General distinctive features of the dog, where the variety originated, versions of the origin of the Appenzeller Mountain Dog, types of canines, its popularization and recognition. The Appenzeller Sennenhund or Appenzeller Sennenhund looks similar to other Swiss mountain dog breeds, but is the most unique of the 4. The dog has average parameters. It is usually a well-distributed dog, although it is generally 10% longer than its height. The animal is very powerful and muscular, but should not appear massive or squat.
Appenzeller has a deep chest and a straight back. In general, the breed representatives are athletic and with a fairly light bone from all Mountain Dogs. Their tail is arguably the most defining characteristic of the breed. When the dogs are walking or standing, it is tightly curled up and rests on the back in the same way as most Pomeranians. If the dog is at rest, the tail may remain curled, or have different positions.
Appenzellers are excellent guards and bark loudly, which is distinctive for the breed. They are very dominant, but if you approach education correctly, they quickly become obedient. Dogs understand everything at a glance, but brutality in training will be bad motivation.
History and origin of the Appenzeller Mountain Dog
Very little is known about the history of the Appenzeller Mountain Dog, as it was bred before the first breeding books began and was mainly kept in remote mountain valleys. It is clear that these dogs were bred no later than the 1850s (maybe much earlier), and that their home is the Alpine region of Appenzell, located in the far north-east of Switzerland.
The Appenzeller Mountain Dog, considered one of four closely related species of Mountain Dog, is also known as the Swiss Mountain Cattle Dog. The other three are the Great Swiss Mountain Dog, the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Entelebucher Mountain Dog. Two other breeds that are considered the most closely related to the Mountain Dog are the St. Bernard and the Rottweiler. Serious controversy has arisen about how the Mountain Dog should be classified, as many organizations classify them as Mastiffs, Molossians, and Alaunts, while others classify them as Pinschers and Schnauzers. The Appenzeller Mountain Dog is considered distinct from other Mountain Dogs, and is sometimes classified with Spitz.
Versions of the origin of the Appenzeller Mountain Dog
There is considerable disagreement about the origin of the Mountain Dog. These canines are clearly very ancient, and reports of them can be found in ancient writings found in Switzerland. Experts have considered several versions to explain their origin. According to one theory, dogs are descendants of ancient Alpine dogs.
Archaeological evidence has shown that Spitz dogs have been present in the Alps for thousands of years. Dog researchers studying modern breeds have also concluded that the earliest Swiss farmers probably had massive dogs, with white coats, similar to the Pyrenean and Maremma Abruzian Sheepdogs. Such dogs have recently been classified as lupomolossoids.
These dogs were kept by the Celtic tribes who lived in Switzerland before the arrival of the Roman conquerors and, probably, by other, essentially unknown peoples who preceded them. It has been suggested that Mountain Dogs are direct descendants of these ancient dogs, although no evidence seems to exist, and several later theories of their origin seem more plausible.
After Rome conquered the entire Italian peninsula, one of the first areas it invaded was the Alps, bordering the empire to the north. For several centuries, from the 2nd century BC, the territory of modern Switzerland was under the control of the Roman conquerors, who demanded the subordination of more than 40 tribes. The Romans have long been considered the greatest dog breeders in history and possessed a number of unique breeds. Two such species were Molossus and Roman Cattle Droving Dog, which may have represented different species or just two varieties of the same breed.
There is controversial debate regarding their origins, especially the Molossians, but most connoisseurs believe they were descendants of the Mastiffs. Such dogs served in the Roman army and were feared throughout the ancient world, as they were famous for their ferocity and courage in military battles. The breed is also known as an excellent hunter, shepherd and guardian.
Roman shepherd's dog, collected and drove huge herds of semi-wild cattle, necessary to supply the Roman armies with meat and milk. These two canids accompanied Roman legions throughout the world wherever they traveled, including the Alps and the territory of what is now southern Germany. The vast majority of experts believe that the Sennenhunds are direct descendants of Molossus and the Roman Cattle Droving Dog. This opinion presented has the greatest amount of evidence for its veracity.
