History
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They might have originated from Roman molossers - solidly-built, large dog breeds that all descend from the same common ancestor. The name derives from Molossia, an area of ancient Epirus, where the large shepherd dog was known as a Molossus. Molossers typically have heavy bones, pendant ears, a relatively short and well-muscled neck, and a short muzzle.
The word Senn or Senner is the term for Alpine herdsmen and dairymen (an Alpine meadow is called a Sennelager) who tend other farmers' cattle and sometimes sheep. Sennenhund means "dogs of the Senn". Sennenhund were not just cattle dogs, but were kept as general farm dogs, working as livestock guardian dogs and as herding dogs when necessary, as well as guarding the farmers' families, homes, herds, and flocks. The guarding function was especially necessary in earlier times, when wolves and other large predators threatened livestock and people. The larger Sennenhunds were also used for pulling carts. A red and white color found in the Sennenhunds was said to be from crosses with the St. Bernard dog, a breed from the Alps descended from Roman molossers. The Sennenhund, especially the largest ones, began to disappear in the 1800s with the decline in need for butcher's dogs and carting dogs. The efforts of Alpine geologist and indigenous Swiss dog breeds advocate Albert Heim (1849-1937) brought various examples of Sennenhund to an International Dog Show in 1908. At that point Heim and other members of the Schweizerische Kynologische Gesellschaft (Swiss Kennel Club) began sorting out the dogs by what they judged to be representative breed types, and naming the four breeds. |
Can you name the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, the Bernese Mountain Dogs, Appenzeller, and Entlebucher?
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The Sennenhund, called Swiss mountain dogs or Swiss cattle dogs in English, are dogs originating in the Swiss Alps. The Sennenhund are farm dogs.
There are four breeds of Sennenhund, all sporting a unique tricolor coat: the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, the Bernese Mountain Dogs, Appenzeller, and Entlebucher. While the two larger ones (the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and the Bernese Mountain Dogs) share a heavy build and a calm temperament, the two smaller ones (the Appenzeller and the Entlebucher) are more agile.
The breeds range from medium in size to very large.
The name Sennenhund refers to people called Senn or Senner, Swiss alpine herdsmen and dairymen, and does not translate as "mountain" or "cattle". The four Sennenhund breeds are well known in Switzerland and the rest of Europe. In the United States, the Bernese Mountain Dog has become popular, while the other breeds, including the Appenzeller, are rare.
There are four breeds of Sennenhund, all sporting a unique tricolor coat: the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, the Bernese Mountain Dogs, Appenzeller, and Entlebucher. While the two larger ones (the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and the Bernese Mountain Dogs) share a heavy build and a calm temperament, the two smaller ones (the Appenzeller and the Entlebucher) are more agile.
The breeds range from medium in size to very large.
The name Sennenhund refers to people called Senn or Senner, Swiss alpine herdsmen and dairymen, and does not translate as "mountain" or "cattle". The four Sennenhund breeds are well known in Switzerland and the rest of Europe. In the United States, the Bernese Mountain Dog has become popular, while the other breeds, including the Appenzeller, are rare.
