“The Proposal” is a terrifically entertaining movie, but while the average movie-goer may think a particular scene in the romantic comedy is “cinematic hyperbole,” those of us who have had young puppies know better.  Watch that scene below:

Icelandic Sheepdog owners also know the truth of the scene. “Icies” are exceptionally skilled herders and flock tenders, but they have an earned wariness of birds imprinted in their DNA.

There are no land predators in Iceland larger than the Arctic Fox which preys on small creatures like lemmings and seabirds. Birds of prey, however, were a very real threat to flocks, and Icelandic Sheepdogs were used to protect lambs from raptors and chase them away. As the AKC mentions on their site, to this day, Icies are known to watch the sky and “be vocal,” another way of mentioning that they may bark like mad whenever a bird – or anything else that moves fast and might be perceived as a predator – flies overhead.

Icelandic Sheepdog © Nivi | Dreamstime.com

In this regard, the Icelandic Sheepdog is rather unique in that it was bred specifically to protect livestock from birds of prey, and to keep a constant eye on the sky for potential airborne predators. We’ve read, in fact, that sometimes it can be challenging to get the attention of an Icie when there are birds flying by. This historic role as “air traffic controller” accounts for a couple of breed traits: Superb eyesight that can spot birds very high in the sky, and a tendency to bark which, in its role as protector, got sheep and horses to move, and birds of prey to steer clear of lambs.

Icelandic Sheepdogs are smart, confident, and lively tempered dogs, but potential owners of the breed need to be aware of the breed’s “relationship” with birds if there are feathered pets in the household, or the owner likes to attract birds to feeders.

As an aside,  four different American Eskimo Dogs played “Kevin” in the movie, Flurry, Sitka, Nanu and Winter, while two different Australian Wedged-Tailed Eagles (Australia’s largest raptors) were used for the scene.

Top image: Icelandic Sheepdog/Shutterstock