Icelandic Sheepdog vs Circassian Orloff Wolfhound - Breed Comparison

Circassian Orloff Wolfhound is originated from Russia but Icelandic Sheepdog is originated from Iceland. Circassian Orloff Wolfhound may grow 31 cm / 13 inches higher than Icelandic Sheepdog. Circassian Orloff Wolfhound may weigh 26 kg / 58 pounds more than Icelandic Sheepdog. Both Circassian Orloff Wolfhound and Icelandic Sheepdog has almost same life span. Circassian Orloff Wolfhound may have more litter size than Icelandic Sheepdog. Both Circassian Orloff Wolfhound and Icelandic Sheepdog requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Working dog
undefined
Russia
Iceland
Height Male:
71 - 76 cm
27 - 30 inches
40 - 45 cm
15 - 18 inches
Height Female:
68 - 73 cm
26 - 29 inches
40 - 45 cm
15 - 18 inches
Weight Male:
27 - 40 kg
59 - 89 pounds
9 - 14 kg
19 - 31 pounds
Weight Female:
27 - 36 kg
59 - 80 pounds
9 - 14 kg
19 - 31 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
12 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
1 - 12
4 - 8
Size:
Large
Medium
Other Names:
Hare hound
Iceland Dog, Icelandic Spitz
Colors Available:
is dark fawn or black
black, cream or chocolate., tan and white, Grey and white or tan and white
Coat:
thick and long
Short or long, straight or wavy
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate, Seasonal
Temperament:
Alert, Courageous, Energetic, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loyal, Playful
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

Very little is known of the history and development of the Circassian Orloff Wolfhound. It is suspected that it is related to the Hare Hound, Deerhound and the Greyhound. They were taken from Siberia to the Circassian southern mountains to hunt hare and small prey. The breed is also like the Borzoi but more intelligent and it is much faster than the other sighthounds.

The color and some other minor characteristics have evolved over the centuries to be different from the Siberian that was originally brought to the mountains. All the historical data suggests that the original parents of all these sighthounds was the Celtic Greyhound

icelandic sheepdogThere are quite a few different dog breeds that fall under the name of Spitz-type dogs, and in fact they have a number of similar characteristics, one of which is that they have some wolf-like features. They typically have the thick coat with undercoat and the erect, pointed ears and slanted eyes.

There is definitely a strong link between the Spitz type dogs and wild wolves. The tail too is feathery and can curl over the back of the dog.

The Icelandic Sheepdog, a native dog to Iceland, is a Spitz type dog which originates from the dogs brought to Iceland by the Vikings. The dogs have always been used to herd sheep, and they resemble dogs found in graves in Sweden and Denmark.

The dog at one time was facing extinction in the late 20th century, but in 1969, the Icelandic Dog Breeder Association was established to restore and preserve the breed. The Icelandic Sheepdog gained AKC recognition in June 2010.

Description

The Circassian Orloff Wolfhound had many of the characteristics of any sighthound. He has strong straight legs and they are longer than most sighthounds which allows the Circassian to run amazingly fast. The head is long, the muzzle is wide, and the eyes are large and dark. They have a deep chest and medium tail. They also have a graceful and aristocratic demeanor.

icelandic sheepdog puppy - descriptionThe Icelandic Sheepdog is a smallish to medium sized dog standing at 40 to 45cm in height and he can weigh anything between 9 and 14kg.

His double coat can be short or long, straight or wavy and in a mix of colors such as grey and white or tan and white, black, tan and white, cream or chocolate. Even though they come in a number of predominant colors, these colors are always accompanied by white markings.

He has a longish muzzle, much like the wolf, giving him an alert, foxy appearance. He has a muscular, rectangular body with strong, straight legs with dewclaws on both the front and hind legs.

Temperament:

Your social, energetic dog will require socialization and training which does him the world of good, turning him into a well-adjusted, obedient dog.

He is an intelligent dog, and training him won't be difficult as he is eager to please. These are social dogs which love being part of the family and they don't like being left outside day after day with little human intervention. He is a lively, confident breed, gentle and not at all aggressive.

Characteristics

Fun and games are right in this breeds wheelhouse. They love to run. They need to run. Their activity level is very high, and they need lots of space and regular exercise. They are very intelligent and need mental stimulation as well. They are great at lure coursing and they love racing of course

icelandic sheepdog dog - characteristicsThe Icelandic Sheepdog is such a good all-round family pet. He is alert, intelligent, social, playful, loyal, loving and brave.

