International Breeding Recommendations
Icelandic Sheepdog International Cooperation – ISIC
The Icelandic Sheepdog International Cooperation (ISIC) started in Bjuv, Sweden 1996. The
reason was that the Icelandic Sheepdog needed an increase of genetic variation. To be able to
reach this goal, the Icelandic Kennel Club, HRFÍ, meant that an international perspective was
necessary. The national breed clubs within ISIC have decided, step by step, at the ISIC
seminars about common strategies for this purpose. This is a way to gather all such strategies
and recommendations.
The International Breeding Recommendations are based up on recommendations
given by geneticist Per-Erik Sundgren (Sweden) and biologist Pieter Oliehoek (the
Netherlands) at the International Breeding Meeting in Uppsala- Sweden (2000) and P.
E. Sundgrens lecture “Analysis of breeding with Icelandic Sheepdogs at the 11th
Seminar at Solröd Strand-Denmark 2006.
The aim of the Breeding Committees in ISIC is to support breeding with healthy dogs with
good working ability and the typical behaviour of a farm and herding spits. It is based on
the specific type and mental characteristics of the breed described in the breed standard
of the Icelandic Sheepdog.
Healthy dogs means dogs perceived as healthy and strong, in good condition and with
thick, weatherproof coat. It also means dogs that fulfil club recommendations in health
matters.
A dog of good type means dog with good external characteristics. The concept” type”
involves the total sum of the physical details which clearly separates the Icelandic
sheepdog from any other breed. The general appearance and the details are described in
the Icelandic Sheepdog Breed Standard.
The Breeding Committees will support breeding with lively, gentle, courageous, intelligent
and happy dogs. The Icelandic Sheepdog should be a very good herding dog and an
excellent guarding dog without being aggressive.
The Breeding Committee Task
The national Breeding Committees task is to collect restructure and prepare information for
breeding. Such preparation concerns working ability (herding and guarding), mentality, health
and exterior as for example announcing official HD- status, ED-status, opthalmoscopic
examinations, Mentality Descriptions (MH), no. of puppies, no. of litters, males and bitches used
in breeding, level of inbreeding, population analysis etc.
The Breeding Committees main task is to recommend breeding for long-term results. The
recommendations are always based on the national kennel clubs’ and the breed clubs’ general
breeding policy.
The Breeding Committees will recommend combining dogs from the unusual family groups with
dogs from the more common groups. This is to ensure preservation/spreading of “unusual genes”
to a sufficient number of dogs.
The Breeding Committees recommend selecting harder in the big family groups and not being
too selective in the smaller ones. When selecting from the smaller families it is always necessary
to chose healthy dogs and also the best ones.
Breeding advisory is based on common advisory worked out by the Breeding Committees total
knowledge about the Icelandic Sheepdog in the international cooperation (ISIC).
Each national Breeding Committee is responsible for the official information to the breeders in its
country.
To gather data from different countries into an international database within the cooperation is
basic and necessary for the future. The gathered data constitute an invaluable source of
information for all breeders of the breed within ISIC.
Breeding Recommendations
Genetic variation
ISIC recommend keeping a wide breeding base and to increase the genetic variation. To keep
the level of Effective Population Size we need at least 20 males and about 3-5 females per male
(60-100 females) in breeding at the same time.
The ISIC goal is to reach an Effective Population Size about 150-200 dogs for the total
population within ISIC which is large enough to stop heavy losses of genetic variation.
ISIC strongly recommends the exchange of breeding animals between countries in such a way
that the average inbreeding, calculated over five generations, will not increase more than 2,0-
2,5% (level of inbreeding). This corresponds to 0,4-0,5% increase per generation which in turn
corresponds to an effective population size of 100-125.
It is not consistent according to new breeding rules to mate full sibs or parent to progeny with
each other.
ISIC recommend keeping the average generation interval about 5 years.
The generation interval is the average of the parents at the birth of the offspring later used in
breeding. The average generation interval influences how quickly a breed losses its genetic
variation due to inbreeding for instance when too few males are used for breeding. If the average
generation interval is shorter than five years, the recommendation is to lower the total numbers of
progenies after a single male. Too strong selection and rapid generation turnover may cause a
serious threat to the health and viability of the breed.
