Fun Appenzeller Sennenhund Facts For Kids

The Appenzeller Sennenhund is one among four dog breeds of the Swiss-based Sennenhund dog species. They are also known by a series of names, including, Swiss Mountain dog, Appenzeller Mountain dog, Appenzell cattle dog, or simply, Appenzeller.

An Appenzeller Mountain dog has a high energy level that needs to be engaged, lest it gets bored and destructive. As the name indicates, the Appenzeller Sennenhund dog breed is essentially a herding dog that is used to protect cattle up in the Swiss Mountain.

So the breed displays typical characteristics of cattle dogs. They are highly intelligent working dogs that can bond closely with family but remain suspicious of strangers.

In appearance, this Appenzell cattle dog is medium-sized, with a double coat comprising of three colors. Their main color is black or brown, and patches of white running along their chest, and on their face. In fact, a single colored Appenzeller Sennenhund is considered 'faulty' in the breed, with potential health issues.

While this Appenzeller Mountain dog breed originated as a herding dog in the Appenzell region, they are also found across various parts of Europe. Today, they are also consciously bred under managed care, for adoption in the United States of America.

Read on to know more. You can also explore plenty of other varied dog breeds, including the Kunming wolfdog and the Rottweiler Lab mix.
 

Appenzeller Sennenhund Interesting Facts

What type of animal is an Appenzeller Sennenhund?

An Appenzeller Sennenhunde is a type of (domestic) dog. It was originally bred in the Swiss Mountains as a hard-working cattle dog.

What class of animal does an Appenzeller Sennenhund belong to?

Appenzeller Sennenhunde dogs belong to the mammal class of animals. A female dog of this breed can give birth directly to four to six pups with every pregnancy.

How many Appenzeller Sennenhunds are there in the world?

The exact count of Appenzeller Sennenhunde dogs is unknown, as this is not an endangered species. It is also unlisted in IUCN.

But do keep in mind that an Appenzeller mountain dog is the rarest breed among the four dog breeds classified under the Sennenhund species of Swiss mountain dogs. In fact, they are carefully bred in managed care by professional breeders. This helps to maintain the breed quality.

Where does an Appenzeller Sennenhund live?

Appenzeller Sennenhunde dogs were traditionally reared on farms up in the Swiss Mountain, as a type of herding dog. So this dog breed is also known as a Swiss mountain dog or an Appenzell cattle dog. Today, Appenzeller Sennenhund breeders also supply domestic dogs of this breed to parts of Europe and the United States of America.

What is an Appenzeller Sennenhund's habitat?

The Appenzeller Mountain dog lives true to its name, preferring wide open spaces where it can run around to its heart’s content. This is a healthy breed with plenty of energy.

So it does need to be heavily exercised even when it is in a domestic habitat (like a pet). If you keep this breed cooped up in an apartment, it can get bored and destructive.

Who do Appenzeller Sennenhunds live with?

Appenzeller Sennenhunds were originally kept on a farm with other animals, as cattle dogs. These mountain dogs are social animals and prefer the company of other animals and humans. Due to their loyal nature, they can also be trained and adopted as domestic pets.

Unless this breed has serious allergies or health problems, it can also be allowed to safely mix with little children. In fact, it can be a good idea to introduce your kids to Appenzeller Sennenhund puppies when they are young.

The puppies will automatically grow as strong guard dogs, as they tend to bond closely with family while remaining suspicious of strangers.

How long does an Appenzeller Sennenhund live?

The average life span of the dog Appenzeller is between 12-14 years. But as with all mountain dogs, a warmly loved and well-exercised canine can potentially live much longer, up to 17 years.

How do they reproduce?

The Appenzeller Mountain dog is a rare breed among the Sennenhund species. It is also a dog breed of considerable size, with a height of 22 in (55.8 cm) weight up to 71 lb (32.2 kg).

So when they are allowed to (inter)breed in the wild, they can develop serious health problems like hip dysplasia and early lameness.

They can also pass on genetic disorders like deafness and early cataract to their young ones (pups). So it is advisable for these mountain dogs to be carefully bred under managed care, by certified breeders.

The Appenzeller dog breed achieves sexual maturity before it turns one year old. But it is common for professional breeders to wait until the second year to begin breeding.

Females come into heat every six months. During this time, breeders have a 3-11 day window when their female dog will welcome a mate. Once the mating act is complete, the female delivers four to six pups after a 60 day pregnancy period.

The pups should ideally be allowed to nurse with the mother until they are five or six weeks old. After this, they can be separated from the mother and sold as individual pets.

What is their conservation status?

The Appenzeller Sennenhunde dog breed is Not Evaluated by the IUCN Red List of conservation lists.

Appenzeller Sennenhund Fun Facts

What do Appenzeller Sennenhunds look like?

An Appenzeller Mountain dog is a medium to a large-sized dog breed, with a height of 22 in (55.8 cm) weight up to 71 lb (32.2 kg). It has a black-brown double coat, and a thick white patch that runs along its chest.

Its distinct triangle-shaped ears are small and floppy and hang adorably along the dog's cheeks.

It also has a notable white patch of hair between its eyes, and around its nose, giving it a perpetually curious expression. Finally, it is an intelligent dog, happy to be given a responsibility, and this shows in its clear, bright eyes.

How cute are they?

Appenzeller dogs can be very cute pets, especially when they are introduced early into a household. They are loyal dogs that bond easily with family. So they can quickly become safe and friendly companions to little children.

