The history of the Iceland dog started at the same time as that of us Icelanders. Settlers took their domestic animals with them to Iceland and also dogs to assist in the guarding and herding. The land is vast and no fences were made until in the last 100 years.

Little is written about the dogs in the stories of Iceland and no descriptions given on the sheepdog. On the other hand there are some descriptions given on specific dogs due to the different appearance from the others common in the country, for example Sámur Gunnar at Hlíðarenda, which there is little doubt about having been an Irish wolfhound also having come from there and a pretty good description given for being such. Around 900 there was much hunger in the country and Arnór Kerlinganefur suggested that most or all dogs be destroyed as they were so many that it might save many lives if they didn’t have to feed the dogs.

In the middle ages the Icelandic dogs had become a popular export from Iceland, especially to England, and were popular family pet amongst the aristocracy and ruling there. Marteinn Beheim writes that the Icelanders sell their dogs for a high price but give their children so they may eat. Olaus Magnus writes 1555 that Iceland dogs are popular with Lady’s and priests. Shakespeare mentions an Iceland dog in his play about Henry the V. (written about 1600). John Caius writes 1570 about Iceland dogs that are very popular and much sought after by the aristocrats in England.

In a travel book Eggert and Bjarni speak of two types of fur of the Iceland dog, normal coat with long hairs and also a very thick coarse coat and those are called “lubbar”.

From that time until this century the Iceland dog is mentioned in most all travel books written about Iceland. The description that these travelers write of the Icelandic dog differs a bit is easily seen that they are writing about the same breed. They are said to be indispensable at every farm, for sheep gathering and good dogs not only gathered the flocks, they also helped saving animals and men buried 4-5m. in snow. A good dog could be worth the same as a horse. 1869 it was thought that the dog count in Iceland was 24.000 but in the years 1883-1887 it is thought that they were about 10.000.

First laws concerning dogs were adopted in 1869 and in 1871 a dog-tax on all dog with the exception of a certain number of sheepdogs on farms. These laws were placed to reduce the number of dogs who were hosts to tapeworm which could pass disease on to man. After that the dog population reduced much in Iceland, for it increased peoples fear of the disease it causes. A common lack on proper hygiene amongst the nation was the main reason for the danger caused by the disease.

In the year 1900 the dog population had decreased much and because of the import of foreign dog breed in the 19^th century, that had mixed with the Icelandic dog it was so that Christian Schierbeck, doctor in Reykjavík, that traveled much around the country, thought that only few Iceland dogs remained and only on remote farms in the countryside.

In the year 1897 it is spoken of the first Iceland dogs in a show in Tivoli in Copenhagen, Vips, Svartur and Pilar who received 1^st prize and a trophy. In the year 1905 an Iceland dog named Chuck registered in the English kennel club and at that time the breed was recognized as such in England and published a standard which was translated from Danish. Iceland dogs have seldom appeared in shows there but Vaskur frá Þorvaldstöðum got best in group and competed for the best in show at Crufts in the year 1960, then at the age of 7. The Hon. Mark Watson was a great fan of all that was Icelandic and traveled much around the country. He told of his travels in Iceland and about 1930 had he seen a number of Iceland dogs but around 1950 they were almost extinct except in remote places. He decided then to export a few males and females to California in the USA where he lived then and tempt to breed them so the breed would not die out. Páll A. Pálsson, chief vet assisted him with the export and one female remained with Páll, from the western fjords. Those dogs, which were imported to the USA, caught distemper and shortly after arrival some died. Those who survived had offspring and seemed to be homozygote. When Mark later moved to England he took the dogs with him and continued breeding them. The English are formidable breeders and didn’t take them a long time to change the look of the dog to what they thought appealing. These dogs were short, square and small in bone structure!

Páll A. Pálsson sensed first of all men the danger that the Icelandic dog race was headed for and had pure Icelandic puppies bred from the dam that had been left with him at Keldur. An experiment to organize the breeding of the Iceland dog in Hveragerði and a fund from the Ministry of agriculture was granted.

Sigríður Pétursdóttir in Ólafsvöllur in Skeiðahreppur later started a great breeding co-op with Páll A. Pálsson. Sigríður worked with Mark Watson and other people in England who provided her with great assistant and information. Sigríður later imported 2 puppies to Iceland from England which Mark Watson gave her. The breeding foundation was very poor in that time. The Icelandic breed possesses a strong breed character therefore making it easier to turn from defense to offence, to start a powerful breeding under the guidance of scientists and make the Iceland dog a sought companion in homes around the world.