ISIC general recommendations in small populations is that a single male should never produce
more than 5% of the puppies produced during the years he is active as a breeding male. With a
period of use of about five years these 5% of the puppies correspond to 25% of all puppies
produced in a normal year.
In a long run this would not be enough. The ambition should be to keep the number of progenies
below 2% of all progenies produced in the breed during a period comparable to the generation
interval of the breed.
ISIC recommends that the number of progenies after a single male should not be more than 35
and no more than twice that number as grandfather.
ISIC recommend that the numbers of progenies after a single bitch should not be more than 25.
If a bitch gets two litters within a period of 12 months the bitch should be given a rest for at least
12 months before the next litter.
For high quality breeding it is important to include as complete information as possible about the
individuals selected for breeding. Dogs are not mature until 2-3 years of age and from a show
exhibition point a dog cannot be judged with certainty before that time.
ISIC recommends avoiding mating with individuals (both males and the bitches) less than 24
month of age. This is especially important if the breed is suffering from genetic disturbances that
do not show up until the dog has grown up.
Health
ISIC recommends that dogs used in breeding should have an official known HD-status. The use
of D and E hipped dogs for breeding should definitely be avoided. In the next ten years the aim
is to breed only with A-B dogs. C-hipped dogs can be used if they have other qualities and
contribute to broadening the Breeding Base.
The cooperation countries recommend adjusting their earliest age of x-raying to twenty (20)
months.
The recommendation is that all dogs used in breeding should have an official known eye-
examination. For dogs used in breeding the cooperation countries ISIC recommends that the
result should be without remarks.
To not disqualify dogs with not known hereditary cataract or not known hereditary retinopati
from breeding ISIC recommend dogs with the remark “Probably not hereditary” as OK for
breeding.
It is important to know if a dog is able to mate in a “natural” way. For breeding ISIC only
recommends that only dogs which can mate in a natural way are used. If artificial insemination
(AI) is used it is the responsible AI-veterinarian who should certify that the male and the bitch
can mate naturally.
ISIC recommends the Breeding Committees in each country to inform about crypthorchism
cases and we ask all countries to do regularly researches about the situation.
Mentality
ISIC recommend that dogs used in breeding should have taken part in the Mental Description
(MH) if possible. To avoid further problems with mental status it is thus recommended that we
keep an eye on the dogs’ mentality so we can use the description in the selection of breeding
animals.
Working ability
A herding disposition description is needed to get knowledge about the Icelandic Sheepdogs
working ability.
Decision taken at The International Seminar
Copenhagen, October the 28th 2007
Icelandic Sheepdog International Cooperation – ISIC
The Icelandic Sheepdog International Cooperation (ISIC) started in Bjuv, Sweden 1996. The
reason was that the Icelandic Sheepdog needed an increase of genetic variation. To be able to
reach this goal, the Icelandic Kennel Club, HRFÍ, meant that an international perspective was
necessary. The national breed clubs within ISIC have decided, step by step, at the ISIC
seminars about common strategies for this purpose. This is a way to gather all such strategies
and recommendations.
The International Breeding Recommendations are based up on recommendations
given by geneticist Per-Erik Sundgren (Sweden) and biologist Pieter Oliehoek (the
Netherlands) at the International Breeding Meeting in Uppsala- Sweden (2000) and P.
E. Sundgrens lecture “Analysis of breeding with Icelandic Sheepdogs at the 11th
Seminar at Solröd Strand-Denmark 2006.
The aim of the Breeding Committees in ISIC is to support breeding with healthy dogs with
good working ability and the typical behaviour of a farm and herding spits. It is based on
the specific type and mental characteristics of the breed described in the breed standard
of the Icelandic Sheepdog.
Healthy dogs means dogs perceived as healthy and strong, in good condition and with
thick, weatherproof coat. It also means dogs that fulfil club recommendations in health
matters.
A dog of good type means dog with good external characteristics. The concept” type”
involves the total sum of the physical details which clearly separates the Icelandic
sheepdog from any other breed. The general appearance and the details are described in
the Icelandic Sheepdog Breed Standard.