For numerous reasons, the rule of Rome eventually began to weaken, and the rule of a number of eastern nomadic tribes began to grow. One such tribe (or perhaps a confederation of many tribes) was the Huns. The Huns attacked the Germanic tribes that lived along the northern and eastern borders of the Roman Empire, exterminating them and forcing them to retreat deep into the Roman state. So most of Switzerland was inhabited by the Germans.
Since time immemorial, German farmers have possessed versatile farm dogs known as pinschers (a family that includes schnauzers). Pinschers were used to kill pests, but were also used for grazing cattle, and as guard dogs. Almost certainly, the Germans who settled in Switzerland brought their dogs with them, as did the settlers from Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Belgium.
It is also known that German farmers kept the Spitz, which have been very popular for centuries. Many argue that the Mountain Dogs are actually descended from the Pinschers. The truth of the sennenhunds story is probably a combination of these theories. The breed is most likely descended from Malossians and Herding Sheepdogs, but with strong influence from both pre-Roman and Germanic dogs.
Origin of the name and application of the ancestors of the Appenzeller Mountain Dog
However, the first bred, Mountain Dogs were well known throughout Switzerland no later than the Middle Ages. Most believe that the Great Swiss Mountain Dog was the very first and that three other species are descended from it. Some have suggested that the Appenzeller Mountain Dog is even older than this breed, but there seems to be no evidence to support the theory.
These dogs were kept by farmers and breeders throughout Switzerland, received the name sennenhund, which translates as "dog of the alpine meadows." Their main task was to drive cattle not only to pastures and farms, but also to markets. The Swiss farmers who kept these dogs could not afford to only have one task, so they were very versatile.
Since it was extremely difficult to transport goods on horseback in the highlands of the Alps, Swiss farmers began to use their dogs as traction animals. The Sennenhunds pulled carts, helping their owners move their goods from farm to market and vice versa. Traction functions were just as important as guarding and grazing cattle, and probably more than that.
The remote Swiss valleys in which these dogs lived have long been home to wolves, thieves and other "intruders." Farmers preferred dogs that were willing and able to protect their families from such dangers, or at least warned them of an outsider's attack. As a result, the Mountain Dogs became protectors and highly skilled guards.
Canine species involved in the selection of the Appenzeller Mountain Dog
Alpine terrain, throughout most of Switzerland, consisted of many valleys. As a result, the dog populations of neighboring localities often differed. At some point, many species of Senenhund probably arose. Perhaps most distinctive was the diversity of the Appenzell region. The dogs of this area were usually described as spitz-like. Because of this, the breed is generally considered to be the result of crossing other Mountain Dogs with Pomeranian, Celtic or Germanic.
It is possible that at some period, the Appenzeller Mountain Dog was more like a Spitz than modern representatives, although this is not completely clear. There is clear evidence that these dogs existed even before they were classified as a breed, and earlier than most other Senenhounds. The first written mention of them appeared in 1853, in a book called Tierleben der Alpenwelt ("Animal Life in the Alps"). There, the breed was described as "an agile, short-haired, medium-sized, multicolored Spitz-type herding dog that can be found in some regions and is partially used to guard property and cattle."
Decrease in the number of Appenzeller Mountain Dog
For centuries and possibly millennia, the Appenzeller Mountain Dog and his ancestors have faithfully served the farmers of Switzerland. These dogs were used much earlier than similar breeds in other countries, since modern technology came to the Alps later than in any corner of Western Europe. However, by the end of the 19th century, industrialization came to the Alpine Valley and the attitude towards the Senenhund changed.
This was a difficult period in the history of the species. New transportation methods such as trains and cars began to harm their livestock. Since these large dogs are very expensive to maintain, many owners have abandoned them. Many different species of Sennenhund disappeared altogether, and as a result only 4 remained. The number of Appenzeller Sennenhund also began to decrease, but still did not disappear at all.
Appenzeller Sennenhund recovery
The breed was definitely in an advantageous position due to the fact that its homeland of Appenzell was located far from most of the major Swiss cities such as Bern and Lucerne. The species also had an ardent admirer of Max Sieber. This man was the main promoter of the breed and was greatly worried about its extinction.
