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Of the four Swiss Mountain dogs, the Appenzeller is the least well known and is rare to find.
Originating in Switzerland, this breed was used for herding and watching cattle, pulling carts and as rescue dog and watch dog on farms.
Today the Appenzeller has kept his working instinct.
He is a medium-size dog, with legendary speed and endurance.
Temperament:
The Appenzeller is not recommended for first time dog owners.
Although they are loyal and devoted companions, this breed is not a pet.
Appenzellers are working dogs. They perform well in sports, agility and obedience classes.
They are very protective of their family, home and yard.
The Appenzellers are friendly with children and other animals, if they grew up with them.
The Appenzeller is a muscular, athletic and powerful dog with tremendous endurance and agility; they are very hard working dogs.
Taking care of an Appenzeller:
These are herding dogs which can result in problems, like chasing small farm animals, bikers, joggers, cars, machinery.
If they are not getting enough exercise they become restless. Not only running exercise is enough; dog sports like obedience classes or agility are a must.
But his friendly disposition towards people he knows, and people with experience with herding dogs, will make it a wonderful animal to have.
Training:
Early socialization, puppy and obedience training are absolutely crucial for this breed.
The Appenzeller is very intelligent, but needs a fair and strict leader. The Appenzeller does not react well to harsh and hard handling, the trainer must be firm, fair, respectful and consistent in his training.
Health:
The Appenzeller needs a brushing once a week with a firm brush to remove loose and dead hair. He has a double coat. The outer coat is short, thick and glossy;
the under coat is soft and dense.
The Appenzeller does shed.
The Appenzeller is a healthy breed. They live up to 12 to 15 years with few health problems because of a very strict breeding program in Europe.
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