, and I would like to share this information here. He mentions that the picture of Pillar was originally published in an article in [_Vore Hunde_](https://drive.proton.me/urls/H706PG7DKR#ihCMe0IeZOJF) in April 1900. Pillar was a so-called war dog that was supposed to play an important role. Jørgen states that a number of Icelandic Sheepdogs were brought from Iceland to Denmark around 1890 to fulfill communication roles. The dogs were part of a military experiment in which Icelandic Sheepdogs were used to carry messages between advancing units, so-called war dogs. The experiment was initiated by Captain Christensen, and the Icelandic Sheepdog was selected because of its versatility, independence, and intelligence. However, the use of the Icelandic Sheepdog as war dogs remained an experiment only, as message delivery was soon taken over by other inventions. Pillar lived with Sergeant Lindholm in Aalborg and was awarded an honorary prize at the Danish Kennel Club Show in 1897, as well as first prizes in 1898 and 1899. As far as we know, Pillar was used for breeding twice. The book [_The Iceland Dog_](https://drive.proton.me/urls/MSZXKPRSBW#NJ3Xh5blzdvJ) by Mark Watson contains pictures from Danish Kennel Club show catalogues. Two of the pictures are from the July 1900 show, where three of Pillar's offspring (born in 1899 after Svartur) participated. The other two pictures are from a 1901 dog show in Copenhagen, showing two other offspring of Pillar (born in 1900 after Sampa, owned by Sergeant Andersen). All of the offspring were owned by Sergeant Lindholm. Some of these dogs were for sale for 50-100 DKK, which in today’s value equals 3,600-7,200 DKK. **A small side note:** An average Danish worker earned 0.39 DKK per hour according to data from 1907. If this amount is adjusted for 2024, it would equal 33 DKK per hour. In 1900, it took about 250 work hours to pay for a dog. The average salary in Denmark in 2024 is 240 DKK per hour – so, using the same assumptions, a dog would cost around 60,000 DKK or 1.2 million ISK. Dogs were relatively expensive at that time compared to today. Thus, Pillar gained fame in Denmark during these years, and a picture of her was later used in Mason’s book.
Christian Schierbeck - Den ægte islandske Spids
Christian Schierbeck was born in 1872 in Denmark and completed his medical studies in Reykjavík in 1900. He worked as a doctor in Reykjavík during 1901 and 1902. Christian Schierbeck married the Danish woman Berta Schultz in Reykjavík in 1900, and during their stay, they lived on Laufásvegur in the city center. From Iceland, they moved to Norway and then to Australia, where he died in 1917, only 45 years old. Schierbeck acquired the dog Sámur, who attracted attention in Denmark, and he lamented that the Icelandic sheepdog was not well-known in Denmark and had become rare in Iceland. He wrote an article about the "Icelandic Spitz" that was originally published in _Vore Hunde_ in 1900. Schierbeck was one of the first to point out that the Icelandic dog population was declining in its homeland. Part of his article appears in Watson's book, but the full article can be found on the Danish website [Naskur.dk](https://naskur.dk/islandsk-farehund/historisk-tilbageblik/den-aegte-islandske-farehund). I received permission to republish the article here in translation\_.\_ **The True Icelandic Spitz** By Chr. Schierbeck, M.D., Reykjavík. Originally published in _Vore Hunde_, 1900. Sámur and I have now spent approximately 2 1/2 hours at the Hansen & Weller photo studio – the result was dozens of failed plates. We had the best one printed, and the result now appears as an artistic supplement to _Vore Hunde_. Readers of _Vore Hunde_ may not understand that Sámur’s stay here in this country was one continuous triumph. It started in the kennel with flattering comments from cynologists; it continued on the street, where we were constantly called after: "Look at that beautiful animal!" "No, have you seen the dog, he looks like a bear!" "Daddy, isn’t that a wolf walking there?" "I’ve never seen a dog like that before!" and so on and so forth. Similar comments and high praise of the utmost kind rained down on Sámur in cafés and gathering houses. It reached a peak when the editor of _Vore Hunde_ visited me here in Amaliegade to ask for a picture of Sámur for his famous magazine. I mention all this only to emphasize that I am not the only one who admires the beauty of the true Icelandic Spitz. Those who have admired Sámur the most have been people with a far greater cynological understanding than mine. And he has won the hearts of refined women with storm. The Great Dane, the Greenlandic Spitz, and the Icelandic Spitz seem to me to form a three-leaf clover that should be bred at home. But why has the old, true Icelandic dog been forgotten; the dog mentioned in the oldest Nordic sagas (my dog is named after the famous dog of Gunnar in the _Njáls Saga_); the dog the Norse Vikings brought to Iceland; which has kept its breed pure for more than a thousand years, indispensable to every Icelandic herder, as it is so wonderfully wise at retrieving, gathering, and recognizing sheep; the dog that is so loyal it would rather die than leave its master (Sámur has proven that to me) – why has this wonderful animal been forgotten in Denmark? Yes, I know it hasn’t been completely forgotten. But one must admit that those who truly own the genuine Icelandic dog, who can stand up to critical scrutiny, are, to put it mildly, very few. The reason why the Icelandic Spitz is so incredibly rare here is first and foremost the sad fact that, despite everything said to the contrary, it is also rare in Iceland itself. It is now only found on rural farms located by remote fjords, where there is very little shipping traffic and until recently, none at all. In all the well-known fjords and in Reykjavík itself, the breed has been mixed with numerous French and English dog breeds found there. Another reason it’s not kept here at home is fear of the notorious tapeworm, as prevalent among Icelandic sheepdogs, purebred or not, as among Australian sheepdogs. I will discuss these two points in more detail: the characteristics of the breed and tapeworms. First, the characteristics of the true Icelandic Spitz, brought to Iceland by the Norse Vikings, or perhaps earlier by Irish monks, from Britain. --- **The Breed** The dog is somewhat shorter (about a hand’s width) and smaller than the Greenlandic Spitz. Its coat is thick and filled with wool that can be combed out in clumps when it sheds. This is therefore a real coat; it has shiny, soft, and long hairs that somewhat resemble the fur of a bear. The colors are usually white, golden white, or spotted brown, more rarely black. I have only once seen a completely black purebred in Iceland. The front part of its body is unusually developed compared to the back, which is slender and narrow. In terms of body structure and lines, the same general difference exists between the Icelandic Spitz and the Great Dane as between the Icelandic horse and the Danish horse: the Icelanders are smaller, with stronger front parts and weaker rear parts, and this applies to both the dogs and the horses. I consider this an indication that the Icelandic Spitz, like its brother, the horse, is a mountain animal; accustomed through thousands of generations to dangerous leaps on steep mountains, while the Danish dog (the Great Dane), like the Danish horse, is an animal of the plains. Between the toes, the Icelandic sheepdog has distinct webbing (it swims extremely well across rough glacial rivers!). The head is pointed, even more so than that of the Greenlandic dog. The eyes are large, intelligent, and highly expressive. As with all mountain dogs, it is also characteristic of this one that it sees and hears exceptionally well, while its sense of smell is less developed than that of plain-dwelling dogs. The ears – yes, here comes one of the breed’s distinguishing features – must be able to stand completely upright; not a single millimeter of the outer edge of the pointed ear may droop when the animal listens, and it listens almost constantly when outside: then the conical, finely-haired ears stand erect like a horse’s ears. Most dogs in Iceland have drooping ear tips even though the ears are perked, making it immediately clear that they are crossbreeds. On purebred animals, the wedge-shaped head merges with a beautiful, broad, and fluffy mane that rises like that of a bear. Behind the ears, it rises like a priest's collar when the animal bends its head. The body tapers, and the hindquarters are, as mentioned before, noticeably smaller. The tail should be very bushy (thick) and curl up like a bell over the back, where the hairs form a sort of part under the curved end of the tail. On the ears, mane, and tail, purebred animals can be distinguished from crossbreeds in Iceland. Females have a much weaker mane and tail and are generally much smaller. Thick hair growth around the rump is yet another adornment of these animals. Each front leg has small dewclaws; each back leg has well-developed double dewclaws. The beautiful shape does not appear properly in photographs because the animal is too lively to stand still long enough to be posed and “taken.” Sitting still is something my dog can do better, but then you mostly only see the strong chest. The thick coat allows it to withstand the harshest cold. Snow is the dog's favorite environment, where it plays with true joy. When I first saw Sámur, he lay one winter night at 1 a.m. in the shelter of a large snowdrift, sleeping, while a fierce snowstorm howled around my horse and me, and snow drifted over his furry body; but he slept calmly, as if in his mother's bed. If they are well-bathed, they never get lice. I believe that fleas cannot survive in the dense wool. The fact is, I’ve never owned a dog that was as flea-free as Sámur. Regarding the mental characteristics of the breed, I must be briefer than I would like due to space. The true Icelandic dog is incredibly quick to learn – it learns ordinary tricks as easily as a good poodle. As a mountain dog, it has an extraordinary sense of direction, which is also a great advantage for a dog kept in a large city. Sámur found his way home from Frederiksberg to Niels Juelsgade after a two-day stay in Copenhagen (he had never been in a city before!), where I lost him, and he sat waiting for me when I arrived. He is as loyal as any dog, I think. When he is sad (if left at home), he doesn’t whine like a fool but curls up and quietly accepts it. He expresses joy in a very exuberant manner and rarely needs to be reminded and almost never scolded. He is used in Iceland to drive sheep and horses together and keep them in herds. His best work is done in the autumn when, from far away, even from over a thousand feet in elevation, he is sent to fetch sheep down from the mountains, where the farmer only occasionally sees a white spot far, far away. Then the dogs are sent out after them, recognizing each lamb in the herd; and without the dogs, the herder could not gather the sheep at all on the dangerous and long roads. The dogs are so indispensable that, for example, only about twenty years ago, when a dog plague swept the country and killed over 3/4 of Icelandic dogs, one horse and two sheep were offered for a single true Spitz! But as I said before, the true dogs are now almost extinct, and one must travel far and wide into the country, especially to remote districts, to find a true Icelander. **The Tapeworm** Regarding tapeworms, I must be very brief. In fact, this question doesn’t really belong in this magazine, but as a doctor, I can’t help but make a few superficial remarks on the subject. Over 95% of all dogs in Iceland (both purebred, imported, and mixed breeds) host a 4 mm long tapeworm in their intestines, which is called _Taenia echinococcus_ in Latin. The tapeworm common in Danish dogs and harmless to humans—\_Taenia coenurus\_—is also somewhat common in Iceland. However, only 1 to 2% of dogs in Denmark carry these same harmful tapeworms (_echinococcus_). The eggs of this tapeworm are expelled with the dog's feces, and it’s not uncommon for a dog in Iceland to have such eggs on its snout. If such an infected dog licks a plate that isn’t later cleaned thoroughly—or even worse: licks a person—the risk of transmission is present. The eggs of the tapeworm (_echinococcus_) need to go through a larval stage, the so-called cyst stage (hydatid) in humans or sheep. These insignificant tapeworms, unfortunately, have enormous larvae. So enormous that I have seen them in humans, where they could fill an ordinary water bucket. It sounds like a fairy tale, but it is unfortunately all too true. If one of these eggs enters a person’s digestive system, it develops into a tiny larva that travels through the intestinal wall and usually settles in the liver (_liver echinococcus_). There, it grows into a tumor that typically becomes as large as a human head. Only surgery can then provide a cure. And many patients die from this prolonged disease (the illness often lasts many years, up to 20 years). As mentioned earlier, the dog carries a mature but small tapeworm. Humans are usually infected by dogs; dogs are infected by sheep, which, like humans, host these enormous larvae (hydatid cysts). Dogs are easily infected because they are unfortunately still often fed raw scraps of meat after the slaughter of sheep. The hydatid cyst mainly resides in the fat membrane of the sheep (less often in the liver, as in humans)—and the fat membrane is only suitable as fertilizer and dog food. Moreover, hydatid cysts, which are transmitted from dogs, are the most common tumors in humans in Iceland. It is now legally required that every dog undergo a deworming treatment twice a year, aimed at killing and removing these small, dangerous parasites from the intestines of dogs. The treatment is as follows: First, the dog is fasted for 24 hours and confined to a shed. Then, it receives 5 grams of areca nut and must remain in the shed for 6 hours. By then, the areca nut has taken effect, and one of the results is significant defecation. Afterward, the dog is bathed, and the treatment is complete. Many dogs die during this treatment. In my opinion, this treatment alone is not reliable. The most important thing is that the dog does not eat raw slaughter remains of sheep. Although it is legally required to bury these remains, only a few Icelandic dogs are fed exclusively cooked or fried meat—most still receive raw meat. I have deliberately not hidden this danger from the readers of \_Vore Hunde\_—I, who have seen so many serious and painful cases of hydatid disease in humans, have felt it my duty to warn against careless purchases of Icelandic dogs through merchants or farmers there. Sámur is completely free of these tapeworms, having undergone many difficult treatments, and in the 2 years that I have owned him, he has never had the opportunity to eat raw meat and now has such an aversion to it that he won’t touch it. In March, Sámur is to mate—he is now 2 1/2 years old and therefore at the age where "street meetings" are no longer sufficient. If I manage to get a good puppy, I plan to offer one or two for one (or two) of the readers of _Vore Hunde_. They will cost nothing except transportation and any possible veterinary certificates here. As a doctor, I can guarantee that such puppies will be free from _Taenia echinococcus_ (I will not send them until I have observed them for some time). Next March (1901), I am returning to Iceland, and a year later, 1 or 2 puppies will likely be available. My dog was once offered to a Parisian by a Scottish collie breeder for an additional 100 francs. A doctor in London wanted to buy him from me for 10 pounds sterling—but even if I were offered 50 pounds, I would not sell him. I mention this at the end only to show how highly the dog is valued abroad as well. **Photo:** Christian Schierbeck and Berta, his wife. Schierbeck holds a puppy that is Sámur’s offspring. The photo was taken in Lillehammer, Norway.
