Herding Group

Icelandic Sheepdog

Icelandic Sheepdog is a medium dog in the Herding Group. Adult weight is 30 lb (male), 25 lb (female), height is 18 in (male), 16.5 in (female), and the listed lifespan is 12–14 years. AKC describes the temperament as Friendly, Playful, Inquisitive.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Icelandic Sheepdog dog
Photo: Canarian · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Lifespan12–14 years
Weight30 lb (male), 25 lb (female)
SizeMediumGroupHerding Group

Height

18 in (male), 16.5 in (female)

Energy

4 / 5

Shedding

3 / 5

Grooming

2 / 5

Trainability

5 / 5

Good with kids

5 / 5

The breed record

Across 59 single-size medium breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 13 years is about the same as the 13.3-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 27.5 lb is about 6.6 lb lighter than the 34.1 lb average for those medium breeds.

The listed origin is Iceland. The coat is described as double, medium. The AKC energy score is 4 out of 5, close to the group average of 4.1 for the Herding Group. Shedding scores 3 out of 5. Grooming scores 2 out of 5, so home brushing covers most weeks. Trainability scores 5 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 5 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 4 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 138 in 2025.

AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Hip Evaluation and Ophthalmologist Evaluation. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

Frequently asked

Questions from the breed record

The verified adult weight for a Icelandic Sheepdog is 30 lb (male), 25 lb (female).

Sources

More Herding Group breeds

All Herding Group breeds

More medium breeds

All medium dog breeds

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