He is friendly too, getting on well with children and any pets you have in the home. He is essentially a working dog, so you shouldn’t think of owning him as a pet if your lifestyle is centered around the TV and the couch for the best part of the day.

This is an energetic dog who wants lots of action during the day. He is a dog that badly wants to be part of the family and in exchange for looking after him well, he’ll promise to be an exceptional pet.

Health Problems

Again, little is known about the health of this ancient breed, except to propose that it faces many of the same challenges as the Greyhound. This would include skin irritation, bloat, osteosarcoma and esophageal achalasia.

Osteosarcoma is a bone cancer.

Esophageal achalasia is rare and affects the esophagus’ muscles. The upper muscles can’t relax and that causes the lower muscle or sphincter not to open and no food can get to the stomach.

icelandic sheepdog puppies - health problemsYour pet will reach 12 to 14 years of age with good care and is regarded as a generally healthy dog breed. However, they can be prone to a few health conditions, and these include hip dysplasia and diabetes.

Diabetes:

Mercifully for your pet, diabetes is considered a manageable disorder. When your pet doesn’t produce insulin or can’t utilize it normally, his blood sugar levels rise, resulting in hyperglycemia.

If left untreated, your pet can land up with a host of complicated health problems. Diabetes can be classified as either Type 1 or Type II, with the more common form in dogs being Type 1.

Caring The Pet

This dog is a lean running machine. Do not overfeed. It is also better to feed him two to three times a day in smaller portions rather than one large meal.

Health issues

They tend to be allergic to insecticide and anesthesia. It’s best not to treat your yard for insects if your Circassian Orloff Wolfhound will be out in it.

Exercise and games

Fun and games are right in this breeds wheelhouse. They love to run. They need to run. Their activity level is very high, and they need lots of space and regular exercise. They are very intelligent and need mental stimulation as well. They are great at lure coursing and they love racing of course.

Diet:

icelandic sheepdog dogs - caringFeed your energetic Icelandic Sheepdog a diet which is appropriate for his age and activity level. Don't just feed him the best commercially manufactured dog food, but give him some cooked chicken, brown rice and vegetables mixed into his kibble as a tasty treat. Also, dogs are carnivores, so include some raw meat into his diet from time to time. Clean, cool water should always be available.

Grooming:

The Icelandic Sheepdog has a thick double coat, with the outer coat being longer and the hair being shiny and glossy. These dogs shed quite a bit with seasonal shedding too so twice-weekly brushing will be necessary to keep the fur free of loose hair. His nails should also be checked regularly and his teeth should be brushed a couple of times a week too.

Exercise:

Icelandic Sheepdogs are athletic, active dogs that require a lot of exercise to keep them in good physical shape.

He loves all kinds of games and outdoor activities, one of which will be going with you for a walk every day. He makes a wonderful companion for those people going on long hikes.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Circassian Orloff Wolfhound vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Circassian Orloff Wolfhound vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Circassian Orloff Wolfhound vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Circassian Orloff Wolfhound vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Circassian Orloff Wolfhound vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Circassian Orloff Wolfhound vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Circassian Orloff Wolfhound vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Circassian Orloff Wolfhound vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Circassian Orloff Wolfhound vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Circassian Orloff Wolfhound vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Circassian Orloff Wolfhound vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Circassian Orloff Wolfhound vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Circassian Orloff Wolfhound vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Circassian Orloff Wolfhound vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Circassian Orloff Wolfhound vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Circassian Orloff Wolfhound vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Circassian Orloff Wolfhound vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Circassian Orloff Wolfhound vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Circassian Orloff Wolfhound vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Circassian Orloff Wolfhound vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Circassian Orloff Wolfhound vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Circassian Orloff Wolfhound vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Circassian Orloff Wolfhound vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Circassian Orloff Wolfhound vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Circassian Orloff Wolfhound vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Icelandic Sheepdog vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Icelandic Sheepdog vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Icelandic Sheepdog vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Icelandic Sheepdog vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Icelandic Sheepdog vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Icelandic Sheepdog vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Icelandic Sheepdog vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Icelandic Sheepdog vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Icelandic Sheepdog vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Icelandic Sheepdog vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Icelandic Sheepdog vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Icelandic Sheepdog vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Icelandic Sheepdog vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Icelandic Sheepdog vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Icelandic Sheepdog vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Icelandic Sheepdog vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Icelandic Sheepdog vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Icelandic Sheepdog vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Icelandic Sheepdog vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Icelandic Sheepdog vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Icelandic Sheepdog vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Icelandic Sheepdog vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Icelandic Sheepdog vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Icelandic Sheepdog vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Icelandic Sheepdog vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison