Appenzell Mountain Dog: Breed Characteristics, Training, Care & Nutrition

Of the four Swiss Mountain Dog breeds, the Appenzell Mountain Dog is one of the two smaller ones. Visually, it bears a lot of resemblance to the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog but is about four inches smaller. In group 2 of the FCI standard, the Appenzeller belongs, together with the other Swiss Mountain Dogs in section 3, to the Molossoid Pinschers and Schnauzers. Here the Appenzeller Sennenhund bears the FCI standard number 46. In Switzerland, it is also known under the names Appezöller Bläss and Appenzellerhund.

Appenzeller Sennenhund Dog Breed Information (The Appenzeller Sennenhund is also known as the Appenzeller Mountain Dog or Appenzell Cattle Dog)

Size: Males: 52-56 cm, females: 50-54 cm
Weight: 22-32kg
FCI Group: 2: Pinscher and Schnauzer – Molosser – Swiss Mountain Dogs and other breeds
Section: 3: Swiss Mountain Dogs
Country of origin: Switzerland
Colors: Black or Havana with white or brown-red markings
Life expectancy: 12-14 years
Suitable as: herding, avalanche. medical. Protection and family dog
Sports: Dog tracking
Temperament: self-confident, lively, full of energy, fearless, reliable
Leaving requirements: high
Drooling Potential –
The thickness of hair –
Maintenance effort: low
Coat structure: Outer coat: dense and shiny, undercoat: dense
Child-friendly: rather yes
Family dog: yes
Social: –

Origin and Breed History

Sennenhunds are the traditional farm dogs in Switzerland. To this day they perform various tasks, from driving cattle on the alpine pastures to guarding the house. As a classic cattle dog, the Appenzeller Sennenhund supports its owner in driving the cattle herds to the mountain meadows. He is the typical mountain dog in the hilly landscapes of the sparsely populated Appenzell region.

The original origin of the Swiss Mountain Dogs is not known. Opinions vary from immigration with the powerful Molosser dogs of the Romans and their origin in the Alps. The Appenzeller was first mentioned in writing in 1853 and in 1896 it was recognized as a separate dog breed.

Among the mountain dogs, the Appenzeller is considered to be quick, energetic, and agile. He recognizes the animals in his herd and therefore quickly registers when one is missing. He purposefully drives scattered cattle together. At home, he guards the house and yard and can also be used as an avalanche dog if necessary. The versatile dog is also suitable for pulling transport carts.

In accordance with its tasks, the Appenzeller Sennenhund developed a strong and stocky physique. Today he differs from his ancestors by the uniform color of his fur. In the course of time, they prevailed under different colors and color combinations and were specified in the breed description in 1913.

Thanks to the focus of breeding on the fulfillment of tasks, the Appenzeller Sennenhund was able to largely preserve its natural characteristics and appearance. The farmers in the Appenzeller Land do not pursue special beauty features when breeding their four-legged employees. The Swiss Club for Appenzell Mountain Dogs, founded in 1906, continues to watch over the preservation of the naturalness of this breed.

What Does an Appenzell Mountain Dog Look Like?

Appenzell Mountain Dogs have short, tri-colored coats of black, white, and tan. Her physique is strong and muscular.

Nature and Temperament of the Appenzeller Sennenhund

Typical characteristics of the dog breed are:

• robustness;
• agility;
• adaptability;
• intelligence;
• temperament;
• fearlessness;
• alertness;
• obedience;
• good empathy;
• ability to learn;
• willingness to work;
• tendency to jealousy.

Appenzell Mountain Dogs show good social behavior towards other dogs and people. They are friendly, loyal, and affectionate companions who have a permanent place in the family. Since he attentively observes the gestures and facial expressions of his caregiver and is very eager to learn, this dog is easy to train. Nevertheless, as with all dog breeds, consistent training makes sense. Due to its alertness, the Appenzeller Sennenhund is increasingly being used as a guide dog. This positive quality also means that the dog always announces visitors and unusual activities in its environment by barking loudly and observing them suspiciously. Characteristic is the exceptionally bright voice for a dog of its size.

Appenzell Mountain Dogs are lively, sporty, and sometimes impetuous. Especially as puppies and young dogs, jumping dogs tend to act very physically and sometimes appear a bit insensitive.

Is the Appenzeller Sennenhund a Family Dog?

The Appenzell is an ideal family dog and develops a special bond with the people who are always around it.

Appenzeller Sennenhund Appearance

The fur coloring of the Appenzeller in the colors black, white, and brown is striking. Typically, the proportion of black fur predominates. It is broken up by brown and white markings, which are particularly found on the head, legs, paws, and chest.