In 1895, he formally requested the help of the Swiss Kennel Club in rebuilding the breed. Also, the inhabitants of the canton of St. Gallen, which surrounds Appenzell, are interested in preserving the local variety. Therefore, government funding was received for the breeding and cultivation of Appenzeller Mountain Dog.
The Swiss Kennel Club formed a special commission, drew up the main characteristics of the species and began to exhibit Appenzeller sennenhunds in their competitions in a new class specially created for herding dogs. The first breed standard was recorded at a dog show in Winterthur with the participation of several breeds, where 8 representatives of the breed were presented.
Around the same time that Max Seabor was trying to rescue the Appenzeller Mountain Dog, world renowned scientist Dr. Albert Heim was doing the same for the other surviving Mountain Dogs. Heim and his supporters collected the last specimens of the Bernese Mountain Dog and Entlenbucher and began breeding them. Soon after the large Swiss mountain dog was considered extinct, it was rediscovered thanks to the efforts of Heim.
Albert Heim also had a long interest in the Appenzeller and in every possible way contributed to the restoration of the species. In 1906, Heim organized the Appenzeller Mountain Dog Club to promote and preserve the breed in its "natural state". For the first time in the history of the species, breeding books were created, and the variety, in the modern sense, became pure. In 1914, Heim wrote the first written standard for the Appenzeller Mountain Dog. Although representatives of the breed predominated mainly in Appenzell and St. Gallen, they quickly spread throughout Switzerland and found a significant number of fans interested in preserving their "native dog".
Popularization and recognition of the Appenzeller Mountain Dog
During the late 1800s and early 1900s, the appenzeller sennenhund was arguably the most abundant of all Swiss mountain herding dogs. However, this situation changed dramatically with the onset of the 20th century. In Switzerland, three other varieties of Mountain Dog have gradually become more popular, especially the Bernese Mountain Dog. They learned about the breed representatives outside Switzerland. By the middle of the 20th century, all 4 varieties were introduced to other peoples, primarily the countries of Western Europe.
The Federation Cynologique Internationale, recognized the Appenzell Sennenhund as a member of the group of 3 breeds (Pinschers and Schnauzers, Molossians, Swiss Shepherds), Section 2 (Swiss Cattle Dogs), but this organization uses the English name Appenzell Cattle Dog. As in Switzerland, the Bernese Mountain Dog has become the most popular of the Senenhounds, especially in the United States. Although the reasons are unclear, the Appenzeller Mountain Dog has never been more famous outside Switzerland than the other three species of Mountain Dog.
It is possible that the breed is too similar in parameters, temperament and use to those varieties that have long been more used outside Switzerland, for example, the Rottweiler. In recent years, the number of Appenzeller Mountain Dog has grown slowly outside of its homeland, but the breed is still considered to be quite rare.
The first representatives of the appenzeller sennenhunds began to be imported into the United States in the last decades of the 20th century. However, even there this breed remains rare there. In 1993, the United Kennel Club (UKC), the second largest register of purebred dogs in America and around the world, officially recognized the Appenzeller Mountain Dog as a member of the Guardian Dog group called the Appenzeller.
A small number of fans and breeders of the Appenzeller Mountain Dogs in the United States and Canada came together to form the Appenzeller Dog Club of America (AMDCA). The ultimate goal of AMDCA is to achieve full breed recognition by the American Kennel Club (AKC), which has already been achieved by the other three species of Mountain Dog. By 2007, Appenzeller Sennenhund was listed in the AKC Foundation Stock Service Program (AKC-FSS), the first step towards recognition. If AMDCA and the Apenzeller Senenenhund can reach certain agreements, full recognition will eventually be achieved.
The Appenzeller Sennenhund remains a very rare breed in the United States with a precarious future in the country. Such dogs were bred to be versatile working dogs, and still excel at a range of tasks such as obedience, agility, watchdog and traction functions. However, the vast majority of breed breeders adopt them as companions, show dogs and bodyguards, and it is highly likely that the breed's near future will continue in these areas.
