Iceland Sheepdog (Detailed Introduction)

　　The Iceland Sheepdog likes to interact with people; he is a cheerful, loyal, and fearless good companion. For city owners, his drawbacks are barking and stubbornness, but for a watchdog or guard dog, these actually become his advantages. Regular bathing and grooming are essential when raising an Iceland Sheepdog.
　　Care Knowledge
　　Bathing the Iceland Sheepdog is usually done only when he is smelly and dirty; never bathe him every two or three days, or even daily. This would wash away the protective film on his skin. Although he would be clean, fragrant, and pleasant, his skin would become fragile.
　　In summer, bathing about once every seven to ten days is sufficient, and in winter, about once every two weeks. The bathing frequency should be based on how dirty the dog is. Sick dogs and puppies (under two months) should not be bathed. Because sick dogs and puppies have weaker body functions and immune systems, bathing them at this time might worsen their condition or easily cause colds. If their coat is dirty, gently combing or wiping with a towel is enough. Even for healthy dogs, bath time should be chosen from noon to late afternoon, and the coat must be fully dried. However, dogs that have been swimming by the seaside or come back wet from rain must be bathed.
　　One main cause of overweight Iceland Sheepdogs is feeding them table scraps. Although feeding leftovers is a fun activity, it can have serious consequences. One is that the Iceland Sheepdog may become unsure who the leader of the family is. The leader eats first; if the Iceland Sheepdog is fed before or during the owners' meal, his status in the family will become unclear. Additionally, table scraps do not always provide proper nutrition for the Iceland Sheepdog. To reduce obesity, one method is to keep feeding times the same while decreasing the amount of food. But with this approach, the Iceland Sheepdog may increase whining and complaining sounds. Therefore, many owners choose to add large-volume vegetables to the food. You can also choose specialized low-calorie food, which is volumetric and makes the Iceland Sheepdog feel like he is getting more food. Iceland Sheepdogs usually dislike low-calorie food, but eventually, they will eat it and gradually get used to it.
　　If an Iceland Sheepdog is just eating slowly and chewing carefully, no additional feeding is necessary. Slow eating takes longer than gulping food, so it can cause weight gain. If an obese Iceland Sheepdog is picky, it may take some time to adapt to a healthy diet.
　　Once an Iceland Sheepdog starts dieting, be clear about its weight. If an obese Iceland Sheepdog loses even a little weight after two weeks, it means your strategy is working.
　　Of course, exercise for weight loss is also a good method, but it should be gradual. Actually, the characteristic of Iceland Sheepdogs raised in the wild is their very high exercise demand. Therefore, Iceland Sheepdogs are not suitable for city living.