• Height at the withers: 50 to 56 centimeters;
• Weight: 22 to 32 kilograms;
• Coat Colors: Black, White, Havana Brown;
• Eye color: dark brown;
• Coat Structure: smooth, short;
• Average age: 12 to 15 years.

The bitches are a few centimeters smaller than males. Bitches and males have an almost square, muscular physique.

The head of the Appenzeller Sennenhund is triangular in shape and framed by pointed hanging ears. The eyes show an alert and intelligent look. A characteristic feature of the dog breed is a curled tail, which is often referred to as a post horn.

How Big Does an Appenzeller Sennenhund Get?

Males reach a height at the withers of between 52 and 56 centimeters. Bitches are between 50 and 54 centimeters tall.

Training and Keeping the Appenzeller Sennenhund – This is Important to Consider

Due to its intelligence and nature, the Appenzeller Sennenhund is comparatively easy to train. He learns commands with joy in a short time. Success does not always have to be rewarded with a treat. The Appenzeller is also happy about strong praise and remembers what he has learned. Nevertheless, regular repetition of the exercises makes sense.

The training must always be adapted to the age of the dog. During puppyhood, dogs need plenty of rest periods that benefit their growth and development. To calm the young dog, the person you trust can put him on his lap or lie down on the floor with him.

Trust and patience are important foundations of education

Practice methods should be gentle, patient, and consistent. Pressure or even corporal punishment quickly leads to failure. In the worst case, the dog can react aggressively. He finds it particularly easy to work with someone he trusts. The development of an intensive relationship of trust is therefore always the first step towards education. By talking softly and friendly to the dog, he gets used to the voices of his people and by physical closeness to their smell. With gentle and friendly consistency you support the learning success of the dog.

Weaning off unwanted traits

Since Appenzellers are quite happy to bark, curbing this trait should be part of their training from the start. A command that stops the loud announcements from visitors, suppliers, or mail carriers is, therefore, one of the first training units. The dog should learn to sit before the door is opened. Gentle pressure with the forearm against the hind legs is helpful. The touch triggers the dog’s sitting reflex. With the command “stay” the dog learns that it should remain seated.

The tendency to make impetuous contact with other dogs also needs to be corrected. If the dog encounters a fellow dog on a leash, it can sniff briefly, provided the other dog owner agrees. Otherwise, the dog should not stop, but just keep walking. This applies in particular to encounters with passers-by without a dog. Appenzell Mountain Dogs are usually suspicious of strangers and children. It, therefore, makes sense to establish regular contact with other people even as a puppy. This includes learning signals that get the dog used to overly lively contact or resistance. Dealing with people becomes natural for the dog early on.

Puppies learn how to deal with other dogs particularly well in a dog school. Here they have regular contact with other dogs of their age group, which is usually not possible for them at home.

Appenzeller feel at home in the countryside

The best way to keep Appenzell Mountain Dogs is based on their origin. Therefore, the ideal place to live is a house with a garden in a rural area. This dog breed does not feel comfortable in the hustle and bustle of the big city with many people. If you want to keep the animal in a flat, you have to take it for long walks in the woods and fields every day. In addition, an occupation with dog sports makes sense. Appenzell Mountain Dogs are the right choice for active, sporty people. With sensitive training and sufficient demands on the dog, it is also suitable for beginners.

Appenzeller Sennenhunds are weather-hardy. Still, her place is with her family. No dog is suitable for a chained dog. Being kept in a kennel is also torture for the family-oriented dog. For this reason, Appenzeller belongs in the house.

Nutrition of the Appenzell Mountain Dog

Appenzeller is a robust and relatively undemanding dog. This also applies to their diet. Basically, the medium-sized mountain dogs like to eat and are therefore not choosy. At the same time, they tend to be overweight. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the right amount of food. The optimal combination and amount for an adult dog are as follows:

• about 300 grams of meat;
• around 150 grams of cooked vegetables;
• 150 grams of rice or pasta.

Feeding with dry food or good canned food is also possible. However, the recommended amounts must also be observed. Measured against their body size, Appenzell Mountain Dogs require small amounts of food. Chewing bones are suitable for dental care, employment, and as a snack. A little sunflower oil in the lining gives the coat a nice shine. Feeding should be done in two portions, in the morning and in the evening. In order to avoid stomach torsion, dogs should generally take a break after feeding.

Puppies should initially continue to receive the food they are used to from the breeder three times a day. The desired conversion only makes sense over time and in small steps. Increased amounts of the news feed are added to the usual feed every day. In this way, the stomach can easily get used to the new food and there are no reactions such as diarrhea or vomiting. The Appenzeller Sennenhund does not get particularly high-energy food, especially not the puppies. Rather, it can accelerate growth and thus cause joint and muscle problems and other diseases.