Les Races de Chiens (1897)
**Henri de Bylandt** (1860-1943) was a Belgian nobleman and cynologist. He was known for his work on dog breeds, particularly his book **"Les Races de Chiens"** from 1897, which was an important contribution to the field of dog breeding and canine studies. The book was published in English in 1904 as **"Dogs of All Nations."** The book contains detailed descriptions and illustrations of numerous dog breeds as they were recognized in the early 20th century. Bylandt's work is significant for research on dog breeds and was used as a reference for breeders, judges, and dog enthusiasts. It shows the development of breed standards and advancements in their international recognition. The book does not seem to be available in digital form (as a scanned copy), and unfortunately, I currently do not have access to a library to consult it. In Mark Watson's book, there is a discussion of **"Dogs of All Nations"** by **Walter Esplin Mason**, published in 1915, where Watson writes that Mason appears to have taken his descriptions from Bylandt's book. It is also mentioned that Mason states that the ears of the Icelandic dog can sometimes be semi-erect. The illustration of the Icelandic dog in Mason's book indeed shows a dog with semi-erect ears. [Mason's book can be viewed here, and the section on the Icelandic dog is on page 93.](https://drive.proton.me/urls/5BG13MJKB8#L2Zxk7KVyULh) The image above is from Bylandt's book and can be found on page 35 in [**"The Iceland Dog 874-1956"**](https://drive.proton.me/urls/MSZXKPRSBW#NJ3Xh5blzdvJ) by Mark Watson.
Chien de l'Islande 1755
I stumbled upon these historical images today and would like to continue sharing discoveries. The image is an engraving from 1755, engraved by Gaillard after a drawing by Jacques de Sève. The French naturalist Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, mentioned the Icelandic dog – "chien de l'Islande" – in his work _"Histoire naturelle, générale et particulière,"_ which he published in the 18th century. Buffon described the Icelandic dog as a medium-sized animal particularly adapted to the harsh climate of Iceland. He noted that the dog had a thick, dense, and weather-resistant coat that helped it survive in the cold and damp northern climate. Buffon emphasized the robustness and hardworking character of the Icelandic dog and considered it an important companion for Icelandic shepherds and farmers. He described the Icelandic dog as brave, energetic, and vigilant, qualities that made it especially suited for herding sheep and other animals. Its attentive and lively nature made it a valuable guardian and protector. The engraving of a dog against the stark Icelandic landscape accompanied his description in his monumental work _“Histoire Naturelle.”_
Historical illustrations
There are not many historical illustrations of Icelandic sheepdogs, and the ones I have found are mainly in old foreign dog books, encyclopedias, and travel books. These images are not necessarily beautiful, and sometimes it is hard to believe that they depict an Icelandic sheepdog. For example, the dog in this "Quadruped" illustration from "THE CYCLOPAEDIA or Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences & Literature". The dog marked with the number 5 is supposed to be an Icelandic sheepdog, but it looks quite different from the dog as we see it today. But who knows, maybe the Icelandic sheepdog resembled this dog in the year 1804? We find accounts of the Icelandic dog, for example, in the great Travel Book by Eggert Ólafsson and Bjarni Pálsson from the years 1752–1757. They describe the dog as follows: “The Icelandic dog is small and strong, with long legs and a short-haired coat. It is agile and fast, has a lot of energy, and is especially good for herding sheep. It has very good herding abilities, can stay in the mountains for a long time, and drives the sheep with great skill. The dog is also a great friend of the farmer and a reliable guard of the home.” They also write: "In Iceland, dogs are generally small in size, hardy, and very skilled at herding. They have the characteristic of being able to endure hard work and cold without getting sick. The dogs here are especially well-trained to work with sheep and to drive them together. They are very loyal to their master and protect the livestock with great vigor. Often, they can be seen running long distances after sheep in the mountains, and they have very keen senses, especially of smell and hearing." Perhaps the illustrator read this text and drew the picture based on this description, as it is not certain that he had ever come to Iceland and seen an Icelandic sheepdog.
Autumn
Autumn has arrived, a wonderful time that brings with it all kinds of work in the countryside, including sheep gatherings and roundups. Some time ago, I came across this picture, which came with little to no information. The author was not correctly credited. It was stated that the German, Franz-Karl Freiherr von Linden, had taken the picture, but he visited Iceland in 1868. The bridge over Fnjóská was built in 1908, so that can't be correct. However, the picture is interesting because it shows a sheep drive, probably driving sheep for slaughter westward over the bridge, into Vaðlaheiði mountain pass. In the picture, you can see two dogs behind the herd. The atmosphere is so Icelandic! I used the past summer to "practice" telling stories about the Icelandic sheepdog and to explore where people's interests lie in learning about the dog. Every group of tourists who visited us at Lýtingsstaðir received an introduction to the Icelandic horse and the Icelandic dog. It was very noticeable that most foreign visitors were unaware of the existence of the Icelandic sheepdog, but they were certainly not lacking in interest in learning more about it. I was often asked about the dog's working nature, and it was enjoyable to explain how the dog is used in our vast country to drive the sheep home from the mountains. But through these stories, it also became increasingly clear to me how incredibly versatile the Icelandic dog is, and it is not possible to talk about it merely as a "sheepdog" — it is so much more than that. The construction of the house for the exhibition is progressing well, but the work inside the house remains to be done. I will make good use of the time this autumn to prepare the setup of the exhibition and hope that it will be possible to secure more funding for the project.
Construction work in progress
The construction work has been progressing well lately despite the persistent and unpleasant weather. We hope to finish the work soon so that I can turn my attention to the preparations for the exhibition itself. I already have a lot of material and a plan, but before I make the final decisions on the setup, I want to get a better feel for the exhibition space. You can follow the progress on our Facebook page, where I have been posting photo albums with regular updates.
More about Gloí in Greenland
Since I stumbled upon the story of Glói in Greenland in 1912/13, it hasn't let me go. I devoured the book after Vigfús Sigurðsson "Um þvert Grænland". I still plan to make excerpts from this book and Alfred Wegener's diary to present Glói's story, but today I was lucky to receive an article about Glói written by Anna Louise Schneider. [The article was previously published in Icelandshunden No. 1, 1999, the Danish club magazine.](https://drive.proton.me/urls/AC4NF3Z6DR#YLqyz8SS3wDc) I got permission to publish a translation here on the website. And here we go: "I grabbed my cup with the dog meat and crawled down the mountain – or rather slid – as fast as I could, followed by Wegener.... During the slide down the mountain, I ate from my half-raw dog meat at every little stop. I had suddenly become terribly hungry, and the dog meat tasted like the most delightful dish to me." Thus ended the days of the Icelandic sheepdog GIöé, after having trekked 1200 km through ice and snow in -40 degrees, across northern Greenland, as a member of the Koch expedition of 1912-13." In the book "Through the White Desert" by Captain J.P. Koch, the expedition is described in diary form. The purpose of the expedition was to investigate the natural conditions in the marginal zone of the inland ice, primarily atmospheric and geological conditions. The italicized passages are taken from this book. Traditionally, sleds pulled by Greenlandic sled dogs have been used for expeditions to Greenland, but the conditions on the Koch expedition's planned route forced them to use other methods to progress. They had to cross rough glacier ice, which the sleds could not withstand, and the dogs risked cutting their paws on the sharp and pointed ice needles. The journey also went through long stretches free of snow, where neither sleds nor dogs were suitable. The expedition also couldn't be sure they could move forward by boat due to ice formation. They had to carry all their goods overland to the edge of the ice. In summer, this could only be done using pack horses. The expedition consisted of four men and 16 Icelandic horses. One of the participants was the Icelandic leader Vigfus Sigurdsson, born in 1875; Vigfus was, as an Icelandic farmer, practically born and raised on a horse. As a postman in northern Iceland, he was particularly familiar with the arduous and often dangerous winter journeys over the snow-covered Icelandic highlands. Vigfus naturally had an Icelandic sheepdog, Glói, with him on the expedition. Glói was also called the Kamik animal, and despite inquiries at the Arctic Institute in Copenhagen, there is no immediate explanation of whether the name has or had any special meaning (besides it being a term for shoes). Besides helping Vigfus, Glói had other tasks, such as keeping foxes away from the house, scaring musk oxen away from the horses, and warning the people about polar bears. The book contains many descriptions of how the dog was part of the expedition's daily life, and one clearly senses its character, which is very similar to the Icelandic sheepdog we know today. **October 21, 1912** Glói had so far had to stay outside, but when the temperature dropped to -28 degrees, he was exceptionally allowed to lie in the storage room. Here, where it was completely dark, he lay most of the day. He whimpered softly when stepped on, and one could hear him wag his tail when comforted. I felt there was no point in keeping a dog in such a way, so I brought him into the living room. Glói was happy. He licked our hands, gave his paw, rubbed his nose against our trousers, and trotted around until he, overwhelmed by the warmth, collapsed on the floor, from where Wegener lifted him onto his sofa. One quickly gets used to an improvement in external conditions and therefore constantly seeks greater luxury. This was also the case with Glói. After resting on Wegener's sofa, he took a reconnaissance tour of the room and came across a low shelf under the table where food items – blood pudding, cheese, butter, and liver pate – were kept. The situation overwhelmed Glói. He just had to smell the liver pate. But by doing so, his nose got too close to a can, which fell to the floor. A few "whacks"! Out the door! - the bliss was over, and Glói lay again in the dark storage room, whimpering when stepped on. The next morning, I tried to bring him into the living room again, and this time it went well. Every time he got near the fatal liver pate, I gave him a warning: "Be careful, Glói! Ah, be careful!" And now he no longer touches the food shelf.... Since then, I look more kindly at Glói. The little story has brought us closer together. The journey undertaken by the four men, their dog, and 16 horses was exciting but harsh. They traveled by ship from Iceland towards Denmarkshavn in Greenland on July 7, 1912. By mid-October, they reached their wintering place, where they stayed until April the following year. Then began the long journey across Greenland, which ended on June 17. When they reached the colony "Prøven," all the horses were dead. Some were slaughtered along the way as they were no longer needed to transport the wintering house, thus extending the fodder for the remaining horses. About six horses died of exhaustion and hunger - the last horse, Grani, was attempted to be dragged on the sled, but they had to shoot it a few days before the goal was reached. Besides hay and concentrated feed, the horses were fed blood pudding, meat chocolate, horse meat, lemon drops, butter, cheese, and biscuits. Glói proved to be incredibly resilient. When the horses sank to their bellies, Glói "swam" through the snow. One night, the expedition's tent site was hit by a massive avalanche. All the men saved themselves, and the next morning they were reunited with Glói.... When we came out of the tent, Glói came running to meet us. We had missed him during the night and had heard him howling somewhere up the valley. It was likely that he was stuck in some crack. He had been lying behind the tent right where the ice blocks had crashed down; naturally, he had been frightened and had fled. We had searched for him during the night but could not find him, although he howled every time he was called. Now he had managed on his own. At one point, however, Koch accuses Glói of being a bit dumber than a dog should be when crossing the inland ice. Today, we would probably find the situation comical and praise the dog for its problem-solving ability. **May 28, 1913, evening**. It has been a cruel May month. I hope that June will be better. Poor Glói - he got into trouble. In the severe weather, we allowed him to be inside the tent, but he was always in the way and had difficulty managing under the difficult tent conditions. A few days ago, he failed to get out in time – it is not easy for him as the tent door is always closed – and as a result, he had to resort to Wegener's windbreaker hood. Naturally, he got a beating and was thrown out, and since then he has been more careful – too careful. Last night, when I lay by the tent door, he wanted to go out three times within the first four hours, so I constantly had to open and close the door for him. It affected my sleep. The third time, Glói was away for so long that I got tired of waiting for him, closed the tent door, and went to sleep. However, it was not the Kamik animal's intention to stay outside, and as he could not get in any other way, he gnawed a hole through the tent door. When Glói crawled over me, I woke up, and when I saw his misdeed, I gave him a good beating and threw him out again. Poor Kamik animal! It was -29 degrees last night and cold all day today. He no longer dares to ask to come into the tent but lies outside and freezes. Glói survived the journey without illness or injuries, except for snow blindness, which everyone suffered from. When all the other animals had succumbed, Glói still followed. Near the goal, the men were very exhausted from hunger and cold. Glói lay on top of them to warm them. First, we had to regain some strength, and for that, we had only one means: we had to slaughter our good friend, our little, kind dog.... It was hard to give the order, but I did it without hesitation. The situation was becoming critical. The moment Koch was eating the half-raw dog meat, they could make contact with people suddenly appearing on boats in the fjord and were saved. The slaughter of Glói could thus have been avoided, but the men could not have foreseen that. It is a somewhat sad ending to the story, but all Icelandic sheepdogs can be proud to "be related" to such a brave and clever travel companion. In the book "Through the White Desert," there are many both touching and hair-raising descriptions of Glói and his people's journey across Greenland. If you are interested in Icelandic horses, it is definitely also exciting reading! **Literature:** "The White Desert" by J.P. Koch. Gyldendals forlag 1914. If you want to read more, "The Greenland Explorer Wegener - and the Drifting Continents," by Mogens Rud, is recommended - the book also mentions Glói Eilers forlag 1997. The Arctic Institute has a library with additional literature on the subject. Tel. 32BB 0150. **Anna Louise Schneider**
Dog toilet at Sellátur
I came across this little and entertaining story from Sellátur, and it is Höskuldur Davíðsson who once again has the honor of sharing his childhood memories, for which I extend my best thanks. Stories like this give us a small insight into the intertwined lives of humans and dogs in the old days. Höskuldur writes on July 19, 2024: "The floor in the front hallway of the old house at Sellátur was made of sea-washed gravel from the shore. The dogs could relieve themselves there if the outer door was closed due to weather or other reasons at night. It was just cleaned up in the morning, and it was considered a rather unpleasant task for the youngsters. In this picture from my sister Guðný's album, my foster brother Björgvin and I have clearly solved this troublesome issue and created an outdoor toilet for the dogs, so we wouldn't have to do the cleaning. We failed to connect that the dogs only did this when they were locked inside. This was clearly a big event and a reason to borrow the Icelandic flag, which was a sacred object and not used lightly. At the farm, there was much talk about everyone needing to do their utmost to support the newly gained independence of the country, and we probably felt we had done our part in that matter. However, we don't mention that the materials were likely "borrowed" from the construction of the farms power station and that our tools were scattered all over the field, coming up from the grass, rusty and broken in the spring, to my father's little delight. But the pride and feeling of having done something useful probably overshadowed the scolding and reprimands from the master builders. Anyway, the need to continue building something remained with both of us, well into old age."
