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!
BLOG
Icelandic Sheepdog Day
Happy Icelandic Sheepdog day to all owners and friends of the Icelandic Sheepdog! July 18th is the birthday of Mark Watson, whom we often call the savior of the Icelandic Sheepdog. This year, the day is being celebrated for the tenth time all over the country, as well as abroad. Social media is filled with pictures of beautiful dogs, showing just how diverse the breed is when it comes to color variations and coat types. On the occasion of the day, various events are being held. In addition to the festivities at Árbæjarsafn in Reykjavík, I would especially like to mention the event here in Skagafjörður, called "Mark Watson Day." Watson is not only connected to the rescue of the Icelandic Sheepdog, but also to the restoration of the old farm at Glaumbær, which became Iceland’s first folk museum. We will begin the celebrations here at Lýtingsstaðir, where we expect guests with their dogs after noon. Admission to the Heritage Center will be free today. Afterwards, we will move over to Glaumbær to delight guests there from 4–6 pm. We are also expecting a guest of honor whom I am very excited to meet. Patricia Putman will be present; she has dedicated her life to dog breeding and training, with the Icelandic Sheepdog holding a special place in her heart. Pat is the chair of the judges’ education committee and the AKC representative for the Icelandic Sheepdog Association of America (ISAA). She worked with Mark Watson in the 1950s on his book “The Iceland Dog 874–1956” and played a major role in the selection and import of Icelandic dogs to the United States. Pat will say a few words about Mark Watson and the Icelandic Sheepdog in honor of the day. Her talk will be streamed on the Facebook page of the Skagafjörður Heritage Museum. Our dogs will be decorated today with an Icelandic ribbon attached to their collars! I would like to end with a beautiful quote I read on social media yesterday, from _Independent People_ by Halldór Laxness: **“No matter how things turn out, at least people have the memories of their dogs—those can never be taken from us!”** Enjoy the day!
The response
It has now been four weeks since we opened the Icelandic Sheepdog Heritage Center, and it is safe to say that the reception has been fantastic. Many people have already visited the center, both in organized group tours and as individuals. We feel the gratitude of Icelanders that the national dog and its story now have a space and a place to be visible and preserved. Several foreign visitors have come specifically to see the exhibition, as they own—and even breed—Icelandic Sheepdogs in their home countries. Every day, tourists come to us to experience the Icelandic horse and are often very surprised to learn upon arrival that there is not only an Icelandic horse but also an Icelandic dog. Many of them take the opportunity to visit the center before or after their riding tour, and the guestbook is filling up with words of praise. We have received excellent coverage in both Icelandic and foreign media. Morgunblaðið published a great article right after the opening (see photo). The Icelandic Kennel Clubs magazine Hundasámur, featured an article ([see here](https://www.hundasamur.is/greinar1/sogusetur-islenska-fjarhundsins-opnar-a-lytingsstodum-i-skagafirdi)). SSNV, the Association of Municipalities in Northwest Iceland, covered the opening, and the project has twice received grants from the Northwest Iceland Development Fund. The local newspaper Feykir published an article about the Heritage Center, and the Farmers journal [Bændablaðið](https://www.bbl.is/lif-og-starf/lif-og-starf/sogusetur-islenska-fjarhundsins-opnad), of course, also had its finger on the pulse. I was interviewed on a morning radio show yesterday, and you can listen to the episode [here](https://www.visir.is/k/94352390-d34e-43c0-b937-fcb00a56dc0d-1750669179232). A journalist from RÚV North Iceland is expected today. We will see when it will be broadcasted. On social media, coverage appeared from the [North Iceland Marketing Office](https://www.facebook.com/MarkadsstofaNordurlands/posts/pfbid0DzUmGx9fZnJGKqM8BcduTRFu5rpaMxximPZ3aV1FGtwQgmZhHKA88c9SCwcw3xdKl) and on "[Iceland Route 1 and Beyond.](https://www.facebook.com/IcelandRoute1andBeyond)" The Danish Icelandic Sheepdog Owners’ Association published an [article in its magazine](https://drive.proton.me/urls/4K4MD1ZK0G#8C2hSnMiweAU), and an article in the Kennel Club in the UK is forthcoming. We are extremely grateful for the reception and all the coverage about our Icelandic Sheepdog Heritage Center. Sómi, Hraundís, and Fönn always greet all guests and journalists with a smile and do their part to uphold the image of the national dog. **The Heritage Center is open every day from 9 am to 6 pm.**
Icelandic Sheepdog Heritage Center
This past Saturday, we opened the **Icelandic Sheepdog Heritage Center** (Sögusetur Íslenska fjárhundsins) at Lýtingsstaðir in Skagafjörður. The opening ceremony was well attended and full of wonderful guests. Behind the exhibition lies two and a half years of research and preparation. The goal of the center is to preserve the history of the Icelandic Sheepdog and to make it accessible and visible. We hope the exhibition will spark interest among locals as well as international visitors in the Icelandic Sheepdog as an important part of our cultural heritage. The center is **open daily throughout the summer from 9 AM to 6 PM,** and by appointment outside those hours. Since we live on-site, we’re also happy to welcome visitors during other times of the year. We look forward to seeing you!
CONTACT
Lýtingsstaðir, 561 Varmahlíð.
561 Varmahlíð
Phone: +354 893 3817
[email protected]
