Great Pyrenees vs Appenzell Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison

Great Pyrenees vs Appenzell Mountain Dog - Breed ComparisonGreat Pyrenees is originated from France but Appenzell Mountain Dog is originated from Switzerland. Great Pyrenees may grow 26 cm / 11 inches higher than Appenzell Mountain Dog. Great Pyrenees may weigh 22 kg / 49 pounds more than Appenzell Mountain Dog. Both Great Pyrenees and Appenzell Mountain Dog has almost same life span. Great Pyrenees may have more litter size than Appenzell Mountain Dog. Both Great Pyrenees and Appenzell Mountain Dog requires Moderate maintenance.

History

great pyrenees - historyThe Great Pyrenees could be from Spain or France because the dog hails from the Pyrenees Mountains, which spans both France and Spain.

The dog was used to defend flocks from predators but its lineage goes a long way back, thousands of years in fact. It is thought that they only arrived in Europe about 5,000 years ago. The dog was adopted into the court of Louis the XIV as a royal dog.

During the mid 1600s, the dog's numbers dwindled but the French developed kennel clubs where the dog could be bred and its numbers restored. It was in 1933 that the Great Pyrenees received American Kennel Club recognition.

appenzell mountain dog - historyHailing from the Appenzell region of Switzerland and known as the Appenzeller Mountain Dog or the Appenzeller Sennenhunde, this athletic breed of dog has a history which is debatable and which has several theories.

It is believed the dog is descended from Molossus.The Appenzeller Mountain Dog is one of the 4 recognized Swiss Sennenhunds, appearing to have descended from cattle dogs. The first breed club was founded in 1906 by Albert Heim. However, an early reference to the breed's predecessors was made in a book of 1853, where it refers to dogs in the Appenzell region.

In 1898 the Appenzeller Mountain Dog was shown at the first international dog show and was recognized internationally as a separate breed in 1989.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Herding dogs
Origin:
France
Switzerland
Height Male:
70 - 82 cm
27 - 33 inches
52 - 56 cm
20 - 23 inches
Height Female:
65 - 78 cm
25 - 31 inches
50 - 56 cm
19 - 23 inches
Weight Male:
48 - 54 kg
105 - 120 pounds
22 - 32 kg
48 - 71 pounds
Weight Female:
44 - 54 kg
97 - 120 pounds
22 - 32 kg
48 - 71 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
12 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
7 - 12
4 - 6
Size:
Large dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Pyrenean Mountain Dog
Appenzeller Mountain Dog, Appenzeller Sennenhunde
Colors Available:
cream, White, white with patches of light tan or grey
Black, white, tan
Coat:
Medium to long, coarse, straight or wavy
Shortish, straight hair, dense
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate, Constant
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

great pyrenees puppy - descriptionThis is a beautiful dog, noticeable by the essentially white coat and his overall size, standing at 70 to 82cm and weighing between 40 to 54 kg.

The double coat is medium to long, coarse and straight or wavy and and it can be solid white, cream or white with patches of light tan or grey.

The nose is black, the eyes brown, the ears of medium length and floppy and the tail long and plumed.

Temperament:

The Great Pyrenees is an intelligent, strong willed dog with a mind of his own so he will be able to be trained and socialized successfully.

His huge size will require that he be trained because when he is indoors he can knock things over and he must be able to respond to you telling him to lie down.

As a large dog, he isn’t suited for tiny homes, as he requires lots of space even though he doesn’t require a lot of exercise. Not only that, he takes his watchdog duties seriously and he is inclined to bark a lot, and in a small place, you’ll be getting constant complaints from the neighbors.

When trained and socialized, your big dog is social, active and loving. He gets on well with children, the elderly and with pets in the home. He isn’t that overly active and will happily make himself at home on your couch and bed.

appenzell mountain dog puppy - descriptionThe Appenzell Mountain Dog is a medium-sized dog standing at between 47–58cm at the withers and weighing in at 22–32kg.

He is a heavy-built dog and sports a tri-color coat – black, tan and white. He has a double coat with the topcoat being shortish, thick and straight. He sheds throughout the year and isn’t hypoallergenic. He has small ears which are high set and which are floppy. The tail is long and curls when held high.

Temperament:

The Appenzell is an active breed who has been used to herding, fetching and working. Because of his energy levels, he won’t fit in well in a small home where his energy needs can’t be met. However wherever he is, he bonds closely with his human family and thrives on attention from them.

He isn’t known as an aggressive dog, but if as a working breed, he felt that the livestock he was guarding was under threat, he could exhibit some aggressiveness.

He gets on well with children in the home and other pets but is inclined to be wary of strangers. Just as with any other dog, training and socialization does wonders for him, making him relaxed and obedient around people and dogs.

Characteristics

great pyrenees dog - characteristicsThe Great Pyrenees is such a calm, independent, serious, well-mannered dog who loves to be around his human family and to please them. He is gentle and knows how to behave well around children, the elderly as well as with any pets in the home.

He makes a wonderful companion and although he loves indoor life as much as outdoor life, he is much happier settling into life in the country or the suburbs as opposed to life in the city and a tiny property.

Give your big white coated pet all the love he thrives on, and you'll enjoy a wonderful relationship with this large, amicable dog.

appenzell mountain dog dog - characteristicsHerding dogs tend to be independent and somewhat reserved but the Appenzell Mountain Dog is social, outgoing and loving with his human family. When trained and socialized he gets on well with other pets as well as children in the home.

He is a working dog, and thrives on being active, so a good amount of exercise will be necessary. He is a courageous, affectionate dog and when you give him the right upbringing and treat him as he deserves to be treated, he becomes a splendid pet.