A successful day
Yesterday was Icelandic Sheepdog Day, and the national dog was celebrated widely across the country as well as abroad. Social media was filled with pictures and festive greetings. At noon the National Broadcasting Service RÚV featured [a segment and an interview](https://www.ruv.is/utvarp/spila/hadegisfrettir/25243/a16kcp/thorarinn-eldjarn-um-mark-watson) with Þórarinn Eldjárn, author and poet, about a picture he posted on his Facebook page in honor of the day. The picture, shown above (with Þórarinn's permission for publication), depicts Mark Watson, his British travel companion, Þórarinn Eldjárn (then 9 years old), and Hjörtur Benediktsson from Marbæli, the curator at Glaumbær. The photo was taken by Þórarinn's father, Kristján Eldjárn, author and scholar, who was the President of Iceland from 1968 to 1980. Þórarinn recounts that on July 7, 1958, he was on a trip with his father, who was then the national museum curator, and they were heading to Glaumbær in Skagafjörður. Father and son were trying to get there before Mark Watson arrived to ensure that he would not have to pay the admission fee for the museum, which he himself had funded. When they arrived at Glaumbær, Mark Watson had already arrived and paid the admission fee. [See also here.](https://www.ruv.is/frettir/innlent/2024-07-18-minnist-bjargvaettar-islenska-fjarhundsins-417938) I greatly enjoyed this segment and the photo, which I had never seen before. When I arrived in Glaumbær around 4 PM, we dog owners who had gathered to celebrate the day met right by the same house corner where the photo was taken 66 years ago. To our great delight, RÚV also attended the event and captured the wonderful atmosphere in Glaumbær that forms every year on this festive day. The event was covered in the [evening news on RÚV.](https://www.ruv.is/frettir/menning-og-daegurmal/2024-07-19-blidir-barngodir-og-gott-ad-knusa-tha-418004) It is fantastic to see that Icelandic Sheepdog Day is gaining more and more attention. Here you can see pictures from [the event in Glaumbær](https://www.facebook.com/byggdasafnskagfirdinga/posts/pfbid02af61MeL4A2ymcLZ3N9CW5sVTFdWRsjvE9Gc5tHXzZ6Z6hWrZNw88qqPbxydbxfEal) and here from [the event at Árbæjarsafn](https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=ola.bjartmarz&set=a.3280778332054132) in Reykjavík.
July 18th - Icelandic Sheepdog Day
The Icelandic Sheepdog is Iceland’s native breed of dog. It is the descendant of the dogs brought to Iceland by the original Viking settlers (AD 870-930). The dogs became indispensable in the rounding up of livestock and in the daily work on the farms. Their method of working adapted to the local terrain, farming methods and the people’s hard struggle for survival over the centuries. [Excerpt from FCI-Standard](https://www.dif.is/UmTegundina/289g05-en.pdf) Tomorrow, July 18, 2024, will mark the ninth celebration of Icelandic Sheepdog Day. It has become a tradition for owners of Icelandic Sheepdogs to make their dogs “extra” visible on this day. Sómi, Hraundís, and I will join others at the Heritage museum Glaumbær from 4 PM to 6 PM. I was also asked to give a short presentation on the Icelandic Sheepdog and the exhibition I intend to open this year. At the Árbær Open Air Museum in Reykjavík, Icelandic Sheepdogs will welcome visitors from 1 PM to 4:30 PM in honor of the day. I would have liked to be ready to open the exhibition on this day, but as I have written before, construction was delayed particularly due to the weather. However, progress is good now, and the building will be erected soon. Therefore, it should be possible to open the exhibition later this year. Good things take time, and I prefer to do this project well rather than in haste. I wish all owners and their dogs a happy day tomorrow!
Construction work news
It has long been decided to build a house for the exhibition. This winter, we purchased a beautiful timber house in units, which arrived at the site in early May and is awaiting assembly. The process of applying for the building permit has been long and arduous, and in my opinion, far too complicated and not at all transparent. But finally, we obtained the permit and all the necessary documentation, and the only thing left was to have the building inspector come and mark out the foundation. Then a violent storm hit at the beginning of this week; it snowed an incredible amount, and we farmers had our hands full trying to save the livestock. We were lucky not to have laid the foundation earlier, as it would surely be full of snow now. So we must continue to be patient, allow the soil to dry and settle, and move forward. It looks like the opening of the exhibition will be later as expected, but I am hopeful that it will be no later than this fall. In the picture, you can see the building materials on the first day of the storm.
Glói´s destiny in Greenland
I came across a picture the other day with information about an expedition to Greenland that I had actually heard about before, but mainly in connection with the use of Icelandic horses in that context. What caught my attention was an Icelandic dog in the picture, and I decided to learn more about this story. After a short search, I found a narrative by Vigfús Sigurðsson of his journey with Capt. J. P. Koch, Dr. Alfred Wegener, and Lars Larsen in one of the world's harshest environments during the Danish expedition of 1912–1913, to Dronning Louise Land in northeast Greenland and across the Greenland ice sheet to Kangersuatsiaq on the west coast, which was then called Pröven. I acquired the ebook "[Across Greenland: Struggle for Survival and Exploration with J.P. Koch & Alfred Wegener](https://www.amazon.com/Crossing-Greenland-Survival-Exploration-Wegener-ebook/dp/B0BWZ1WFGM)" but also found an original edition in an antique bookstore, which I bought. This expedition is unusual because the expedition members used Icelandic horses to pull sleds with equipment and supplies from the coast to the glacier and across the Greenland ice cap to the west coast. They also conducted scientific measurements. Dr. Alfred Wegener had already published scientific papers on his theory of continental drift, which would later revolutionize the understanding of the movement of the earth's crust. Accompanying the expedition was the Icelandic dog Glói: "On the evening of July 6th (1912), everything was ready. The horses were on board and secured on the deck. We had gained a new travel companion, a small yellow dog with a white chest, who went by the name Glói. He didn't seem to be much of a model dog in terms of intelligence, but that mattered little; he was only there to add to the companionship..." In Vigfús's book, Glói is often mentioned, and various incidents are described, such as when a musk was killed to provide meat for Glói, when Glói warned of a polar bear, when he got lost after a glacier flood, how his bed was made, and how Glói saved the four men from starvation when he was slaughtered. I will definitely compile some stories about Glói and more pictures I found to create a special story about him in the story section of this website. I am so fascinated by the story of this dog, and I feel it needs to be made more visible. You can also read [Alfred Wegener's diaries](https://www.environmentandsociety.org/exhibitions/wegener-diaries/nl001-010167#main-content) and his account of Glói. Picture: Alfred Wegener ---
Dogs from Sellátur
My brain is essentially full of names of dogs that are somehow connected and are notable dogs, and I feel the need to write down this information and my thoughts about these dogs. But where to begin? Let's start with Mark Watson. He took eight dogs to California: four from Breiðdalur, one from Jökuldalur, one from Jökulsárhlíð, one from Fossárdalur, and one from Blönduhlíð in Skagafjörður. The dogs Mark Watson acquired from various parts of the country were kept at Keldur and then shipped abroad from there. According to the writings of Þórhildur Bjartmarz, the story goes that the manager at Keldur had a part in ensuring that the bitches Pollý and Snúlla were not sent abroad but instead used for breeding. Birgir Kjaran, a member of parliament and one of the founders of the Icelandic Kennel Club HRFÍ, wrote an article about Icelandic sheepdogs in [Morgunblaðið in 1969](https://timarit.is/page/3292626#page/n7/mode/2up). Birgir writes: "… there (at Keldur) are two Icelandic bitches that Mark Watson seems to have left behind at that time: one is called Pollý and is a beautiful reddish-brown color. The other is black with a white collar and is named Snúlla." Birgir himself owned the dog Klói from Sellátrum, and according to Birgir, Klói was paired with Pollý and Snúlla: "… With them, Klói has probably had nearly a hundred puppies, most of which have lived and spread widely around the country, including at Hestur in Borgarfjörður and at Hólar. Their descendants are also the dogs of Sveinn Kjarval and the breed that Mrs. Sigríður Pétursdóttir at Ólafsvellir in Skeið is now trying to breed. – So I suspect that Klói probably contributed significantly to the survival of the Icelandic dog breed." Since dog keeping was difficult in urban areas, Birgir arranged for Klói to stay for long periods at Keldur in Mosfellssveit. According to [the database](http://www.islenskurhundur.com/Dog/Details/4896#), Pollý had a total of four puppies, all with Klói. [Snúlla from Tunga](http://www.islenskurhundur.com/Dog/Details/12089#) seems to have been Pollý's mother, and Pollý is her only registered offspring. So it's uncertain where the hundred puppies Birgir mentions are. One of Klói's offspring was [Kátur from Keldur](https://www.fjarhundur.is/en/blog/merkishundar), about whom I have written before. Kátur had [53 puppies](http://www.islenskurhundur.com/Dog/Details/4965#), and most or all dogs from Ólafsvellir trace their lineage to him. Perhaps Birgir was referring to Klói's influence on breeding? Probably. It's also worth considering whether the registrations during the early years of organized breeding were always accurate. Who knows? It's at least very interesting to read Birgir's article, and I'd like to write a few words about the dogs from Sellátrum, where he got his Klói. Birgir writes in Morgunblaðið in 1969: "About Klói's pedigree and origin, this is the main thing to say, according to information from Davíð Davíðsson, a farmer at Sellátur, now the chief officer in Tálknafjörður, from whom Klói originates. When Davíð Davíðsson came to Sellátur around 1940 or 1941, there were two dogs there. One was a yellow bitch with a black mouth and muzzle and black eyelids. It is believed she was from Stóra-Langadalur. The dog was from Kvígindisfell. Davíð believes that this breed was brought west from Snæfellsnes by a man named Ólafur Kolbeinsson, who moved west around the turn of the century. According to Davíð, this breed has spread throughout Tálknafjörður and is generally yellow in color (golden), sometimes even white or brown with white toes. The ears are well upright, and the tail is curled. He considers their temperament pleasant, gentle, somewhat sensitive, good herding dogs, and excellent at tracking foxes. When they sniff out fox tracks, they become extremely excited and hard to control. They just follow the trail." In recent months, I've corresponded with Höskuldur Davíðsson, one of the 12 siblings from Sellátur, and it was fun to hear his memories from his childhood years in Tálknafjörður. Regarding the dogs, he told me: "They understood the language and obeyed what they were asked to do, such as bringing sheep from the mountains. They never bit but still had a good knack for making the sheep obey them. Their qualities passed naturally between generations… they were emotional and sincerely participated in our joys and sorrows. They ate the same food as us and were just part of the family." The bitch Kollý was a particular favorite of Höskuldur, and he sent me a short story and lots of pictures, which [you can see here](https://www.fjarhundur.is/en/saga/kolly-fra-sellatrum). I've often wondered if Kollý is the bitch [Kola from Sellátrum](https://www.dogsglobal.com/icelandic-sheepdog/dog/details/73633/6/) in the databases, as she is listed as Klói's mother. Kola is said to have been born in 1956, and her parents' names were Tryggur and Snotra. I asked Höskuldur if that could be right and if he remembers these dogs Tryggur and Snotra. Regarding Kola's birth year, Höskuldur says, "In my mind, Kollý was around when I started walking. 1956 seems a bit late, as I was eight years old then." He consulted his two older sisters, and the siblings did not recognize the names Tryggur and Snotra. Sigurlína, Höskuldur's sister, remembers so-called "livestock dealers" who traveled around the countryside and bought disease-free sheep, and on one occasion, they also got three puppies. So the name extension "from Sellátrum" can be true in many cases, but the puppies were often sent to other owners without names. Likely, Kola is not Kollý, and of course, it doesn't matter much, but it's fun to speculate. I thank Höskuldur and his sisters for their contribution to recounting the history of the dogs from Sellátur.
