The Icelandic Sheep Dog
The Icelandic Sheepdog, the national dog of Iceland, has accompanied the Icelandic people since the settlement era and is an inseparable part of the country's history and culture.
In 2025, we will open a unique exhibition at Lýtingsstaðir in Skagafjörður, dedicated to this remarkable breed and its story.
Come and experience this extraordinary exhibition - history, knowledge, and a truly memorable experience await you!
In 2025, we will open a unique exhibition at Lýtingsstaðir in Skagafjörður, dedicated to this remarkable breed and its story.
Come and experience this extraordinary exhibition - history, knowledge, and a truly memorable experience await you!
Blog
Unique pictures
Yesterday I was given photos of Bak frá Flögu in Þistilfjörður. The owner had recently sent me a short story about Bak and several photos that [can be seen here](https://www.fjarhundur.is/en/saga/bakur-fra-flogu). I will add these photos I received yesterday to Bak's story soon, but I just want to express my gratitude for these privately owned photos that are so precious to preserve. The photos are from the years 1967-1970. Unfortunately, I know nothing about Bak's lineage, but he was clearly a brilliant and handsome, smooth-haired dog with dark patches on his back. Do you have photos and short stories about your Icelandic sheepdog(s) that you would like to preserve on the site? Contact me!
Hundaþúfa
Today, November 16th, we celebrate Icelandic Language Day on the birthday of Jónas Hallgrímsson. Jónas was a prolific writer, poet and translator (November 16, 1807 – May 26, 1845). On this occasion, I'd like to tell you about a dog-related word. In [questionnaire #66](https://sarpur.is/Spurningaskra.aspx?ID=531295&page=0&pageSize=192) in the Sarpur collection, people are asked about the word _hundaþúfa_. The respondents were born between 1896 and 1927. Hundaþúfa refers to cone-shaped grass tussocks that formed along riding paths, enriched by dog droppings. These distinctive mounds became well-known landmarks in rural Iceland when everyone traveled on foot or horseback with their dogs. Plural: hundaþúfur. _"Hundaþúfur were well known. Were other names used for them? Describe this. Do people know the saying: 'Now I think the hundaþúfa is starting to show off'?"_ All interviewees answered similarly to this woman, born in 1905: "In those days, everyone was traveling on foot or horseback with dogs along. Cone-shaped tussocks were found widely along riding paths, they were called hundaþúfur. I haven't heard other names for these distinctive tussocks. When dogs needed to relieve themselves, they ran to these distinctive cone-shaped tussocks. The grass was dark green and lush because of the fertilizer from the droppings. Horses, cows and sheep made little effort to graze on the grass of hundaþúfur." One woman, born in 1908, answered: "As a child, I was afraid of hundaþúfur, because they were the dogs' toilets." This verse appeared in the answers from a man, born in 1904: _Hundaþúfan er höldum kunn_ _hér á landi víða._ _Eðlishvötin á þeim runn_ _læt ég hana bíða._ _(The hundaþúfa is surely known / widely here in the land. / The natural urges at that spot / I let her wait for.)_ About the saying "Now I think the hundaþúfa is starting to show off," the most common response was: "I'm familiar with hearing that, 'this is quite the hundaþúfa,' was said about something that was small and insignificant or trivial." (Woman, born 1912) "Well known is the expression: 'Now I think the hundaþúfa is starting to show off.' It was often said about arrogant men who thought themselves important but others felt they had little to boast about." (Woman 1907) A man, born in 1899, answers: "I have always heard the word hundaþúfa used in a derogatory sense, such as 'there's a difference between a hilltop and a hundaþúfa.'" "I don't remember hearing or seeing other sayings about hundaþúfur in books. Though it may be that I have at some point heard it used disparagingly about a...poor turf house, built of inferior materials, e.g. 'this damn hundaþúfa.'" I end this hundaþúfa compilation on Icelandic Language Day with a verse by Steingrímur Thorsteinsson (1831-1913), author, translator and poet: _Hundaþúfan hreykti kamb_ _hún var nóg með þurradramb,_ _skamma tók hún hefðar fjall,_ _hafðu skömm þú ljóti kall._ _Fjallið þagði, það ég skil, það_ _viss'ei að hún var til._ _(The hundaþúfa showed off its crest / it was enough with its dry boasting, / briefly it took on the mountain's tradition, / be ashamed you ugly fellow. // The mountain stayed silent, I understand that, it / knew not that she existed.)_
Merch
Would you like to give a beautiful gift featuring Icelands national dog or treat yourself? Our gift items are unique! We offer bags, pillow covers, t-shirts, and buffs with our logo that was designed by Kristine Olivia from Grey Fin Design, who owns and breeds Icelandic Sheepdogs in the United States. These items can be purchased at the Heritage Center or ordered from our online store, [Sveifla.is.](https://www.sveifla.is/en/collections/fjarhundur) We had our German friend, the artist Corinna from Sonnenkunst, paint three pictures of our dogs, and you can buy high-quality reproductions of them. The paintings are called Hraundís (seen in the image above), Sómi ([our opening image](https://www.fjarhundur.is/en)), and Þjóðarhundar/National Dogs ([see here](https://www.fjarhundur.is/en/blog/18.-juli-dagur-islenska-fjarhundsins)). You can also purchase the porcelain figurine "Glaður", designed by artist Guðbjörg Auður Björnsdóttir and produced in one of the oldest family-run porcelain factories in Germany, Wagner & Apel. We have beautiful necklaces for sale featuring the head of an Icelandic dog by artist Kathrin from Katha Design Iceland, who owns an Icelandic Sheepdog. Additionally, we have our own knitting pattern "Sómi" that our friend, artist Barbara, designed for us. You can get hand-knitted lopapeysur (Icelandic wool sweaters) and hats with this pattern from us. However, the pattern itself is not for sale. Last but not least, we have several 2026 calendars that the Icelandic Sheepdog Association – DÍF publishes annually. Our Fönn graces the July page this time. The calendar is also available in [DÍF's online store](https://verslun.dif.is/). Contact us if you're interested in purchasing any of these items or visit us at the Heritage Center.
Contact
Lýtingsstaðir, 561 Varmahlíð.
+354 893 3817
[email protected]
