General

APPENZELL CATTLEDOG
Appenzeller Sennendog

Country of origin: Switserland

The pedigree of the Swiss Cattledogs is 2000 years old. Then the Roman armies drew north. They took with them big, heavy dogs to hunt the cattle they took along. As the journey continued, the herds became smaller and the dogs remained behind in the Swiss valley. Out of these dogs locale varieties developed who were used mainly as sennen dogs, sheep dogs, wachtdogs. Their common name became sennendog (alpine dog). The breeds became rare after a while but thanks to a large rescue operation and goal-oriented breeding, Swiss breeder succeeded in remaining them. The Appenzeller Cattledog is one of these four breeds.

The Appenzeller Cattledog is a powerful, almost square dog, middlesized, lively and agile. He is selfconfident, nog scared and by nature watchful.

Head: rather flat skull, widest between the ears, equally smaller towards the nose. Weak stop. The length of the snout in comparison to the skulle is 4:5. Black rhinarium.

Eyes: rather small, a little crooked against the nose, lively expression, brown.

Ears: rather small, set on high, triangle, hanging and reclined. Going up by danger, which makes the head look triangle.

Teeth: carnassial teeth.

Neck: of moderate length, powerful, dry

Body: round chest, oval cross section, with clear frontchest. Strong back, powerful lumbars.

Limbs: strong bones, good behind laying shoulders, straight frontlegs, well angulated hindquarters, rather long hocks.

Tail: set on high, of moderate length, strongly haired. In movement carried above the croupe or besides the lumbars.

Gait: broad, free with distinguished  drive

Coat: shiny, short, crooked. Black or brown undercoat.

Colour: black basic colour with rustcoloured and white, equal and clear defined marks. White blaze on the forehead which encloses the snout. White has to be present up to the neck at the front of the chest and also on all feet and the tip of the tale. Rustcoloured marks on legs, cheeks, chest and around the anus, always between the black and white part.

Size: male 54-56 cm, female 50-52 cm.