Two verses
I found the following two verses during my early morning reading. Initially, I thought I wouldn't even try to translate them, as I felt incapable of conveying these Icelandic words into poetic English. However, after my morning coffee, I sought help from Aubrey Wood. Aubrey lives in Iceland and owns the beautiful Laufeyjar Íslands-Tangó frá Dverghamri. After exchanging a few messages back and forth, we decided to give it a try. Translating poetry is never easy, and we employed a bit of "artistic freedom," but hopefully, you'll get a glimpse of what the verses convey. Thanks, Aubrey! _Heitir Valur hundur minn_ _hann er falur valla._ _Einatt smalar auminginn_ _upp um dali fjalla._ [Author unknown](https://bragi.arnastofnun.is/arnes/visur.php?VID=24274) _Heitir Kolur hundur minn,_ _hefur bol úr skinni._ _Er að vola auminginn_ _inn í holu sinni._ [Baldvin Halldórsson from Þverárdal 1863–1934](https://bragi.arnastofnun.is/skag/hofundur.php?ID=15568) The name of my dog is Valur He is handsome, without a doubt Always herding, the poor thing In the valleys of the mountains. The name of my dog is Kolur His body is covered in fur The poor thing is crying In his hole. _Picture found in the book:_ 100 Íslenzkar myndir. Pálmi Hannesson. Reykjavík 1965 (?)
Documents of interest
Recently, I received a large electronic shipment of interesting documents from Canada for the exhibition. I have previously written about [Strútur from Ólafsvellir](https://www.fjarhundur.is/en/saga/strutur-fra-olafsvollum), the first Icelandic dog that was exported to Canada. Now, I have obtained letters and other documents about his purchase and export, newspaper articles, photos, and also photocopies of correspondence with Mark Watson about his book. It is very pleasing to receive such documents that trace the interesting story of Strútur and preserve it. The Consulate General of Iceland in Winnipeg assisted with the photocopying of the documents that Salín Guttormsson was providing. I am very grateful to Salín and the Consulate General of Iceland in Winnipeg for this collaboration. The photocopies are of the highest quality so it will be easy to reprint the documents and have them on display at the exhibition.
More reflexions on the naming
Following my post yesterday, I decided to discuss my thoughts about the naming with the owners and friends of the Icelandic Sheepdog. I asked people on Facebook, "If the Icelandic Sheepdog were just called the Icelandic dog, what would be different?" This sparked a significant discussion that I found both necessary and interesting, and I thank everyone who shared their thoughts on this matter. It was noted that the Icelandic Sheepdog is a working dog, used for herding sheep, cattle, or horses. But it is also good at many other things. Some can catch mice, collect eggs from nests, track scents, or serve as rescue dogs. Given the Icelandic Sheepdog's diverse roles, names like Icelandic farm dog or Icelandic herding dog were suggested, as well as watch and guard dog, though more in jest and to explore how they would sound. Nobody wants to change the name; that much is clear, and it is not what I want or am calling for either. At some point, the name Icelandic Sheepdog was decided upon or documented, and I heard that the Agricultural Association played a role in this decision to make it more appealing as a farming dog. That was when organized breeding began, and a lot of effort was needed to prevent the dog from going extinct. Of course, if we look at the dog's history and what it was used for through the ages, it was the work involving sheep. Hanna Kristin, who breeds Icelandic Sheepdogs at Reykjavellir, put it well: "...it was most useful around the sheep. Few farmers owned many horses, and they were just outside. There was little fussing with them on a daily basis. The sheep needed to be driven to where the pasture was, brought home when the weather turned foul, kept in pens, driven out of the fields in summer, retrieved from cliffs and crags when they got stuck, searched for when they were snowed in, and dug out of the snow. It seems natural to me that the national dog is associated with the sheep, which sustained the life of the nation. It played such a significant role in the work around the sheep" In old Icelandic texts, the term "sheepdog" is often used. In English texts, however, the term Icelandic dog is more common, and when I was searching for old books in digital libraries that mentioned Icelandic dogs, I hardly found any books with the search term _Icelandic sheepdog_, but I did find books when I entered _Icelandic dog_. Mark Watson named his book The Iceland Dog 874-1956 and writes in the book's preface: "As there is only one true type of dog in Iceland, would it not be easier to call him simply the Iceland dog, and at the same time let it be understood that he comes under the heading of a 'working dog'? Many more authors refer to the Icelandic Dog rather than the Icelandic Sheepdog - occasionally the Danes mentioned the Islandske Spidshunde..." It seems that this discussion is not new at all and will most likely not end here. And that is okay.
A bit of delving and reflections on the naming
Time flies and tasks change with the rising sun. But there is still a little time to delve into books and articles. I came across this narrative that fits so well with the weather tonight (blizzard ahead): "Numerous stories have been recorded about the interaction between man and dog. Since the settlement era, the dog has been, along with the horse, the most useful servant to Icelanders. It led its master when one could not see out of one's eyes due to the blinding blizzard and delivered him home to the farm doors." Sarpur/Þjóðhættir. Male, born in 1905 Then there were two books by Stefán Aðalsteinsson that I was flipping through. Stefán Aðalsteinsson (1928-2009) was an Icelandic author and PhD in animal science. He completed his doctoral thesis on the genetics of sheep colors. His research on Icelandic livestock, including the origins of domestic animals, is still important today and makes for very interesting reading. In the book "The Sheep, the Land, and the Nation", Rvk. 1981, I found a short text from a dissertation in Búnaðarrit (The Agricultural Journal) from 1891 (by Hermann Jónasson): "It is extraordinary to think that in mountainous areas, where sheep farming is the main occupation, the majority of dogs should be of little use and poorly trained; and that hardly any men are found who have the skill, or rather the will, to train them. ... Then it is to consider whether it is possible to train Icelandic dogs so that they become as promising as "foreign dogs". This is difficult to answer; for, although it is remarkable to contemplate, I know of no instance where an attempt has been made with full diligence and patience to train an Icelandic dog. That is to say, with the persistence that is applied abroad." It's always interesting to contemplate the working nature of the Icelandic sheepdog and I actually think it's completely unnecessary to always compare its nature to that of Border Collie dogs or to expect the Icelandic dog to work like "foreign dogs." They are just different and that's perfectly fine. I've been thinking lately that the naming "Icelandic Sheepdog" might not have been very wise. If it were just called the Icelandic dog, what would be different? Would we avoid endless comparisons with other sheepdog breeds? Would there be less prejudice against it? Would we be prouder of our national dog? Picture: Stefán Aðalsteinsson
Filming week
There's been a lot happening in the last few days as we had a film crew with us, busy shooting pictures and videos for the exhibition and promotional material related to it. On Sunday, a good group of people with their dogs came for a photo shooting in front of our turf houses. It was incredibly fun, the weather especially nice, cold but sunny. I want to list up all the dogs because they will play their part in various materials related to the project: Leiru Tryggur (see picture) Breiðanes Kría Breiðanes Björt Breiðanes Eldur Breiðanes Elding Gerplu Kvika Sunnusteins Prins Stokk-Sels Bósi On Monday, we shot material here at the farm. Our dogs _Reykjavalla Íslands Sómi_ and _Huldudals Hraundís_ played the leading roles as we focused on their interactions with the horses and sheep and the working nature of the Icelandic sheepdog. Among other things, they were equipped with GoPro cameras on their backs, which will provide a different perspective than we are used to. On Tuesday, we interviewed Hanna Kristín at Reykjavellir about her view on the Icelandic sheepdog and her breeding goals. We then followed Hanna on a walk with her dogs. They are: Reykjavalla Sæla Reykjavalla Viska Reykjavalla Vaskur Vestanvindur Hrauni Tindsson Close-ups were taken of Vaskur and Hrauni. They, along with Viska, are dogs with double dewclaws, and breeding them is one of Hanna's breeding goals. Then we went to Glaumbær and got permission to film inside the old farm. It's still very difficult to find historical pictures of Icelandic sheepdogs, so we thought of solutions, and I look forward to seeing the outcome. Thursday was the last shooting day, and then it was our turn, the farmers, to talk about our dog life and discuss the characteristics of the Icelandic sheepdog. Sómi and Hraundís finally got their photo shoot at the turf houses. The evening was used for further brainstorming for the exhibition, and I feel I have a good idea now of how it will be best to set it up. We're quite exhausted after this week but very excited to see all the footage. There's still a lot of work to do before we can open the exhibition, but we're on the right track. Producing such high-quality content as we did these past days wouldn't be possible without the grant we received from the Development Fund of Northwest Iceland. The grant allowed us to hire professionals for the job, and since we've worked with the same team before, we expect an excellent outcome. I want to thank everyone who helped us in this part of the project; those who traveled to bring their dogs for the photo shoot, Hanna for the reception, the museum director and staff at Glaumbær who granted us special and by no means guaranteed permission, and special thanks to my husband and son for their patience and support with all my ideas. Finally, I want to mention our social media. It pays to hit "like" on our [Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/fjarhundur) to hear about new content on this site and those who want to follow the daily dog life on our farm Lýtingsstaðir are directed to our [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/fjarhundur/).