The Breeding Committees will support breeding with lively, gentle, courageous, intelligent
and happy dogs. The Icelandic Sheepdog should be a very good herding dog and an
excellent guarding dog without being aggressive.
The Breeding Committee Task
The national Breeding Committees task is to collect restructure and prepare information for
breeding. Such preparation concerns working ability (herding and guarding), mentality, health
and exterior as for example announcing official HD- status, ED-status, opthalmoscopic
examinations, Mentality Descriptions (MH), no. of puppies, no. of litters, males and bitches used
in breeding, level of inbreeding, population analysis etc.
The Breeding Committees main task is to recommend breeding for long-term results. The
recommendations are always based on the national kennel clubs’ and the breed clubs’ general
breeding policy.
The Breeding Committees will recommend combining dogs from the unusual family groups with
dogs from the more common groups. This is to ensure preservation/spreading of “unusual genes”
to a sufficient number of dogs.
The Breeding Committees recommend selecting harder in the big family groups and not being
too selective in the smaller ones. When selecting from the smaller families it is always necessary
to chose healthy dogs and also the best ones.
Breeding advisory is based on common advisory worked out by the Breeding Committees total
knowledge about the Icelandic Sheepdog in the international cooperation (ISIC).
Each national Breeding Committee is responsible for the official information to the breeders in its
country.
To gather data from different countries into an international database within the cooperation is
basic and necessary for the future. The gathered data constitute an invaluable source of
information for all breeders of the breed within ISIC.
Breeding Recommendations
Genetic variation
ISIC recommend keeping a wide breeding base and to increase the genetic variation. To keep
the level of Effective Population Size we need at least 20 males and about 3-5 females per male
(60-100 females) in breeding at the same time.
The ISIC goal is to reach an Effective Population Size about 150-200 dogs for the total
population within ISIC which is large enough to stop heavy losses of genetic variation.
ISIC strongly recommends the exchange of breeding animals between countries in such a way
that the average inbreeding, calculated over five generations, will not increase more than 2,0-
2,5% (level of inbreeding). This corresponds to 0,4-0,5% increase per generation which in turn
corresponds to an effective population size of 100-125.
It is not consistent according to new breeding rules to mate full sibs or parent to progeny with
each other.
ISIC recommend keeping the average generation interval about 5 years.
The generation interval is the average of the parents at the birth of the offspring later used in
breeding. The average generation interval influences how quickly a breed losses its genetic
variation due to inbreeding for instance when too few males are used for breeding. If the average
generation interval is shorter than five years, the recommendation is to lower the total numbers of
progenies after a single male. Too strong selection and rapid generation turnover may cause a
serious threat to the health and viability of the breed.
ISIC general recommendations in small populations is that a single male should never produce
more than 5% of the puppies produced during the years he is active as a breeding male. With a
period of use of about five years these 5% of the puppies correspond to 25% of all puppies
produced in a normal year.
In a long run this would not be enough. The ambition should be to keep the number of progenies
below 2% of all progenies produced in the breed during a period comparable to the generation
interval of the breed.
ISIC recommends that the number of progenies after a single male should not be more than 35
and no more than twice that number as grandfather.
ISIC recommend that the numbers of progenies after a single bitch should not be more than 25.
If a bitch gets two litters within a period of 12 months the bitch should be given a rest for at least
12 months before the next litter.
For high quality breeding it is important to include as complete information as possible about the
individuals selected for breeding. Dogs are not mature until 2-3 years of age and from a show
exhibition point a dog cannot be judged with certainty before that time.
ISIC recommends avoiding mating with individuals (both males and the bitches) less than 24
month of age. This is especially important if the breed is suffering from genetic disturbances that
do not show up until the dog has grown up.
Health
ISIC recommends that dogs used in breeding should have an official known HD-status. The use
of D and E hipped dogs for breeding should definitely be avoided. In the next ten years the aim
is to breed only with A-B dogs. C-hipped dogs can be used if they have other qualities and
contribute to broadening the Breeding Base.
The cooperation countries recommend adjusting their earliest age of x-raying to twenty (20)
months.
The recommendation is that all dogs used in breeding should have an official known eye-
examination. For dogs used in breeding the cooperation countries ISIC recommends that the
result should be without remarks.
