Appenzeller Sennenhunde Dog
The Appenzeller Sennenhunde dog is the rarest of the four old Swedish mountain dogs. He is also known as the Appenzeller Mountain Dog. This dog is always looking for work, thanks to his herding origins.
Origins
The Appenzeller Sennenhunde dog is the ancestor of Roman cattle dogs or may have also descended from the general Sennenhunde type of dog. There is a book reference to the breed from 1853. The Appenzeller was officially considered a separate breed in 1989.
The breed was initially developed to work as a cattle herding dog and guardian. Today, they make great companions, but their energy, strength, and agility make them a dog of high maintenance.
Physical characteristics
They have a characteristic tricolor coat (black, tan, and white). They are medium-sized mountain dogs. The male is 20 to 22 inches tall and the female stands at 19 to 21 inches. Their weight can be somewhere between 48 to 55 pounds.
Personality
If trained properly, this dog can be very close to his owner and love to seek attention. The standard describes the Appenzeller Sennenhunde dog as being athletic, lively, high-spirited, and suspicious of strangers.
Caring for an Appenzeller Sennenhunde Dog
This is an active dog that requires lots of exercise. They are smart dogs and love to be around kids. However, do not leave an Appenzeller Sennenhunde dog alone with a toddler as he can knock them over. This dog is not recommended for apartment living.
Training
This breed has been awarded obedience prizes, so he should not be too hard to train. You need to have a firm hand though as this dog has a strong personality. Training is imperative to this breed as is playtime and lots of activity.
Fun facts
- The Appenzeller Sennenhunde will nip at the hill of a wayward cow to control it.
- This breed is happier in rural and suburban areas; not really a city dog.
- Sennenhunde loosely translates as “Dairy farmer’s dog“.
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