Appenzeller Sennenhund
a·pin·zuh·lr zeh·nuhn·hoon
Brief history of the Appenzeller Sennenhund breed
In 1853 an Appenzeller Sennenhund was first described in the book "Tierleben der Alpenwelt" (Animal Life in the Alps) as "a clearly barking, short haired, medium size, multicolour cattledog of a quite even "Spitz type", which can be found in certain regions and is used partly to guard the homestead, partly to herd cattle".
In 1898 the Appenzeller Sennenhund was designated a separate breed. The first breed standard was confirmed with the collaboration of the breed's great promoter, head forester Max Siber and the breed was introduced with eight dogs at the first International Dog Show held in Winterthur. Thanks to the instigation of Professor Dr. Albert Heim, who was greatly concerned with Swiss Cattledogs and with them the Appenzeller, the Appenzeller Sennenhund Club was founded in 1906. Its purpose was to preserve and promote the breed in its natural state. With the compulsory registration of puppies in the "Appenzeller Dog Stud Book", the aim of pure breeding was begun.
The original breeding territory was the Appenzell region. Today the breed is distributed all over Switzerland and beyond its borders and bred in many European countries. The notion "Appenzeller Sennenhund" is clearly outlined nowadays and the breed, as such, quite distinct from other Swiss Cattledogs.
In 1898 the Appenzeller Sennenhund was designated a separate breed. The first breed standard was confirmed with the collaboration of the breed's great promoter, head forester Max Siber and the breed was introduced with eight dogs at the first International Dog Show held in Winterthur. Thanks to the instigation of Professor Dr. Albert Heim, who was greatly concerned with Swiss Cattledogs and with them the Appenzeller, the Appenzeller Sennenhund Club was founded in 1906. Its purpose was to preserve and promote the breed in its natural state. With the compulsory registration of puppies in the "Appenzeller Dog Stud Book", the aim of pure breeding was begun.
The original breeding territory was the Appenzell region. Today the breed is distributed all over Switzerland and beyond its borders and bred in many European countries. The notion "Appenzeller Sennenhund" is clearly outlined nowadays and the breed, as such, quite distinct from other Swiss Cattledogs.
The recognition of the Appenzeller breed
The Appenzeller is recognized with the Swiss breed standard under the name Appenzeller Sennenhund, translated into English as Appenzell Cattle Dog, by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale in Group 2 Pinscher and Schnauzer- Molossoid breeds- Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs and other breeds, Section 3 Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs.
The Appenzeller is also recognised in the United States by the United Kennel Club in their Guardian Group under the name Appenzeller, and is listed as a breed in the Foundation Stock Service (FSS) by the American Kennel Club with the name Appenzeller Sennenhunde. The breed is not currently recognized by the other major kennel clubs in the English-speaking world, although it is also registered by small clubs and internet-based breed registries, and is promoted in North America by the AMDCA as a rare breed for experienced dog owners.
While the Appenzeller has found many admirers, the breeding stock is very small. It is only responsible and careful breeding that it remains possible to establish and consolidate the breed's natural and outstanding heredity qualities.
The Appenzeller is also recognised in the United States by the United Kennel Club in their Guardian Group under the name Appenzeller, and is listed as a breed in the Foundation Stock Service (FSS) by the American Kennel Club with the name Appenzeller Sennenhunde. The breed is not currently recognized by the other major kennel clubs in the English-speaking world, although it is also registered by small clubs and internet-based breed registries, and is promoted in North America by the AMDCA as a rare breed for experienced dog owners.
While the Appenzeller has found many admirers, the breeding stock is very small. It is only responsible and careful breeding that it remains possible to establish and consolidate the breed's natural and outstanding heredity qualities.