To not disqualify dogs with not known hereditary cataract or not known hereditary retinopati
from breeding ISIC recommend dogs with the remark “Probably not hereditary” as OK for
breeding.
It is important to know if a dog is able to mate in a “natural” way. For breeding ISIC only
recommends that only dogs which can mate in a natural way are used. If artificial insemination
(AI) is used it is the responsible AI-veterinarian who should certify that the male and the bitch
can mate naturally.
ISIC recommends the Breeding Committees in each country to inform about crypthorchism
cases and we ask all countries to do regularly researches about the situation.
Mentality
ISIC recommend that dogs used in breeding should have taken part in the Mental Description
(MH) if possible. To avoid further problems with mental status it is thus recommended that we
keep an eye on the dogs’ mentality so we can use the description in the selection of breeding
animals.
Working ability
A herding disposition description is needed to get knowledge about the Icelandic Sheepdogs
working ability.
Decision taken at The International Seminar
Copenhagen, October the 28th 2007
International Breeding Recommendations
International Breeding Recommendation for the Icelandic Sheepdog
The ISIC breeding committee has agreed upon this breeding recommendation for all breeding
clubs of Icelandic Sheepdogs worldwide in 2007. The objective of the agreement is the
conservation of the world population of the breed.
All breeders
These recommendations are meant for every breeder of Icelandic Sheepdogs, within
or without a breeding club. The recommendations are complementary to the breeding
regulations of kennel clubs and breeding clubs in different countries.
The concern of the ISIC breeding committee is the soundness of the Icelandic Sheepdog breed.
The aim of the Breeding Committees in ISIC is to support breeding with healthy dogs
with good working ability and the typical behaviour of a farm and herding spits. It is
based on the specific type and mental characteristics of the breed described in the breed
standard of the Icelandic Sheepdog. FCI Standard no 289. This breeding recommendation
will contribute to this purpose.
The recommendations:
The ISIC breeding committee has agreed upon this breeding recommendation for all breeding
clubs of Icelandic Sheepdogs worldwide in 2007. The objective of the agreement is the
conservation of the world population of the breed.
All breeders
These recommendations are meant for every breeder of Icelandic Sheepdogs, within
or without a breeding club. The recommendations are complementary to the breeding
regulations of kennel clubs and breeding clubs in different countries.
The concern of the ISIC breeding committee is the soundness of the Icelandic Sheepdog breed.
The aim of the Breeding Committees in ISIC is to support breeding with healthy dogs
with good working ability and the typical behaviour of a farm and herding spits. It is
based on the specific type and mental characteristics of the breed described in the breed
standard of the Icelandic Sheepdog. FCI Standard no 289. This breeding recommendation
will contribute to this purpose.
The recommendations:
- 1.Genetic Resources. The genetic variation in the breed should be maintained for the
future of the breed. For this purpose ISIC maintains a database with decent data of the
whole (world) population. The inbreeding coefficient of the population should stay low.
To be able to realise this ISIC is aiming at an Effective Population Size of about 150-200
dogs for the total population within ISIC, which is large enough to stop heavy losses of
genetic variation. - a.ISIC recommends that the number of progeny (puppies) after a single male
should not be more than 35 and no more than twice that number as grandfather. - b.ISIC recommends that the number of progeny after a single bitch should not
be more than 25. - These numbers count for the complete life time of the dog and are independent from the
country where the dog lives.
- 2.Health. Only healthy animals should be used for breeding. The breeding stock should
be free from any diseases and deformities. - a.ISIC recommends that dogs used in breeding should have an official known
HD-status. The aim is to breed only with A-B dogs. - b.ISIC recommends that all dogs used in breeding should have an official known
eye-examination. The result should be without remarks.
- 3.Mentality. In order to maintain the characteristic Icelandic Sheepdog mentality it is
recommended to have a mentality description of the breeding animals made before
breeding. The breeding clubs have developed or will develop a mentality test that
produces a description of the mentality of the individual dogs. The description indicates
whether the dog is cheerful, friendly, inquisitive, playful and unafraid. - a.ISIC recommends that dogs used in breeding should have taken part in the
Mental Description (MH) if possible.
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