Stories about Icelandic sheep dogs
A while ago, I advertised for stories about Icelandic sheepdogs; old and recent, entertaining and poignant, interesting achievements and beautiful everyday stories. I want to create a collection of stories that touch peoples hearts and are representative for the Icelandic sheepdog. Now, the first stories are out there, and I am very pleased with the outcome. I still have to put more stories into the collection but it is good to get started to present them. I also hope to receive more stories that are enjoyable to preserve here. The stories can be found under the button labeled "SAGA," and I hope people enjoy reading them. In the end, I want to thank everyone who sent me stories and pictures. _In the picture above is Reykjadals Móri, taken by Brynhildur Inga._
Exciting times ahead
Even though I haven't written much recently, I have been steadily working on the project, reading and researching. The next part of the website is almost ready, and it will include a section where you can browse and read stories about Icelandic sheepdogs that I have received. These are all sorts of stories, short and long, and it will be fun to get them started. Yesterday, I advertised again for old photographs and received so many responses, so many tips and pictures that I sat at the computer far into the night. Thank you to everyone who contacted me. I feel like I'm finally one step closer to having old photographs for the exhibition. There's so much coming up for us in the next few weeks. We plan to participate in the travel exhibition, Mannamót in Reykjavík next week, where we will introduce our exhibition to travel agencies and tour guides and distribute marketing material. In February, we will have a team join us to record various dog-related photography content and videos for the exhibition, and I am really looking forward to it. We know this young team that has previously created marketing material for us, and we met today to put together ideas and a work plan. Wow, this is all becoming so real!
More funding for the project
This fall, I applied again for funding for the project on the Icelandic Sheepdog, as without funding it is impossible to work on such a project and bring ideas to life. Recently, I was informed of grants I will get. One is from a Development Fund in Northwest Iceland, which will fund me for a second time. This grant will cover the design and setup of the exhibition. I also received a grant from the Culture Fund of the local cooperative KS which will be put to good use in covering certain costs such as marketing. I am very grateful for this financial support which shows equal trust in my ideas and ability to bring up the exhibition about the history of the Icelandic Sheepdog which will hopefully raise the image of the national dog to a higher level.
The poem RAKKI
RAKKI Sá er nú meir en trúr og tryggur með trýnið svart og augun blá, fram á sínar lappir liggur líki bóndans hjá. Hvorki vott né þurrt hann þiggur, þungt er í skapi, vot er brá, en fram á sínar lappir liggur líki bóndans hjá. Ef nokkur líkið snertir, styggur stinna sýnir hann jaxla þá, og fram á sinar lappir liggur líki bóndans hjá. Til dauðans er hann dapur og hryggur, dregst ei burt frá köldum ná, og hungurmorða loks hann liggur líki bóndans hjá. This beautiful poem RAKKI is after Grímur Thomsen (1820-1896), an Icelandic poet. Grímur often sought inspiration from the past in the style of romantic poets. He wrote the poem, about an Icelandic dog that died of sorrow due to the loss of its master. The bond between a dog and its master can sometimes transcend death. I do not trust myself to translate this masterpiece and did not find a translation of it yet but the story behind the poem is believed to have taken place in East Iceland in 1869: _On the path to the churchyard in Þingmúla in Skriðdal there is a statue of a dog lying out on its paws. This is the path of Þorgrímur Arnórsson, who in his lifetime was a priest in Hofteigur in Jökuldal and in Þingmúla. He was a great farmer and animal lover. He had excellent horses and always had a dog which lay in his lap when he was at home, and always followed him on his travels. The last dog of Reverend Þorgrímur was called Rakki. When Reverend Þorgrímur died, the dog did not want to leave his body, and Rakki was promised to lie with the corpse. He could not be convinced to take food or drink. The body was put in a coffin, and Rakki kept vigil. Then the funeral procession began, and when the coffin was carried into the church, Rakki followed it to the church doors. When the coffin was carried out, it became apparent that Rakki had been waiting at the church doors. He followed the coffin, and when the grave had been filled in, he lay down on the grave mound. He was tried to be carried away, but he resisted the worst, and as soon as he was released, he ran out into the churchyard and lay down on Reverend Þorgrímur's grave. Rakki was given food and drink, but he did not take any of it, and eventually he died of hunger on the grave. A British traveller who came to Þingmúla was told the story of Rakki. He was so moved by it that he had a statue of the dog made and sent it to Iceland with the instructions that it should be placed on Reverend Þorgrímur's grave._ _Source_ [_Dýraverndarinn 1955_](https://timarit.is/page/4948420#page/n1/mode/2up)
Sigríður Pétursdóttir from Ólafsvellir
Sigríður Pétursdóttir (1934-2016) from Ólafsvellir in Skeiðahreppur unquestionably had the greatest role in saving the Icelandic Sheepdog breed in Iceland by starting breeding work in the sixties in collaboration with veterinarian Páll A. Pálsson at Keldur. Páll A. Pálsson sensed the danger facing the Icelandic dog population and had purebred Icelandic puppies bred from the remaining bitch in Keldur, one of the dogs that Mark Watson had collected for export. The bitch was called Pollý and came from Tálknafjörður in the Westfjords. Sigríður also collaborated with Mark Watson and other parties in Britain who provided her with invaluable assistance and information about breeding. Sigríður then brought two females from Britain that Mark Watson gave her. The breeding stock in Iceland was very poor at that time, but Sigríður managed this extensive project. Sigríður, along with several others, founded the Icelandic Kennel club in 1969. In 2008, she was honored with the Icelandic Falcon Order at Bessastadir for her work in the breeding of the Icelandic Sheepdog. You find a great article in English about Sigríður after Þórhildur Bjartmarz on her website [Hundalífspóstur](http://hundalifspostur.is/2016/01/22/in-memory-of-sigridur-petursdottir/). There is much of interest in old interviews and articles about Sigríður, which say so much about her view of the breed and her breeding goals. [An article from 1973 quotes](https://timarit.is/page/4472538#page/n23/mode/2up): “This (achievement of Icelandic dogs in foreign shows) is not due to me but only to a small degree, said Sigríður, but it is due to the fact that the Icelandic breed is of good quality. It has been preserved by individual farmers who have wanted to keep their own dog breedline and skilfully bred it. We owe it to these few farmers that the breed has been kept pure…the danger of degeneration is always present in such circumstances, but these old people knew what they were doing and they have managed to get a strong foundation without degeneration.” When asked about the character of the dog, Sigríður replied: “The Icelandic dog is very strongly attached to human and is very sensitive to the feelings of its owner. They are very cheerful and follow the disposition of their owner. They are lively and entertaining if the owner is in such a mood, and they are calm if the master is calm. Aggression is not known in the pure-bred Icelandic dog. This quality has been eradictaed in the Icelandic sheepdog, because the farmers have put down aggressive dogs. Aggression is an unacceptable quality in the breed, since it is meant to drive livestock to and from, not to guard against attack as is expected of some other sheepdog breeds…in this way, this good character has been chosen and in my opinion, these qualities and cheerfulness are the strongest characteristics of the Icelandic dog.” In an interview in 1978 published in [Morgunblaðið](https://timarit.is/page/1502344#page/n9/mode/2up), she spoke about the nature of the dog: "The Icelandic is considered the only one of these Spitz breeds living in the countries around the North Atlantic that is not aggressive. Furthermore, the Icelandic dog is very intelligent, even though it is slow to mature....The Icelandic dog is very attached to its human and needs to be around people a lot." In one interview, Sigríður was asked about alspori dogs, which are dogs with double dewclaws on their hind and front paws. In the old days, it was believed that if a puppy was born as an alspori, it would be the best working dog. "-- Is there any truth to this superstition about alspori dogs? \---Maybe this is just superstition like many other things. Another thing is that perhaps people have paid more attention to teaching alspori puppies, because they were sold at a higher price and it was thought that there was more hope for success. Then the puppy has had more opportunity to learn and become a better dog for the job." Source: [Morgunblaðið, 1978](https://timarit.is/page/4472538?iabr=on#page/n23/mode/2up) What it means to breed dogs from a stock with only a few individuals is well expressed in an [interview from 2008](https://www.bssl.is/erfidast-ad-velja-undaneldisdyrin/): “What I found most enjoyable about my breeding at the time was that it was successful. But what was most difficult was when I chose the individuals that I could go on with breeding and had to let certain individuals go, had to put them down. I could not sell or keep more than a limited number of dogs which were not meant for further breeding. This was no 'production', but rather a precise and careful breeding and I had to choose and be careful about what I was doing. It wasn't finally possible to choose individuals to keep unless they were already of a certain age and when the traits, character, size and color could be seen. Everything had to be matched up as best as possible with what I was trying to achieve. The dogs had to be six months old before they could be evaluated and at that point they were already very attached to me.” Sigríðurs words show that she had great responsibility in breeding the Icelandic Sheepdog. She also expressed her concerns that the popularity of the dog could increase too much. She said: "If the Icelandic Sheepdog becomes fashionable then they will start to produce him instead of breeding him." I myself had never the honour to met Sigríður, but I have a lot of respect for this accomplished woman. I hope that her work to save the Icelandic Sheepdog will never be forgotten and will be kept alive for many years to come! Picture: [Víkan - 1973](https://timarit.is/page/4472538?iabr=on#page/n23/mode/2up)
Advent
One of the very famous dogs in Icelandic literature is the Icelandic sheepdog Leó from the book **Advent** by Gunnar Gunnarsson. The story of Benedikt's dangerous adventure with his dog Leó and the leading sheep Eitill, on their journey across the rugged wilderness of the north, is considered a masterpiece. **Advent** is based on the true story of _Fjalla-Bensi_'s searching trip in December of 1925. Benedikt sets out on a journey to the mountains in search of sheep that had not been found during the sheep round up in autumn. Benedikt is getting old, he is fifty-four. In the story, he is about to go on his twentieth and seventh search for sheep at the beginning of Advent. He starts the journey on the first Sunday of Advent and with him are his dog, Leo, and the ram Eitill. Benedikt looks upon them as his trusted friends. They are also necessary for the journey because of their sense of direction and ability to herd sheep. Gunnar Gunnarsson (1889-1975) was one of the foremost Icelandic writers of the 20th century. No book of Gunnar's has gone as far as **Advent**, which has been translated into about 20 languages. In Sarpur, the cultural historical database, I came across this interesting picture of _Fjalla Bensi_. It is owned by the Museum in Akureyri and I could order it from there. The picture is by Bárður Sigurðsson (1877-1937) and it comes with the following description: "_Fjalla-Bensi, Benedikt Sigurjónsson born on April 9th, 1876 on skis with a dog and sheep, in the studio of Bárður in Höfða. It is not certain whether these are the dog Leó and the lead sheep Eitill._ _It's interesting to take a closer look at this picture. Much effort has been put into taking up turf and putting it on the floor so that it looks like Benedikt is standing on skis with the view of Mývatnssveit behind him. To the left, Bárður's forge can be seen and to the right, a coffin. Bárður's photo studio was also his forge in Höfða, so he earned a living in this studio, both with smithing and photography._ Reading the book **Advent** has become an annual tradition for many during December and I can recommend reading it now during Advent and dive deep into the adventure and view of life of Fjalla Bensi, together with his sheep dog Leó and Eitill the ram.
Sense of smell
It's dark outside and winter has set in with the associated stormy weather. Then it's best to rummage around a bit, and today it's a questionnaire about dogs in Sarpur, a cultural historical database, that was chosen. I came across a story about the dogs' sense of direction and sense of smell, which I would like to quote here. It is a man, born in 1912 who writes: "Stories of the wisdom of dogs will be countless, but I lack the knowledge to trace them here, as it would be too long. It is certain that many people who were lost in storms or snowstorms resorted to letting the dog lead them home, and it rarely failed. It often happened that sheep were lost in storms and sometimes survived in the snow for weeks and months. Then it was good to have a dog that could find the lost sheep, and some farmers had them and were then hired for searching. These were dogs of the Icelandic breed. Some of them could distinguish whether the livestock in the snow were alive or dead. One farmer had two such dogs, one only searched for living sheep, and the other for dead." Attached is a picture from October this year.