They are also naturally suspicious of strangers, making them amazing watchdogs to guard your property. They are happiest when they are heavily exercised. For this, they tend to run around in excitement, wagging their tails with abandon, as their small ears flop adorably down their cheeks!

How do they communicate?

Sennenhund (Appenzeller) dogs communicate both through vocal and non-vocal means. True to their mountain dog nature, they bark loudly when they perceive a threat.

Their top hair stands up as a sign of warning, especially when dealing with strangers. They also accompany this with a growling sound. When they are happy and excited, they have quite a fun time wagging their tails all around!

Finally, this is a very loud dog species. Be careful of adopting this breed as a pet, if you have neighbors who prefer to keep it quiet.

How big is an Appenzeller Sennenhund?

An Appenzeller Sennenhund is a medium to large-sized dog, with a height of 20-22 in (50.8-56 cm) weight up to 71 lb (32.2 kg). It is around two times smaller than a Greater Swiss Mountain dog and a Great Pyrenees.

How fast can an Appenzeller Sennenhund run?

By nature, a mountain dog can run anywhere between 25-30 mph (40.2-48.2 kph). They can run almost two times faster than a Saint Bernard.

The Appenzeller Sennenhund dogs too can run at comparable speed. This is also a breed that is prone to obesity, especially if they are (over) fed with too many treats! So these dogs need to be heavily exercised, for at least one hour every day, in order to avoid health issues as they age.

How much does an Appenzeller Sennenhund weigh?

Appenzeller Sennenhund dogs can weigh anywhere between 49-71 lb (22.2-32.2 kg). A puppy from this breed can weigh 10 lb (4.5 kg) by the time it is six weeks old.

What are the male and female names of the species?

Both genders of this breed are called by the same name, Appenzeller Sennenhund. Males tend to be slightly bigger in size.

What would you call a baby Appenzeller Sennenhund?

A baby Appenzeller Sennenhund is called a puppy. But don’t let their baby nature fool you.

This is a dog species with a high energy level that welcomes responsibility. Remember, they were originally bred as mountain dogs. So if you want to keep your mischievous Appenzeller Sennenhund puppy out of trouble, train it early with small but important tasks like guarding your garden supplies, or fetching your shoes every morning.

What do they eat?

A mountain dog is not naturally carnivorous (so it can exist in harmony with cattle, as a guard dog). An Appenzeller Sennenhund dog is naturally omnivorous. So it can be fed a protein-rich diet of vegetables, grains, legumes, and some fish.

Yes, don’t forget the protein to keep their run-loving muscles in shape. They also need sufficient omega fats to main a smooth and shiny coat all year. This is typically done by adding fish oil to their diet.

Are they slobbery?

You will be glad to know that an Appenzeller Sennenhund is rarely slobbery. Yes, these are the dogs of preference if you like your pet with a very low drool quotient!

Would they make a good pet?

Appenzeller Sennenhund dogs make excellent pets. They can be easily trained as they are highly intelligent animals with high energy.

They need to physically engage, with at least an hour’s worth of exercise every other day. The Appenzeller Sennenhund is also an affectionate animal and does not do well in solitude. They are excellent with kids and also make safe but effective watchdogs similar to a German Shepherd.

Finally, the best news about adopting an Appenzeller Sennenhund is its hassle-free grooming. It only needs to be brushed once a week as it does not shed too much hair.

This working breed dog is extremely smart and requires a high level of mental stimulation.

In summary, this is a breed that is affectionate, low maintenance, has a strong work ethic, and can also double up as a fantastic guard dog. So if you are looking for a mid to large size dog with these amazing qualities, the Appenzeller Sennenhund is the perfect canine companion for you!

Did you know...

The Appenzeller Sennenhund was recognized as a separate dog breed recently, just over three decades ago, in 1989. It is also recognized as a standard dog breed mostly in the Swiss Alps and some parts of Europe. In fact, it is seen as a rare pet breed in the Americas.

How to pronounce Appenzeller Sennenhund

To get the pronunciation of this breed's name right, it is best to break this into four parts.

1.   'Ap-pen', which sounds like 'appen without the H.

2.  'zell-er', which rhymes with 'cellar', but with a rolled ‘rr' at the end.

That’s the first word. Now for the next one.

3.   'Senn-en', which rhymes with 'Lennon', the Beatles’ singer!

And finally, there is the Swiss-sounding 'hund'. This is pronounced as:

4.  'hoond', which rhymes with 'spooned.'

And there you have it, the pronunciation of the Swiss mountain dog, Appenzeller Sennenhund!

Having your own Appenzeller Sennenhund

An Appenzeller Sennenhund pup can cost anywhere between $600-$1,500. When you seek a pup, look for a certified breeder, so you are assured of the breed’s quality.

Mixed or poor breeding can lead to long-term health issues like allergies, seizures, deafness, and early Cataract. A good quality dog in this breed can also be identified by its tricolor double coat, in black-brown, and white. A single color coat indicates defective breed.

Once you have your pup, introduce it to your close family and friends when it is still a pup. An Appenzeller Sennenhund is an excellent watchdog. It also tends to bond closely with family, while remaining suspicious of strangers all its life!

Finally, this is a highly intelligent dog breed with high energy. So don’t hesitate to give it responsibility at an early age. In fact, your Appenzeller Sennenhund will thrive when it is given an 'important task' and surrounded by loving company!

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these Auggie facts and cheagle facts for kids pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Appenzeller Sennenhund coloring pages.