Dog Breeds 101: Appenzeller Sennenhund

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The Appenzeller Sennenhund is the all-around farm dog who requires a great amount of exercise in order to stay physically and mentally fit. The dogs are very hard working and they are happiest when given a task to perform. Although the Appenzeller is not considered to be a large breed, it is still strong enough to pull carts and trolleys while working in farms in the Appenzell region of Switzerland. [1]

The Appenzeller Sennenhund is a medium-sized mountain dog which is heavily built and has a distinctive tricolor coat. The ears are small and triangular, set high and hanging down against its cheeks. The Appenzeller breed as a whole is an extremely healthy breed especially for a dog its size and weight due to careful and regulated breeding. However, individual genetic lines may vary. The breed is known to have a lifespan of approximately 13 to 17 years. [2]

The breed is descended from the general Sennenhund type which might have existed in antiquity but another theory states that they descended from cattle dogs left by the Romans. The first club for the breed was founded in 1906 by Albert Heim but the breed standard wasn’t written until 1916. [2] Today, the dogs are known for being versatile family dogs who are always cheerful, reliable and fearless. Their wariness around strangers make them great watchdogs. They are sure to let their owners know if they feel that something is wrong. However, they need lots of early socialization so they won’t become overly suspicious. They are not suited to an inactive lifestyle since they were bred to work. [3] Like all working dogs, they require a “meaningful” task that they can do each day. When they Don’t have anything to do, they can often turn moody and neurotic and can develop various behavioral problems. [1]