Books
I love books and for that reason I am incredibly pleased to have some books either about the Icelandic sheepdog or containing material related to Icelandic dogs and their history. In my collection is **The Iceland Dog 874-1956** by Mark Watson which refers to many old books and I find it fun to dig up these primary sources. Some I have found online (in digital libraries) and some I got in antiquarian bookshops, for example **Das unbekannte Island** by Wather Heering (1935), **Lýsing Íslands IV** by Þorvald Thoroddsen (1920) and the large **travel book by Eggert Ólafsson and Bjarna Pálsson 1752-1757**. So is the book **Icelandic Sheepdog** by Gísli Pálsson (1999) in which he briefly goes over the history of the Icelandic sheepdog and then gives an overview of the breeders of Icelandic sheepdogs at the time the book was published. The breeders describe their dogs their breeding is based on and it is very informative to read through this because the number of pure bred dogs is still rather small at this point in time. There are also pictures of the main coat colors of the Icelandic Sheepdog and a name bank in the book. The books by Stefán Aðalsteinsson are interesting because he has researched the origin of domestic animals in Iceland and is often referred to in recent sources. Much interesting information about Icelandic farm animals can be found in **Íslenzkir Þjóðhættir** by Séra Jónas Jónasson from Hrafnagili (1934). In the book **The Dewclaw Puzzle**, Moniku D. Karlsdóttir writes about her theory of the inheritance of dewclaws in the Icelandic sheepdog. I'm sure there is much more about Icelandic sheepdogs hidden in my book shelves that I have not yet found. If someone knows about "hidden" stories in various books, please do not hesitate to let me know and contact me by email at [email protected].
The goal 2024
About a year ago I started working on the project about the Icelandic national dog and I am pleased with the progress. I have read a lot, both in books and on the internet. I have connected with many people, both at home and abroad, and I find that most of the people I have talked to have a burning interest. I have been collecting stories and pictures and I need to keep finding interesting content in the database. It's a bit slow to get answers from local photo galleries/collections to be able to buy old pictures but I will continue to work on it. Now is the time with the shortest days of the year, which is exactly the best time for me to work on this, and next on the agenda is to set up space on the website to publish the stories I have been given. There is still a lot of work to be done but the goal is set: opening the exhibition in the summer of 2024. I look forward to bringing my ideas about the exhibition into action and of course I will continue to talk about the progress of the project here in the blog along with various speculations and interesting information.
Origin of the Icelandic sheep dog
It is said that dogs were brought to Iceland in the 9th century by the first settlers, just like other animals, and dogs were to assist with herding and grazing of sheep, cattle and horses, as fencing was not present in this untamed land until the 20th century. Little is written about dogs in Icelandic literature and it is not known what farm dogs looked like in the settlement period, but in the story of King Olaf Tryggvason, it is said that there was a famine in Iceland in 990. It was proposed that most or all dogs in the country should be killed because they were so many that the people could be saved from starvation with the food that went into the dogs. But the farmers did not follow these instructions and the dogs held on to life. The most famous dog in Icelandic sagas is probably the dog Sámur owned by Gunnar in Hlíðarendi, who was most likely an Irish wolfhound. Sources tell us that during the Middle Ages, the Icelandic dog had become a sought-after export item, as a house pet of English ladies of high rank and in 1570 the Icelandic dog was described as being so furry that it was almost impossible to distinguish head from body. Eggert Ólafsson and Bjarni Pálsson travelled around Iceland between 1752-57 and in their travel book there are good descriptions of the Icelandic dog at that time, they spoke of three types of dogs: sheepdogs, hunting dogs and dwarf dogs. The sheepdogs are described as such: They are smaller than the others, hairy, with thin, short legs. The tail is rounded and the muzzle short and narrow. They are very useful for gathering sheep. They seek the sheep, if directed, high up on the mountains and herd them into a group, where the shepherd is waiting, and track the sheep without biting or otherwise harming them. Some of the sheepdogs are especially thick-haired and curly-haired. They are called lubbar and are considered more willing to learn than other dogs. It is interesting to speculate about the origins of the Icelandic Sheepdog. Some sources credit the Norwegian Buhund, which was brought here by the settlers, but in 1983 the blood of 56 Icelandic Sheepdogs was tested to investigate the breed’s origin. The results showed a clear connection between the Icelandic Sheepdog and the Finnish Karelian Bear Dog. The Karelian Bear Dog is of Russian origin and is one of the so-called Laika dogs, which have erect ears and rounded tail. It is therefore clear that the Icelandic Sheepdog has been brought here from Norway, and the affinity to the Karelian Bear Dog also points to the fact that the dog must have come from the east, just like the Icelandic horse breed because it is descended from Norway and its roots can be traced east to Mongolia. Picture: Icelandic Sheepdog probably from the South Iceland. From the Photo Archive of Byggðasafn Garðskaga. Author and year unknown.
Dogs banned in Reykjavík for 60 years
Icelandic society changed rapidly and significantly in the 20th century. The fishing industry began with the arrival of motorboats, fishing villages were established and urban areas increased in population. People moved from their farms in the countryside to the developing capital Reykjavík. Dogs often followed their owners to their new homes. At this time, farming was still practiced in Reykjavík and the dogs that came from the countryside mixed with the dogs that were already there. As a result, there was a great increase in stray dogs running loose in the streets of Reykjavík and caused trouble and impurities. By 1910, the dog population in Reykjavík had become very large and actions to combat hydatid disease had not yet reached success. These were the two factors contributing to the dog ban in Reykjavík. In order to respond to the situation, Regulation No. 124 from October 26, 1910, was put in place regarding restrictions on dog keeping in Reykjavik. The regulation specified the obligation of dog owners to mark their dogs with a special Reykjavik brand. Those dogs that did not bear such a brand or were considered stray dogs, dogs that were not visited within three days of being advertised, were declared outlawed and should be killed. On the other hand, the regulation provided for annual dog deworming and that tapeworm cysts should be buried in the ground. When these measures proved unsuccessful, suggestions were introduced to grant authorities to restrict or prohibit dogs in towns in 1924. The suggestions were approved and law No. 8/1924 was passed to ban dogs in towns and urban areas. Based on this new law, a regulation on dog keeping in Reykjavík was introduced. It stated that no one in Reykjavík was allowed to have a dog unless he had a permit for a working dog. Each dog could be killed unless a permission had been granted for him or he was accompanied by someone from outside Reykjavík. The police had to enforce the ban and hundreds of dogs were killed in Reykjavik after the dog ban was put into place. Most of the dogs were put down in 1948 or 170 dogs. In 1953, 64 dogs were put down and at least 70 dogs in 1954. No mercy was shown to illegal dogs and they were taken and shot. Source: [Vísir](https://timarit.is/page/1180763#page/n11/mode/2up) In 1968, all farming and livestock handling in Reykjavík was banned, thus ending the era of the working dogs. Around the same time, discussions began about the future of the Icelandic Sheepdog, as people believed that the breed was on the brink of extinction. Calls for official participation in the form of subsidies for breeding and saving the Icelandic sheep dog were made. In 1969, two organizations were founded for the benefit of dog lovers and owners: the Dog Friends Association and the Icelandic Kennel Club (HRFÍ). The goal of the organizations was to fight for legal dog keeping in the city, but the main goal of HRFÍ was to protect the Icelandic Sheepdog breed through careful and organized breeding. The establishment of the organisations had a great impact in how the discussion about dogs and dog keeping in Reykjavík developed. The years 1983 and 1984 marked a turning point in the fight against the dog ban and its support by the government. Two things should be mentioned in this context. On the one hand, there was an incident in Reykjavík when two dogs were put down on the spot without a trial or law in 1983. See article in [Morgunblaðið](https://timarit.is/page/1580725#page/n47/mode/2up). On the other hand, it was the case of Finance Minister Albert Guðmundsson. Journalist Rafn Jónsson sued Albert for illegal dog keeping after publicly describing Albert's dog-keeping on television. Rafn argued that the public had to accept laws while the upper class kept their dogs untouched. Albert was opposed to the dog ban from the beginning and considered the dog-keeping laws outdated and unjust. After Albert had been sued, he declared that he would rather leave the country than let his bitch Lucy go. The case received a lot of attention both [domestically](https://timarit.is/page/4029413#page/n3/mode/2up) and [abroad](https://timarit.is/page/2235862#page/n0/mode/2up). The case of Albert led the administration of Reykjavík to have to find a solution to the problem. Sixty years after the dog ban was introduced to Reykjavík it was lifted in 1984 with the Decree on Dog keeping in Reykjavik No. 385/1984. Dog keeping was still banned, but an exemption could be applied for. It wasn't until 2007, however, that the dog ban was completely lifted and the exemption from the ban was changed to a permit. Finally, it is worth mentioning that the current Icelandic laws give local authorities a lot of autonomy when it comes to dog keeping. For example, the Decree on Dog keeping in Akureyri from 2011 states that "Dog keeping is prohibited in Grímsey and dogs may neither reside there nor visit." Grimsey is an island, 40 km off the north coast of Iceland, part of the municipality of Akureyri since 2009. This post only skims the surface of a rather large matter, but I tried to summarize the most important points.
Hydatid disease and deworming
Icelandic people suffered from hydatid disease for many centuries and it was one of the most serious diseases of the country for a long time. It is well known that Iceland has long been considered the worst hydatid disease area in the North Atlantic and further afield - writes Guðmundur Magnússon in Overview of the History of Hydatid Disease in Iceland ([Yfirlit yfir sögu sullaveikinar á Íslandi, Reykjavík 1913](https://timarit.is/page/4911631#page/n0/mode/2up)). It is believed that hydatid disease was initially brought to the country by sick dogs imported from the western countries, especially from Germany. The oldest historical sources indicate that by 1200, the hydatid disease was known in both humans and animals. The cause of the disease is the larvae of several subspecies of Echinococcus tapeworms that use intermediate hosts (f.e. sheep) that contain eggs of the tapeworms and are then infected with tapeworm larvae when the final host (dog) eats the intermediate host's organs that is infected with tapeworm cysts full of larvae. [See more here.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echinococcosis) The Danish doctor Harald Krabbe came to Iceland in 1863 and stayed here for research on tapeworms in dogs along with Jóns Finsen, district doctor in Akureyri. They found that 28% of the Icelandic dogs were infected. At this time there were about 70,000 Icelanders and the estimated dog population at the same time was 15-20,000, or one dog per 3-4 inhabitants. Krabbe concluded that the spread and prevalence of hydatid disease in Iceland was mainly due to the fact that here, compared to the headcount, there were many more dogs than elsewhere (Guðmundur Magnússon, 1913). The hydatid disease could kill people and animals and it was estimated that every fifth Icelander was infected with the disease. Krabbe thought that the best way was to reduce the number of dogs and educate the Icelandic people about the nature of hydatid disease and ways of preventing the disease. These conclusions were followed by the Dog Ownership Regulation of 1869 ([_Tilskipun um hundahald 1869_](https://timarit.is/page/4911674#page/n43/mode/2up)_)_ to reduce the number of dogs and the Dog Tax Law of 1890, but it was not enough to improve the situation. It was common practice on the farms that dogs were allowed to lick people's bowls, eat slaughter waste, hang around yards and barns, sleep in sheep folds at night, and drink from people's water containers. From the turn of the century, dog deworming came into play. Dogs were collected together for deworming on certain days and were given worm medication. Dog deworming was done in a house or barn, where the floor and walls were made of stone or other dense material, which was easy to clean. The dogs had to be fasted 24 hours before the injection. It was necessary to make sure that the dogs did not throw up after the injection, otherwise it had to be repeated. After they had finished cleaning themselves with enormous diarrhea while they were tied up in the barn for up to six hours, they had to be bathed in a special cleaning agent before they were allowed to go home. This method was used for a long time in some municipalities, see article in Animal Guardian ([Dýraverndaranum](https://timarit.is/page/4954468?iabr=on#page/n29/mode/2up/search/averndarinn)) from 1 February 1978 . But as harsh as the dog deworming practice was, it led to hydatid disease being eradicated in Iceland in the 20th century and so the disease is no longer found in Iceland. Today, treating dogs with worm medicine is necessary [due to the tapeworm](https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/riney-canine-health-center/health-info/tapeworms), but fortunately, the methods are different from before. The picture above shows the deworming practice in Iceland in the old days. See the full picture [here](https://timarit.is/page/4954468?iabr=on#page/n29/mode/2up/search/averndarinn).
