Appenzeller Sennenhund

Appenzeller Sennenhund loves to play a lot. The pet will be happy to spend as much time as possible with his family. He can keep him company during walks, trips to the store, and during outdoor activities. You can take him with you on fishing trips, mountain hikes, or river trips.

Breed Photos

Origin History

The Appenzeller Sennenhund is originally from Switzerland. Like many dogs, the Appenzeller was used in pastures, helping people to herd herds, guarding them against wild animals. The dogs were also used extensively in carts, harnessed to sleds.

The first mention of the breed was made in 1853. Soon work on the breeding began. The Swiss Cynological Society allocated 400 francs to continue the work on the Appenzeller.

Professor Albert Heim spent a lot of time working on the breed; he created the Appenzeller Sennenhund Club and described the species’ first standard. In 1989 the breed was officially recognized.

Now the dog is not very popular in the world but still lives on different continents. Especially popular in the Alps, where they actively help people in the villages.

Appearance

The dog is of medium size, the height of the male is 52-56 cm, the bitches are a little lower – 50-54 cm. The weight can be from 22 to 32 kg.

The coat is shiny, usually of medium length, has a thick undercoat. The color is tricolor. The primary color is black or dark brown with light-colored markings. The presence of white is allowed on the tip of the tail and paws, from chin to chest and from the skull to the nose.

The body of the dog is wide, well-muscled, and the body is beefy. The ears hang down to the cheeks. They are not cropped.

Character

Appenzeller Sennenheud loves to play a lot. The pet will be happy to spend as much time as possible with his family. He can keep him company during walks, trips to the store, and during outdoor activities. You can take him with you on fishing trips, mountain hikes, or river trips.

Sometimes they can be too hyperactive, so the pet must always have access to toys. Otherwise, the furniture may be damaged. An excellent way to get rid of excess energy is to run for long distances.

The dog gets along with other animals that live in the same area. But the dog must grow up with them.

Very fond of children, especially those of school age. They have instant reactions and observations. Appenzeller is distrustful of strangers. It can bark at them a lot and even attack if it feels threatened.

It is essential to conduct socialization from an early age because this contributes to the fact that the pet will not be too angry and aggressive to strangers as an adult.

Care

A dog can easily live in an apartment. But then, at least twice a day for at least an hour, you need to actively walk outside and take care that it can discharge its energy correctly.

They do not need the constant presence of a human nearby, as they are very independent. It is enough for them to observe the owner from afar and spend time with him from time to time.

The Appenzeller Sennenhund can easily withstand all weather conditions because of its pedigree, whether it is hot or cold. Even in the rain, the pet’s double coat protects it from getting wet.

If the dog lives in the yard of a private house, once a day, preferably before going to bed, you need to walk with him, trying to change the routes to develop memory and intelligence pet.

Once a week, comb the coat with a special brush. During shedding, brush every other day. Bathe when dirty, but no more than once every three months. If claws are not shrunk naturally, they should be trimmed.

Training

Appenzeller Sennenhund has a good memory, which contributes to the rapid memorization of commands. The dog likes to play a lot, so that you can do agility (sport for dogs) with it. It is recommended to start training from three months of age, walk a lot with the puppy in the street, introduce him to people and other animals.

As soon as the puppy arrives at home, you can start teaching him the simple commands “come to me”, “sit”, “give me a paw”. After the dog performs the commands well, you need to pet him, give him a treat or a favorite toy.

Common Diseases

Overall, the dog’s health is good. The only diseases noted are hip dysplasia, retinal atrophy, gut-wrenching, and kidney disease.

Nutrition

It is best to feed your natural pet food. In this case, every day in the diet should be beef and by-products. Several times a week – cottage cheese, kefir. Cereals, such as buckwheat or rice, should be given daily. Once a week, feed a raw egg. It is also important to add seasonal fruits and vegetables to the diet.