Icelandic Sheepdog vs Azawakh - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Icelandic Sheepdog vs Azawakh - Breed ComparisonAzawakh is originated from Mali but Icelandic Sheepdog is originated from Iceland. Azawakh may grow 30 cm / 12 inches higher than Icelandic Sheepdog. Azawakh may weigh 11 kg / 25 pounds more than Icelandic Sheepdog. Both Azawakh and Icelandic Sheepdog has almost same life span. Both Azawakh and Icelandic Sheepdog has almost same litter size. Both Azawakh and Icelandic Sheepdog requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Working dog
undefined
Mali
Iceland
Height Male:
65 - 75 cm
25 - 30 inches
40 - 45 cm
15 - 18 inches
Height Female:
60 - 70 cm
23 - 28 inches
40 - 45 cm
15 - 18 inches
Weight Male:
20 - 25 kg
44 - 56 pounds
9 - 14 kg
19 - 31 pounds
Weight Female:
15 - 25 kg
33 - 56 pounds
9 - 14 kg
19 - 31 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 15 Years
12 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 7
4 - 8
Size:
Large
Medium
Other Names:
Tuareg, Idi, Wulo, Rawondy, Hanshee, Sloughi, Osaka, Bareeru
Iceland Dog, Icelandic Spitz
Colors Available:
sand, fawn, dark fawn, brown
black, cream or chocolate., tan and white, Grey and white or tan and white
Coat:
short coat, smooth
Short or long, straight or wavy
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate, Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Cheerful, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
Yes

History

azawakhAzawakh dog was bred by the nomads in Africa. They were originally bred to be a guard dog. But, they realized that their body shape and bone structure allows them to run really fast (some say that they can run at the speed more than 65 km/h. This fact made them ideal for the hunting. Nowadays, they can be found across the globe but they are still very rare kind of a dog because they can survive and adapt to very high temperatures but they are very intolerant of low temperatures. Male Azawakh is slightly bigger than a female dog, with a greater instinct for guarding, hunting and taking care of the family and the pact.

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

azawakh puppy - descriptionAzawakh is a large dog breed placed in a family of the hounds. It looks almost like any hound we know – slim, with long and skinny legs, with a big-boned chest with a stomach placed up with the spine. They have thin and a bit longer tail, narrow nose and small skull in a triangle shape. Their body may look skinny but it is just the way they should look. Actually, you could probably see the bone structure of the adult Azawakh because they, like any other hounds, have specific muscles – very thin and flat. They can be found in many coat colours like sand, fawn or dark fawn, even brown. Their coat is very short, usually with white marks on the neck, chest and all four paws. In Africa, Azawakh can be found in a diversity of colours.

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

Children friendliness

azawakh dog - characteristicsOnce Azawakh is a part of the family, he will try to find his place. If you teach him that you are the main figure, they will be obedient and affectionate pet. They love children, and they will surely be always close to them, guarding them and making sure they are safe.

Special talents

canine freestyle sports, heelwork to music competitions.

Adaptability

If your Azawakh pet is trained well and socialized, they can fit in almost anywhere. Some will say that they hate cats, but there are some cases where they were raised with them and they did just fine. They will be quite tolerant of a stranger in your house. Since they get attached to the family, it is not recommendable to consider this breed as a new-owner kind of pet.

Learning ability

Once you set yourself as a pact leader, you will have almost no problems with training your dog various tricks. Azawakh is an intelligent breed, they learn quickly and they will be more than happy to show you every day what they have learned. It is necessary to start socializing your Azawakh dog while he is still a pup. They don’t respond well to harsh methods of teaching so you should really avoid them.

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

azawakh puppies - health problemsThe Azawakh breed is very rare and this kind of information cannot be still guaranteed. If they are bred with a healthy family, they are usually very healthy and don’t need much of the vet care. Some of the diseases that were found in a medical history of this magnificent dog report heart problems (usually caused by their super high need of daily activity), problems with the thyroid glands, and skin diseases caused by the increased secretion of the thyroid glands which causes their skin to become dry and in some cases even the loss of the hair.

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

Feeding

azawakh dogs - caringThe Azawakh bred has a high risk of the obesity. They must be fed with special care since the food they eat can affect the thyroid glands function. They should never be overfed by average dry dog food. You will be advised to give them food with little percentage of the protein. They drink a lot of water and they like the dairy products. Their meals shouldn’t include fruits and vegetables, and some grains (millet, rice). They do not need to eat a lot of meat, but you can add some chicken in their meals.

Puppies should be fed three times per day. Their portions should be small and diverse. Keep in mind to feed them at the same time each day because their metabolism will be formed by this. Adult dogs are fed two times per day, at the same time as well. After the meal, let them rest for an hour or two and never give them meals right after high physical activity.

Points for Good Health

If you want your Azawakh dog to be healthy and happy make sure you provide them with enough space to run, explore, dig holes and always have some fresh water. They don’t need regular vet checks, but if you notice some changes in their digestion, lower activity or skin abnormalities, it is very important to take them to the vet station. They should never be kept indoors, so if you are living this kind of life maybe this kind of dog is not for you. But, if you are super active and if you have a couple of hours per day to spend with your Azawakh, maybe you can make him feel a lot better.

Games and Exercises

Since they like the warmer climate, you can take them running with you. They will be a great companion while you bike and leave them leash free but only if he is trained to stay by your side. If you have a yard, make sure to leave some areas free for digging and hiding their special toys or treats. They are extremely playful and cheerful, so they will wander off in no time. Some of the Azawakh dogs were great on the hiking trips, so you can try this daily activity once you train him to listen to you.

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