Vaskur of Thorvaldsstadir - the HRFÍ logo model
Vaskur of Thorvaldsstadir was one of eight dogs that Mark Watson bought in Iceland and moved to California in the fifties to breed Icelandic sheepdogs so they wouldn't become extinct. Shortly after the dogs arrived to California, a dog plague struck and some of the dogs died. Those who survived had descendants and seemed to not have mixed with other breeds. Watson later moved back to England and took the dogs with him to keep the breeding going. Vaskur survived the dog plague and moved with Watson to England. There he had a big success at the Crufts dog show in 1960 when he became BOB (best of breed), at seven years old. [In an article from February 1960](https://drive.proton.me/urls/4JV6CQVNYM#xVGAiQfZfkSL), most likely from the magazine [Our dogs](https://www.ourdogs.co.uk/subindex/home.php) the judge Mrs. W. Barber is quoted: "Vaskur completely won over me as a good looking medium sized dog, sound and with the essentials of his breed standard clearly defined, he was a happy and friendly dog to meet and appeared to be enjoying his outing." Vaskur was judged "Novice 1" and "Open 1". Here one can see [the breeding standard](https://drive.proton.me/urls/XPXMMA6CHG#mjGHVKziw0wn) of that time that Vaskur was likely judged by. In 1969, the Icelandic Kennel Club (HRFÍ) was founded at Hotel Saga in Reykjavík. 29 enthusiasts of Icelandic sheepdog breeding stood at the founding of the club. One of its goals was to protect and breed the Icelandic sheepdog and the first board agreement was to prepare the registration of the Icelandic sheepdog's characteristics. A picture of Vaskur of Thorvaldsstadir was then the model for the logo of the [Icelandic Kennel Club](http://www.hrfi.is/english.html). The kennel club later got membership of the international dog breeding associations FCI and the Nordic Dog Breeding Associations NKU and today is a collaborative platform for owners and enthusiasts of various dog breeds. [The Icelandic Sheepdog Department (DÍF)](https://www.dif.is/DIF/index.php) was founded in 1979 and operates within HRFÍ as one of its largest departments. The logo of the department is the same except Vaskur is looking the other way. Hopefully Vaskur will be able to be at peace in the kennel clubs logo for the coming times as a representative of Icelands national dog. The picture is from Mark Watsons book _The Iceland dog 874-1956._
Notable dogs
In my research on the history of the Icelandic Sheepdog, I have come across many interesting stories about dogs and people. I'm trying to structure all the material I've read and gathered to present it on this site and also in the exhibition. For this, I read many things more than once to better understand all contexts. For instance, I just revisited [an article about Kátur from Keldur](http://hundalifspostur.is/2016/01/27/ur-sami-katur-fra-keldum/) where it states: "Kátur from Keldur, ID number 11-68, passed away on December 22, 1978. This notable dog, from whom most if not all Ólafsvellir dogs trace their lineage, was born at Keldur in October 1959 and was thus in high age when he died. He spent the first years of his life in Írafell in Kjós but came to Sigríður and Kjartan in Ólafsvellir in 1964 and remained there until his death. Kátur from Keldur was a much-indulged dog in this large household and enjoyed various privileges, as there were always many dogs there. In the last two years, his health deteriorated, his sight and hearing failed, and he became arthritic. Kátur was a very beautiful dog at his best. Red-golden, with a white spot on his neck, white paws, and light in the tail. He was big and handsome, perhaps a bit too long if anything, but otherwise well-built. His temperament was especially good, and no one doubted his intelligence who knew him. He has a vast lineage. Kátur's parents were Klói from Sellátrar and Pollý from Keldur, and all currently living Icelandic dogs trace their lineage back to these notable dogs. G.S." The picture of Kátur that accompanies the article reminded me of the picture I used in the blog post about Strútur, Kolur, and Mark Watson. That picture is of Kolur, Strútur's father. I started looking into the material Salín sent me about Strútur, and among other things, there is a copy of Strútur's pedigree. There I saw that Kolur, Strútur's father, is not a son of Kátur, but Strútur's mother is a daughter of Kátur from Keldur. Her name was Píla from Ólafsvellir and her mother's name Táta from Keldur. Upon closer inspection, it turns out that Táta, Kátur, and Kolur's mother, named Skotta from Sætún, were all siblings. Look at the picture above for a better understanding! Their parents were, as mentioned above, Klói from Sellátrar and Pollý from Keldur. Klói had four offspring with Pollý, but according to the [DÍF database](https://www.dif.is/hundarnir/hundar_grunnur_einstaklingur.php?id=4582), Pollý also had Snotra. Snotra was a son of Tryggur, who was a descendant of the siblings Kátur and Skotta. Snotra is not listed in the [ISIC database](http://www.islenskurhundur.com/Dog/Details/5097) as far as I know. This clearly illustrates the challenge at the time of breeding the Icelandic Sheepdog from a very small stock of dogs, and it's truly an incredible achievement that it was successful. I decided to include Strútur's pedigree (with thanks to Salín) with this post, and pictures of Klói and Pollý can be found in the [ISIC database](http://www.islenskurhundur.com/Dog/Details/4965).
Pish for thee Iceland Dog! Thou prick-ear´d cur of Iceland!
Yesterday, we welcomed a group of British tourists in our popular program, Horses & Heritage. As often before, the visitors showed no less interest in the dogs than the horses, and they of course received an introduction to Icelands national dog. The group had been to Glaumbær and had received information about the British nobleman Mark Watson and his rescue measures regarding the old farm. I explained to the people the role Watson played in the rescue of the Icelandic Sheepdog, and they were quite surprised that the breed is not well known in Britain and not recognized by the British Kennel Club. I then told them that the Icelandic Sheepdog was particularly favored by the British elite in the 16th century and that William Shakespeare even mentioned it in the play "Henry V.", written around 1600: **Pish for thee Iceland Dog! Thou prick-ear'd cur of Iceland!** These are probably not the nicest words that have been written about the Icelandic Sheepdog, but nevertheless, they are evidence that the dog breed from our remote island in the Atlantic was known in Britain at that time. Our British guests found it very interesting to learn about the Icelandic Sheepdog and its connection to their own homeland.
Is the Icelandic sheepdog a working dog?
I was wondering how much people use the Icelandic sheepdog as a working dog. I posted the question on the Icelandic sheepdog department's Facebook page the other day and received a tremendous response in a short time. It appears that the dog is still used around sheep. They actively participate in sheep gathering in the autumn, saving people and horses many steps in the Icelandic highland pastures. They can be sent a long distance away or kept barking by one's side. The Icelandic sheepdog is a herding dog, keeping sheep away from houses, pastures and woodland within a certain radius and thus being invaluable to many. The dog is also used around horses. Some dogs fetch horses from the pasture and drive them to their owners. Stories were told of dogs hunting mice just like cats, which is well-received in rural areas. There was a discussion about the working nature of the Icelandic sheepdog, which is very different from the nature of the Border Collie (BC). While BC dogs herd sheep by running around them and are usually silent, the Icelandic sheepdog barks while working. This working nature suited (and still suits) Icelandic conditions and landscape. Most owners of an Icelandic sheepdog in the city probably want it to bark as little as possible, which leads to a certain tension between the dog's thousand-year-old nature and modern life expectations. But no one wants a dog that barks excessively, which everyone agrees on. Breeders have an undeniable responsibility when choosing dogs for breeding. Arnþrúður Heimisdóttir, who has bred Icelandic sheepdogs since 1998 under the name Fljóta-kennel, provided an informative contribution on her theories regarding the history and breeding of Icelandic dogs over the centuries. I was given permission to publish her segment here: \--- Why did Icelanders have dogs: 1\. To comfort little children, preventing them from becoming paralyzed with fear and loneliness, children who were expected to be shepherds day and night, terrified by tales of trolls and ghosts. To be their friends (since they might be the best dogs in the world to instill trust and courage in people, being friendly and brave). 2\. To drive sheep out of pastures, acting as a virtual fence since people built their farms right in the middle of the best pastures. So the dogs stayed home at the farm and drove away animals all day. I heard in a radio show recently about a foreign traveler's account from the 1800s describing how every farmer had about 5 dogs that chased out roaming animals and horses (since there were no fences back then). The history of Icelandic agriculture tells us that there was immense pressure after the settlement to fence in, using stone walls, to separate grazing lands and pastures. All men were legally obligated to work on this for one month each year. Then around 1200, this was removed from the law as it was too much work. My theory is that people started breeding these indigenous dogs that drove out of pastures, as most/all stone walls soon became unusable. 3\. For gathering and herding in autumn, also during winter time when farmers moved livestock from shelter to winter pasture in often snow and harsh weather conditions. They also helped children/shepherds drive the flock out for grazing and back home. I doubt they've ever herded sheep like Border Collies. At least I've never noticed any Icelandic sheep dog doing it today, but perhaps you can point to other examples. 4\. To help people find their way home in snowstorms, both travelers who unexpectedly got caught in a snowstorm, and winter shepherds who faced the same with their sheep. 5\. To help people find livestock buried in snow after snowstorms. \--- I thank everyone who participated in the discussion, which was both enlightening and necessary. We must never forget what the dog was used for throughout history, which shaped the dog's nature we know today. I personally want to see more Icelandic sheepdogs in the country's rural areas. As the national dog of Iceland, it should be a pride on many if not all farms all around the countryside. Being a farm dog does not exclude it from being a show dog. There are examples of Icelandic sheepdogs that have received champion points and champion titles at HRFÍ shows and also perform very well in herding and driving livestock. Let's be proud of this friendly and diligent national dog and work against prejudices that it's just a useless barker. Show responsibility in breeding and respect the dog's nature. Train it well and let it work according to its nature if the opportunity arises!
Strútur, Kolur, and Mark Watson
Working on this project is both intriguing and enjoyable. I am deeply passionate about it and feel an immense need to collect information and stories about the Icelandic Sheepdog. We need to preserve these stories and make them accessible for the future. The dog is part of our cultural heritage, and it has accompanied the nation through thick and thin for over 1000 years. It is the responsibility of our generation to maintain a testament to its history. I came across a Facebook post related to Icelandic Sheepdog Day where a Canadian woman showed a picture of a dog named Strútur. Strútur was the first known Icelandic Sheepdog in Canada in recent times, arriving there in 1969. I got in touch with Salín Guttormsson, the woman who posted the picture, and we have been communicating since then. Salín recently published an article about Strútur's history in "Lögberg - Heimskringla", and she gave me permission to post it on this website (which will likely be available in the fall). Salín's father had corresponded with Mark Watson in 1970 as he tried to purchase the book "The Iceland dog", which unfortunately was out of print. Watson replied that the book was sold out and no copies were left, but he sent him photocopies of the main sections of the book, along with an revised introduction. In his letter, Watson wrote that there were about 50 Icelandic Sheepdogs in Britain and they were recognized by the English Kennel Club. The Club had recognized the breed in 1905. However, the breed is not recognized today as there are too few Icelandic Sheepdogs in Britain. Watson also mentioned in the letter that he had recently moved two dogs to England which he purchased from Sigríður Pétursdóttir of Ólafsvellir. And Strútur also came from Sigríður's breeding. I am including a picture here of Kolur, Strútur's father. Sigríður Pétursdóttir took the picture in 1969. Salín allowed me to show this picture, and I am immensely grateful to her for sharing the story of Strútur and the correspondence between Watson and her father. Receiving these narratives is invaluable to me.
Happy Icelandic Sheepdog day!
Today is the day of the Icelandic Sheepdog! In the breeding goal for the Icelandic Sheepdog, it is stated: "The Icelandic Sheepdog is Iceland’s native breed of dog. It is the descendant of the dogs brought to Iceland by the original Viking settlers (AD 870-930). The dogs became indispensable in the rounding up of livestock and in the daily work on the farms. Their method of working adapted to the local terrain, farming methods and the people’s hard struggle for survival over the centuries. The Icelandic Sheepdog is a Nordic Herding Spitz, slightly under medium size, sturdy, with erect ears and a curled tail. Seen from the side the dog is rectangular. The expression is gentle, intelligent and happy. A confident and lively bearing is typical for the breed. There are two types of coat, short and long, both thick and very weather-resistant. There is a marked difference in appearance between the sexes" Those interested can continue reading in [FCI-Standard N° 289.](https://www.dif.is/UmTegundina/289g05-en.pdf) As usual, we visited the heritage museum in Glaumbær today and enlightened and educated the museum's guests about our national treasure! Happy Icelandic Sheepdog day!
