Miniature American Shepherd vs Icelandic Sheepdog
Compare Miniature American Shepherd and Icelandic Sheepdog: size, life expectancy, temperament and care side by side.
Comparison table
Show differences only
Characteristic
Miniature American Shepherd
Icelandic Sheepdog
Breed type
Purebred
Purebred
Height
33 – 46 cm
41 – 46 cm
Weight
9 – 14 kg
10 – 14 kg
Life expectancy
11 – 14 years
12 – 15 years
Child friendly
4/5
3/5
Energy level
4/5
4/5
Intelligence
4/5
4/5
Trainability
3/5
4/5
Health
3/5
4/5
Grooming needs
4/5
3/5
Shedding
3/5
3/5
Barking level
4/5
4/5
Aggressiveness
3/5
3/5
The 1–5 scale shows the level of each trait. A higher value means more of that trait. Individual animals may vary.
Characteristics
Miniature American Shepherd
Great with kids
High energy
Super smart
Small
Icelandic Sheepdog
High energy
Super smart
Easy to train
Small
Summary
About Miniature American Shepherd
Compact, athletic herding dog bred in the U.S. as a smaller Australian Shepherd. Intelligent, devoted, and “velcro” with family, often reserved with strangers. Needs regular training, mental work, and exercise. Medium double coat in varied colors; generally healthy with 12–15 year lifespan.
About Icelandic Sheepdog
The Icelandic Sheepdog is a cheerful, medium spitz herder from Iceland, with prick ears, curled tail, and a thick weatherproof coat. Friendly, vocal, and people oriented, it thrives on companionship, regular exercise, training, and varied activities like herding and agility.
Similar breeds
More breeds