Character and Traits of Appenzell Shepherd Breed
The origins of the Appenzell Shepherd dog breed are, as with all molossoids from across the Alps, very old. The ancient ancestors of bovars and molossoids derive from Roman war dogs, brought to the Alps for various battles. It is thought that the first breeders were the shepherds and farmers of the Appenzell region, who used specimens of this breed mainly as guard dogs for the herd or farm.
The first description of this bovaro dates back to 1853 and can be found in the book ‘Animal Life in the Alps’. Officially, this breed was recognised in 1898, and much is owed, both for this breed and for all the other three types of bovars, to Professor Albert Heim, who was responsible for the preservation of the Swiss bovine breeds. In 1914, the first breed standard was drawn up by Professor Heim himself.
The breed's region of origin was the Appenzell district; today, its breeding is practised throughout Switzerland and, across the borders, in a good number of European countries.But unfortunately, although this breed has found many admirers, breeding is very limited, so that it must be classified as endangered.
Character of the Appenzell Shepherd dog breed
The Appenzell Shepherd is a hard worker. Selected for centuries precisely for work with herds, for guarding. It is a versatile dog, because of its keen intelligence it is now also used as a rescue dog, avalanche dog and guide dog.
It becomes particularly attached to its owner, who becomes its sole reason for living. It follows him, protects him and cuddles him; it tries to stay as close to him as possible. But even with the others in its family circle, including other animals, it is affectionate, very friendly and sweet.
With children, he is an unbeatable playmate, very patient, very protective and likes to play a lot. He is not suited to being alone for several hours a day, nor to being in a flat, although he can adapt. But he does need exercise for at least a couple of hours a day, in order to be able to give vent to his great energy.
He is therefore suitable for sporty families who move around a lot and his ideal place would be a house in the country with a large garden, where he could spend a few hours a day. But the longer he stays at home with his family, he loves to be part of their activities, and to have his own cuddle time on the sofa.
The Appenzell Shepherd is very easily trained, as he will do anything to please his master, it must be said, however, that it must be trained very early on, as he needs to undergo specific training to mitigate his protective tendency and aggressiveness towards strangers. And more than anything else, start early to be able to manage his physical strength, which in maturity is truly remarkable.
He is a good guard dog, never aggressive but in extreme cases he does not hesitate to act to protect his loved ones. It barks rather frequently, which if positive at work can be directed at home with education.
Appenzell Shepherd dog breed appearance
The Appenzell Shepherd is a medium-sized, very well-proportioned dog with a muscular and athletic body. Males reach a height at withers of 53-58 centimetres and weigh around 28-30 kilograms, the female usually a little less. Classified as molosso-wolf type, with a broad chest and straight back.
The build is powerful but not massive, giving it a proud and attractive bearing. Its legs are muscular and massive and it has a harmonious gait. It has a medium-length tail positioned high up, and is the only one of the Swiss cattle that wears it rolled up on its back.
The head, harmonious with the rest of the body, is slightly wedge-shaped, the muzzle is quite robust and the truffle is always black. The small almond-shaped, dark brown eyes are very expressive. The ears fall close to the head and have a rounded tip.
The coat is glossy with a medium-short length kept close to the body. The thick undercoat enables them to withstand the low temperatures typical of the Alps. The colouring of the coat is black-flecked and havana and has the typical three-colour pattern of the bovari.
Health and care of the Appenzell Shepherd dog breed
This bovaro dog breed is hardy by nature and is not prone to any particular diseases, however, it can suffer from gastric torsion and hip and elbow dysplasia. Its nature as a mountain dog must be taken into account: it needs space for daily exercise. It has a fairly long life expectancy, given its size, ranging from 12 to 15 years.
Hair care is very simple, a weekly brushing is sufficient.
As it spends a lot of time outdoors, attention must be paid to the condition of its coat and skin. We also monitor the eyes and ears, making sure that parasites do not take root.
Attention must be paid to its diet, as it is a dog that tends to put on weight, so it must be monitored for weight and intake. Above all, he must not be lacking in daily exercise.
