Old English Sheepdog
VS
Icelandic Sheepdog
Old English Sheepdog vs Icelandic Sheepdog
Compare Old English Sheepdog and Icelandic Sheepdog side by side and get a clear picture of what sets the breeds apart. Explore differences in size, weight, temperament, activity level, and other key traits to more easily decide which breed best fits your lifestyle and circumstances.
Characteristic
Old English Sheepdog
Icelandic Sheepdog
Breed type
Purebred
Purebred
Height
56 – 70 cm
41 – 46 cm
Weight
25 – 50 kg
10 – 14 kg
Life expectancy
10 – 12 years
13 – 17 years
Child friendly
5/5
3/5
Energy level
5/5
4/5
Intelligence
3/5
3/5
Trainability
4/5
4/5
Health
3/5
4/5
Grooming needs
5/5
3/5
Shedding
1/5
3/5
Barking level
4/5
4/5
Aggressiveness
2/5
2/5
Characteristics
Old English Sheepdog
Great with kids
High energy
Easy to train
Giant
Icelandic Sheepdog
High energy
Easy to train
Small
Summary
About Old English Sheepdog
The Old English Sheepdog is a large, shaggy, athletic herding breed with a dense double coat needing regular grooming or a shorter pet clip. Affectionate, clownish, and people focused, it’s intelligent but sometimes stubborn, thriving with consistent training and daily mental and physical exercise.
About Icelandic Sheepdog
The Icelandic Sheepdog is Iceland’s only native spitz‑type herder, medium‑small, sturdy, and agile with a curled tail and thick double coat in varied colors. Cheerful, social, and vocal, it thrives on daily exercise, close family involvement, gentle training, and regular grooming.
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