Health Problems

great pyrenees puppies - health problemsYour Great Pyrenees is a big dog with an average lifespan of 10 to 12 years. His large size means you will need to look out for typical 'big dog' ailments such as hip dysplasia.

This problem can cause your pet to be in pain and he can also become lame, battling to walk and play and battling to get up after lying down.

Also, look out for bone cancer with your pet and as mentioned previously, bloat, which is a life threatening disease where the stomach of the dog swells up.

appenzell mountain dog puppies - health problemsThere are some health problems with dogs which are inherited. It is why some people insist on getting certificates from breeders to show that the parents were cleared of certain diseases such as hip and elbow dysplasia.

Certainly, it’s a known fact that many health problems can be prevented by the way you feed your dog and the way you raise him.

If you suspect your pet is suffering with an ailment that is making him lethargic and run-down, get him to the vet immediately.

Caring The Pet

Exercise:

great pyrenees dogs - caringYour Great Pyrenees isn't going to be a dog leaping around you demanding a game or walk like what you get from some energetic dogs. He certainly doesn't require strenuous exercise but will require a nice, brisk walk every day. Give him some ball or rope games too. He's territorial and likes large grounds to walk around and guard and this constant guarding is a good form of exercise too.

Grooming:

With two layers, the coat of the Great Pyrenees will need to be brushed twice a week to prevent burrs attaching to the fur and to prevent it from matting, It also gets rid of loose hair during shedding.

He tends to drool so it's handy keeping a damp cloth close by just to give his face area a wipe down. Your dog's ears will need to be cleaned with special ear-cleaning lotion and his nails will also need to be trimmed.

Socialization and Training:

Socialize your Great Pyrenees with other dogs and people from a young age. Without proper socialization, this breed can become territorial and possessive of his family, which could lead to aggression. He bonds with his family but tends to be wary of strangers.

Diet:

It is far better to feed your Great Pyrenees smaller meals throughout the day as opposed to 2 large meals a day. A large dog like him can develop bloat from gulping down a large amount of food too quickly.

If you feed your Great Pyrenees commercially manufactured food, make sure it is high in omega 3 and 6 to keep his thick white coat luxurious.

Your dog will need a dog food targeted at a large breed. Remember to include some raw meat as well as cooked chicken, vegetables and brown rice into his kibble and always ensure fresh, cool water is available.

Grooming:

appenzell mountain dog dogs - caringYou want your Appenzell Mountain Dog to maintain his thick shiny coat, and because he sheds throughout the year, a good brushing twice a week will benefit him.

Dogs with hanging ears, such as this dog, are always more prone to ear infections, requiring more attention to the inside of the ears. Clean, dry ears resist ear infections.

The nails of the dog should also be trimmed when they become too long.

Exercise:

The Appenzeller is a working dog, used to being active all day, so he will require a lot of exercise. He just loves being outdoors, and while he adapts to city- and country life, he will prefer living in the country. Take him for walks, play ball with him and allow him to run with you when you go jogging or cycling.

Diet:

A young adult Appenzeller Sennenhunde will require a different calorie intake compared to a dog that has been spayed or neutered or a puppy that is still growing. You need to watch your dog’s age, his size and the particular season of his life he is in and adjust his food intake.

Kibble is good and well, and there are excellent brands packed with nutrients, but your furry friend will require brown rice, vegetables and cooked chicken mixed into his kibble from time to time as well as raw meat added in when possible.

An excellent diet is important for the wellbeing of your pet, and always ensure that fresh, cool water is available.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Samoyed vs Great Pyrenees - Breed Comparison
  2. Great Pyrenees vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  3. Great Pyrenees vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  4. Great Pyrenees vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  5. Great Pyrenees vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  6. Great Pyrenees vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  7. Great Pyrenees vs Alaskan Malamute - Breed Comparison
  8. Great Pyrenees vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  9. Great Pyrenees vs Boerboel - Breed Comparison
  10. Great Pyrenees vs Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  11. Great Pyrenees vs Argentine Dogo - Breed Comparison
  12. Great Pyrenees vs Giant Schnauzer - Breed Comparison
  13. Great Pyrenees vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  14. Great Pyrenees vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  15. Great Pyrenees vs Goldador - Breed Comparison
  16. Great Pyrenees vs Bandog - Breed Comparison
  17. Great Pyrenees vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) - Breed Comparison
  18. Great Pyrenees vs Dogo Cubano - Breed Comparison
  19. Great Pyrenees vs Dogo Sardesco - Breed Comparison
  20. Great Pyrenees vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison
  21. Great Pyrenees vs Central Asian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  22. Great Pyrenees vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  23. Great Pyrenees vs German Longhaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  24. Great Pyrenees vs Alano Espanol - Breed Comparison
  25. Great Pyrenees vs Entlebucher Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  26. Pembroke Welsh Corgi vs Appenzell Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  27. Dutch Shepherd vs Appenzell Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  28. English Shepherd vs Appenzell Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  29. Pyrenean Shepherd vs Appenzell Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  30. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Australian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  31. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) - Breed Comparison
  32. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Australian Cattle Dog - Breed Comparison
  33. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Bearded Collie - Breed Comparison
  34. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Collie - Breed Comparison
  35. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  36. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  37. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  38. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Catahoula Cur - Breed Comparison
  39. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  40. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Catalan Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  41. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Bergamasco - Breed Comparison
  42. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Berger Picard - Breed Comparison
  43. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Bohemian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  44. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Croatian Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  45. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervuren) - Breed Comparison
  46. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Blue Lacy - Breed Comparison
  47. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog - Breed Comparison
  48. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) - Breed Comparison
  49. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Black Norwegian Elkhound - Breed Comparison
  50. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds