Faroese Sheepdog

The Faroese Sheepdog is a breed of dog from the Faroe Islands, rather described as a landrace than a modern breed. It may be related to the Icelandic Sheepdog.

Appearance
The Faroese Sheepdog looks a lot like the Border Collie.

Behaviour
The Faroese Sheepdog catches a sheep by a foreleg or the shoulder and holds it until it has been brought to the ground. They are trained not to bark while the sheep are being collected. They can also find and dig out sheep that get buried in the snow. The Faroese dog is also an efficient guard and watch dog.

History
The breed's ancestors were Norse dogs that crossed with indigenous local dogs (which were probably originally brought there by Irish and Scottish monks). In addition, Collie type dogs (especially Border Collies) had a great influence on the development of the breed.