Mark Watson - the savior of the Icelandic Sheepdog
Mark Watson is known to many owners of Icelandic sheep dogs all over the world. Watson's achievements can't be adequately summarized in a short blog post, and he will be given more space on the website and in the upcoming exhibition. But I will still summarize a few points as we approach the Icelandic Sheepdog Day on July 18, which is Mark Watson's birthday. Mark Watson was born on July 18, 1906, in the United Kingdom. His family was very wealthy, owning an estate in Scotland and a summer house in Austria. They lived lavishly in London. Watson was well-educated and studied at the best schools in Britain and on the continent. He spoke fluent French and good German. He traveled extensively and developed an interest in Iceland from an early age. He dreamed of adventures in Iceland and made his first trip to Iceland in the summer of 1937. The following year he traveled around the country on horseback. During these trips, he took photographs and motion pictures, which were shown in London and at the World's Fair in New York in 1939. Watson was very generous to Icelanders. He donated over a hundred watercolor paintings by Collingwood, a British painter who traveled around Iceland at the end of the 19th century, to the National Museum, along with other artworks he gifted to the museum. In the summer of 1938, he came to Glaumbær in Skagafjörður and fell in love with the old farm. Watson wanted to buy Glaumbær, restore it to its original form, and turn it into a museum. But the farm was not for sale. When he got home, he decided to send two hundred sterling pounds to Iceland, so that repairs could begin on Glaumbær. Watson was a great dog lover and was one of the first people to realize that the Icelandic Sheepdog breed was dying out. He therefore decided to save the breed. He had dogs collected that had the typical appearance of the Icelandic Sheepdog and bought them. Later, they were sent to California where he lived for years on the Wensum kennel farm in Nicasio. In 1957, Mark Watson published a book on the Icelandic dog breed. The book is called The Iceland Dog 874 – 1956 and in it, Watson lists all the data he found about the Icelandic Sheepdog. Watson helped Sigríður Pétursdóttir from Ólafsvöllur (who will receive a more detailed review on this site later) to transport Icelandic Sheepdog puppies from his breeding from England to Iceland to start important breeding work. Sigríður Pétursdóttir, along with others, founded the Icelandic Kennel Club HRFÍ in 1969. The aim of the association was the protection and breeding of the Icelandic Sheepdog breed. At the founding meeting, it was agreed to show the Iceland friend Mark Watson the respect of making him an honorary founding member, as he has initiated the protection of the Icelandic Sheepdog, in addition to writing a book about the breed. In early 1973, Watson gave Icelanders a fully equipped animal hospital. Mark Watson died at his home in London in March 1979. Interested parties are referred to the booklet of the Skagafjörður Heritage Museum [Mark Watson and Glaumbær](https://www.glaumbaer.is/static/files/Skjol/vi-mark-watson-og-glaumbaer.pdf) and the article [Mark Watson and the day of the Icelandic Sheepdog](https://hundalifspostur.is/2015/12/15/the-honourable-richard-mark-watson/) by Þórhildur Bjartmarz to learn more about him.
Artwork in honour of the Icelandic sheepdog
I commissioned the young artist Josefina Morell, who lives in Borgarfjörður, to create an outdoor artwork for me in honor of the Icelandic Sheepdog. After some deliberation, we decided that she would create a sculpture or a kind of profile picture from rhyolite stone. An appropriate stone was finally found in Bæjargil in Húsafell. The stone is purple-blue and very beautiful. A picture of Sómi was then used as a model, and the result is magnificent. Josefina came and delivered the work to me a couple of days ago. The stone was initially placed on the wall of the turf shed, but the location will be reviewed when appropriate. I am extremely pleased with the work, and who knows, this might be the only sculpture of an Icelandic Sheepdog in Iceland? In any case, I think it's time we had a monument to the national dog!
Old photographs
One of the things I'm going to do in this project is to set up a database with pictures, both old and new, black and white, and colored. Pictures always tell a story about the relationship between a human and a dog. I have received several pictures from photo and local history museums and also some from private ownership. The picture that accompanies this post was taken in 1960 in Þernuvík in Ísafjarðardjúp and shows a dog named Brandur and a boy named Gunnar. Gilla from the Hnífsdal kennel sent me this picture and an interesting story about Brandur accompanies it. It will be told later. **Dear reader, if you have pictures that you are willing to contribute to the database, please get in touch with me!**
To the church
There is much of interest on the cultural historical database [Sarpur.is](https://www.sarpur.is/). Among other things, it has a large collection on folk customs, and when looking for material on dogs, many curious things come up. For instance, there's a narration about going to church in the old days: "...It could hardly be said that going to church was an exception to dogs joining the journey. Many dogs often arrived at the church, both willingly and unwillingly, and were often a great nuisance, for example, they got into the churchyard and went berserk, as was often their habit as previously mentioned. Some slipped into the church itself during mass and crawled under the benches. However, they didn't like being inside. It was not uncommon for some to lose their most devout attention when the assistant came, took the dog by the scruff of the neck and dragged it, howling, out of the church..." Source: [Sarpur/Folk customs. male, born 1912, Kirkjubæjarklaustur](https://www.sarpur.is/Adfang.aspx?AdfangID=542101) (Icelandic)
Book gift
I have been so fortunate recently to acquire the book "THE ICELAND DOG 874-1956" by Mark Watson, which is an absolute treasure for anyone interested in the history of the Icelandic Sheepdog, like me. The book was published in 1957, in which Watson lists all the data he found about the Icelandic Sheepdog from the settlement years to "present day" as stated in the preface written by Watson in 1956. Watson himself funded the publication of the book, and the profits from its sale he donated to the Reykjavík Animal Protection Association at the time. It is believed that the book was published in 500 copies, which is of course not very many, and therefore the book is very rare and valuable today. The book is a gift to me for the exhibition about the history of the Icelandic Sheepdog, and it was Jørgen Metzdorff who gave it to me after he heard about my project. Jørgen breeds Icelandic Sheepdogs in Denmark ([Naskur kennel](https://www.naskur.dk)) and is a great enthusiast of the dog's history. He has researched the book very well and has given a lecture about it in connection with the Day of the Icelandic Sheepdog. Since Jørgen had three copies of the book, he decided to give me one copy for the exhibition. I am very grateful to him for that! The book is indispensable for the exhibition about the Icelandic Sheepdog. [You can read the book here.](https://drive.proton.me/urls/MSZXKPRSBW#NJ3Xh5blzdvJ)
A living work of art
On February 15, 1994, Guðni Ágústsson, a member of Parliament, proposed to increase the respect and prestige of the Icelandic Sheepdog: "The Icelandic Sheepdog is a national heritage and a national treasure of Iceland, it is a living artwork that we must preserve." Parliament concluded by appointing a committee to make proposals for measures to protect and purify the breed of the Icelandic Sheepdog. [The proposal can be read here.](https://www.althingi.is/altext/117/s/0588.html) (Icelandic) Friðjón Þórðarson, former minister and district commissioner, saw the humor both in Guðni's exposition and argumentation and summarized the subject of his speech in a verse that went like this: **Ó,íslenski fjárhundur,lifandi listaverk** **með ljómandi augu sem höfða til réttlætiskenndar.** **Með hringaða rófu og hálsband um loðna kverk,** **Nú heiti ég á þig að komast til allsherjarnefndar.** ## **Happy National day!**
Social Media
To build a network and promote a project, it is essential to be visible on social media. A Facebook page was recently set up when our blog site was launched, and I will post updates there about the project and later about the exhibition. The Instagram account is more intended for the daily dog life at Lýtingsstaðir, and those interested can follow us there. We look forward to connecting with as many people as possible.
75th Anniversary Celebration in Glaumbær
A splendid anniversary celebration was held in Glaumbær on May 29, marking 75 years since Mark Watson donated money to preserve the farm. The Skagafjörður Heritage Museum is thus the oldest heritage museum in Iceland - thanks to this monetary gift from Watson. Mark Watson is, as mentioned in a previous post, also referred to as the savior of the Icelandic Sheepdog. This provided an opportunity to bring Icelandic Sheepdogs to the anniversary celebration, and 12 dogs attracted a lot of attention and excitement among guests and passers-by.
The Logo
I think it is necessary to start promoting the project as soon as possible, and for that, a beautiful logo is needed. Sómi had to be in the logo, as he is the beginning of everything related to the Icelandic Sheepdog here at the farm. Since he and the turf houses at Lýtingsstaðir are inseparable, it was decided to include them as well. I commissioned a young woman from the United States who owns and breeds Icelandic Sheepdogs across the sea and does dog-related marketing materials ([greyfindesign.com/home-dog](https://www.greyfindesign.com/home-dog)). Kristine Olivia designed the logo for me based on this picture of Sómi.
The Grant
In December 2022, I was informed that my project, The National Dog of Iceland, would be granted a subsidy from the development fund of Northwest Iceland up to 1.6 million ISK. I am very grateful for this, as the grant enables me to work on the project and preparations started immediately in January 2023. Ahead is research work, working on the project's website, marketing actions, writing texts, and collecting stories and photographs about and from Icelandic sheep dogs. I will use this year to prepare for the exhibition and aim to open it in the summer of 2024.
The National Dog of Iceland
I began to delve more and more into the history of the Icelandic Sheepdog. Not only to introduce it better to my guests but I was starting to completely fall for this breed. As a cultural anthropologist, curiosity and interest in everything that is Icelandic and unique awakens in me. In the fall of 2022, I made the decision to apply for a grant from SSNV to set up an exhibition about the history of the Icelandic Sheepdog. While I was writing the application, I shaped the idea for this exhibition. I contacted people who I knew had been working for decades to strengthen the image of the Icelandic Sheepdog. I want to mention Þórhildur Bjartmarz who has collected a lot of material about the dog, given lectures on the subject, and maintained the website [hundalifspostur.is](https://hundalifspostur.is) where there is much of interest to be found. Þórhildur welcomed me and showed me all the data she has collected. We discussed a lot and this meeting with her gave my idea more depth, and I am very grateful to her for this insight and kindness towards me.
Icelandic Sheepdog Day
Post Covid - When life returned to normal, I took Sómi to dog shows and both Sómi and Hraundís to events related to Icelandic Sheepdog Day (every July 18) in Glaumbær. Dog owners from North Iceland often gather there with their dogs. In this context, it's worth mentioning Mark Watson, who is often called the savior of the Icelandic Sheepdog (more on that later). He is also the savior of Glaumbær, where he generously donated money to preserve the old farm. His birthday is on July 18, which was chosen as Icelandic Sheepdog Day. Icelandic Sheepdog Day has been celebrated annually since 2016, and the Icelandic Sheepdog Division of the HRFÍ (Icelandic Kennel Club) oversees it in Iceland.
Horses & Heritage
From the summer of 2021, Sómi and Hraundís started participating in the reception of tourist groups and immediately became very popular in our program, which we call Horses & Heritage. In this program, we introduce the history and characteristics of the Icelandic horse, turf houses as the architectural heritage of Icelanders, and the Icelandic sheepdog. Often, the dogs steal the show and perform their tricks on top of the turf houses. It's safe to say that the dogs always impress the tourists.
Hraundís
In April 2021, I got a wonderful dog, Huldudals Hraundís, called Skotta in everyday speech. When I received her, she was 9 months old and badly injured. She underwent surgery where the hip joint had to be removed. The surgery and recovery process went better than expected and after five months she was almost completely mobile. We need to monitor her closely but she lives a good life today. Hraundís is in many ways completely different from Sómi and it's always fun to watch them. She takes on the role of carefully watching the horses and is good at herding them home and into the stable with the accompanying yelping, while Sómi is more interested in sheep.
The pandemic
In March 2020, the pandemic struck Iceland (and the rest of the world) and people were asked to stay at home. Pictures of Sómi cheered up friends and acquaintances around the world during these strange times, as I had ample time to photograph and post on social media. Very few tourists visited us at home this fateful year, but Sómi charmed everyone who came to the farm. Various marketing efforts were made for our tourist business at Lýtingsstaðir in the summer of 2020, and Sómi played a role in all of them. Gradually, the idea sparked to do more with the subject of the Icelandic sheepdog, but first, I wanted to familiarize myself better with the dog's environment in Iceland. Not easy during a pandemic, but social media provided opportunities to meet other owners and breeders of the Icelandic sheepdog in Iceland. There was also a lot of education through online lectures.
Íslands Sómi
In December 2019, the Icelandic sheepdog, Reykjavalla Íslands Sómi, joined our family. Before him, we had Border Collie mixes, who were also wonderful dogs. Shortly after Sómi arrived home, it became clear to us that he was a gem and could contribute to the project that has been underway here at Lýtingsstaðir for several years: showcasing Icelandic cultural heritage. Sómi discovered the roof of our turf houses as a viewing point just like dogs did in the old days. Sómi and the turf houses immediately became the most popular subjects for photos in the following months.
CONTACT
Lýtingsstaðir, 561 Varmahlíð.
Phone: +354 893 3817
[email protected]
CONTACT->
Lýtingsstaðir, 561 Varmahlíð.
Phone: +354 893 3817
[email protected]