The Appenzell Mountain Dog must not eat the following foods:

• tomatoes;
• grapes;
• raisins;
• raw potatoes;
• cabbage;
• zucchini;
• peas;
• avocados;
• paprika;
• onions;
• raw pork;
• sugar;
• chocolate.

A dog must have enough fresh water available at all times.

Healthy – Life Expectancy & Common Diseases

An Appenzeller Sennenhund from a breed that focuses on the character of the dog has a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years. However, caution is required if the dog is bred primarily for external characteristics. There may even be inbred crosses in the pedigree for the benefit of beautiful coat color. Both can significantly reduce the life expectancy of dogs to eight to ten years.

Dogs that are naturally bred are robust and resistant to diseases. Occasionally, malpositions of the hip and knee joints (hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia) occur. Hereditary eye diseases such as cataracts and skin tumors can also occur in old age. Breeds at risk can also have problems such as heart and kidney diseases, dentition defects, and bone malformations.

Appenzell Mountain Dogs are insensitive to harsh weather conditions. Although they have a short-haired coat, they have a thick undercoat in the cool seasons. They like to exercise outdoors even in the cold, rain, and snow.

Warm temperatures in summer can stress the dog. Dogs only have sweat glands on their paws. The heat exchange is therefore exclusively through panting over the tongue. In high outside temperatures, this may not be enough. Therefore, physical activities on hot summer days must be greatly reduced and shifted to the morning and evening hours. Under no circumstances should a dog be left in the car on warm days. Rather, it must be provided with shady and cool places and sufficient cold water. If the dog is panting heavily, it is helpful to cover it with a damp cloth for a while and to keep it cool.

How Much Does an Appenzeller Sennenhund Cost?

Breeders offer Appenzell puppies at prices starting at around $1,000.

Grooming of the Appenzeller Sennenhund

Grooming the Appenzeller Sennenhund is uncomplicated. It is enough to brush the short coat once a week. If the fur is wet, rub it dry with a towel. Dry dirt can be easily removed with the brush. Appenzeller changes their fur twice a year. During this time (spring and autumn) the dogs shed a lot. It is therefore important to regularly comb out the dead undercoat with a wide-toothed comb.

Basically, it is not necessary to shower or bathe a dog regularly. However, if he has rolled in foul-smelling substances, this can usually not be avoided. Special dog shampoo or mild baby shampoo is suitable for cleaning the fur. Bathing and showering too often can dry out your skin and hair. After a dip in the sea, the saltwater must be thoroughly rinsed from the fur and skin.

If the nose is dirty from digging or sniffing, it should be cleaned with a damp, lukewarm cloth. Dried secretion collects in the corners of the eyes during the night. Cosmetic tissues or paper handkerchiefs are suitable for the daily removal of residues. After a walk, it makes sense to check the paws for stones, plant debris, or other dirt and to remove them.

Appenzeller Sennenhund – Activities and Training

Age-appropriate utilization of the Appenzeller Sennenhund is fundamental for the success of the upbringing and an untroubled coexistence. The hardworking and agile animal needs a lot of exercise and activity. Dog sport is ideal for this:

• agility;
• tracking training;
• dog dancing;
• mantrailing;
• blowball;
• fetch games.

If this basic need of the athletic mountain dog is not met, it can happen that its breed-related positive characteristics wither away. If an Appenzell Mountain Dog is bored, it quickly becomes unbalanced and dissatisfied.

How Much Exercise Does an Appenzell Mountain Dog Need?

The need for spout is great. An Appenzell Mountain Dog needs three to four walks a day, one of which is a long walk of one to two hours. In addition, agility and other exercise sports are useful for dogs.

Good to Know: Peculiarities of the Appenzeller Sennenhund

The peculiarities of the dog breed from Switzerland are:

• attachment and loyalty;
• urge to learn and move;
• versatility.

Appenzell Mountain Dogs are not fashionable dogs and are not very common outside of their region of origin.

Cons of the Appenzeller Sennenhund

Characteristics that can be viewed as disadvantages of the Appenzeller are always linked to their original tasks. On the one hand, this includes the frequent and loud barking of the dogs. Another character trait that is often seen as a disadvantage is distrust of strangers. However, both characteristics are important if guarding the house and property is part of the animal’s duties.

Is the Appenzeller Sennenhund Right for Me?

As a lively and agile dog, the Appenzeller suits sporty and active people. He likes to carry out his movement and learning program with his reference person. The Appenzeller Sennenhund is a family dog and pays attention to all members of its family. He enjoys being with his humans but is not a lap dog due to his size and weight. This breed of dog needs a lot of exercise and space. It also takes up a lot of time for daily activities.

Can Appenzell Mountain Dogs Live With Cats and Small Animals?

Since the Appenzell Mountain Dog does not have a pronounced hunting instinct, it gets along well with cats and small animals.