Swiss mountain dogs: Entlebucher Mountain Dog, Appenzeller Mountain Dog and Bernese Mountain Dog

By Roland Berger

Swiss Mountain Dogs evolved from former farm dogs into family dogs and great companions. They are gentle giants that excel in friendliness and loveliness. The Bernese is appreciated for its affectionate and calm nature, the Appenzeller and the Entlebucher are captivating not only for their tricolor but also for their sporty sides.

All three breeds of mountain dogs need to be exercised in a way that is appropriate to their species and to be kept busy every day, so that they can live a happy life. However, dog beginners should consider whether they want to start with this breed, because the mountain dogs can sometimes be very stubborn and do not always follow the will of their humans.

In this Guide, everything you need to know about the Mountain Dogs will be presented in more detail:
- Origin, physique and appearance
- Character trait
- Who is suitable as an owner?
- The puppy - what to consider.
- What to pay attention to in the upbringing?
- How to teach basic commands.
- What are the characteristics of these breeds?
- Nutrition and health
- Typical diseases

The book deals with the three Swiss Mountain Dogs. There are more than 10 illustrations. The breeds are presented in a similar way, so you can easily compare the breeds.

It is a worthwhile guide for those who want to acquire a mountain dog and are looking for answers to their unanswered questions. The book provides decision-making tools so that you can make the right choice of the appropriate breed. The book is the right choice for you if you are a novice dog owner interested in Swiss Mountain Dogs.

• Language: English
• Publisher: XinXii
• Release date: Apr 15, 2022
• ISBN: 9783986469108

Book preview

List of Figures

Figure 1: Mountain dogs were useful working animals

Figure 2: Appenzeller mountain dog

Figure 3: Slowly accustoming mountain dogs to leashes.

Figure 4: Appenzeller mountain dog playing with Labrador mongrel dog outside

Figure 5: Sit visual signal

Figure 6: Place visual sign

Figure 7: Visual signal "Off

Figure 8: Care set for dogs

Figure 9: Mountain dog during agility training

Figure 10: Bernese mountain dog

Figure 11: Entlebucher mountain dog

The history of mountain dogs

The ancestors of the mountain dogs

So far, only speculations could be made as to where the breed originated. There are different theories regarding the actual origin of the Mountain Dogs, but no theory could ever be proven beyond doubt. Thus, it still remains a mystery that has yet to be cleared up.

For example, a very popular speculation says that already in the 1st century BC with the Romans quite large dogs arrived in the surrounding area of today's Switzerland. The dogs, which resemble today's type Mastiff and Molosser, were mated with the local dogs. These big dogs of the Romans had the task of guarding and defending the camps. Likewise, they were used for guarding at watchtowers. Even today the mountain dogs have guarding, herding and reporting strangers in their genes, although they are usually friendly towards strangers or visitors and do not act as sharp guards.

However, against this theory speaks that such remote and very rural areas have not been under the power of the Roman legions and there were supposedly dogs in these climes long before the Romans came. Interestingly, however, archaeologists have found bones dating back to the Bronze and Iron Ages that may actually prove the Molossian and Mastiff theory. Excavations have unearthed the skeletons of large dogs that could presumably be considered the ancestors of the Mountain Dogs. A completely different speculation says that the Tibetan mastiff is considered as an ancestor of the Sennenhunde. But also this could never be proved completely clearly.

The Bernese mountain dog was loved by farmers and shepherds.

Already with the Celts, who lived in the Alps at that time, the Bernese mountain dogs belonged to it and proved to be extremely significant work animals. They protected their people and the busy places and guarded the cattle of the farmers. One of their main tasks was to herd the cattle and make sure that they stayed together in the herd.  This remained so for a long time. Of course, the mountain dogs were also supposed to be friendly and open-minded towards people, but in breeding, attention was mainly paid to the qualities of use, which meant that only those dogs were allowed to stay that were also up to the tasks.

Dogs, which could not do that, were only superfluous in the eyes of the farmers and had to be fed through. Unfortunately, the consequence was that such animals were killed and that even until the last century!

The Bernese Mountain Dog had to be faithful and obedient to his human. These were very important traits that were required of him in the past. Finally, the dogs were firmly integrated into the quite hard life in the alpine regions. They were the constant companion of their human, no matter if it went to the fields, to steep pastures or on the farm. But unlike some other working dogs, the mountain dogs were often allowed into the living rooms (especially in the harsh winters). Normally, at that time, it was common for the dogs to be outside at all times of the day and night, guarding the farm.

Bernese Mountain Dog belongs to the breeds that build a very intimate bond with their people and always want to have them with them. The animals can distinguish very well who is friend or foe.

An example of this: A Bernese mountain dog that knows the village community will not strike. In the case of people or intruders that he does not know, he will report them immediately. The mountain dogs had to think along with the heavy work at that time. Therefore, even nowadays you can find a prudent action in the animals - a special characteristic of these dogs.

Bernese mountain dog owed its excellent reputation to the dog cart and cheese. Dog carts were part of everyday life in the 19th century. The dogs were not as expensive to maintain as horses and they could easily pull small loads. This included milk cans, which the farmers carried daily to the nearby cheese dairies. But not only the farmers, but also the merchants and butchers appreciated the strong and powerful dogs that took over this work.

Figure 1: Mountain dogs were useful work animals

The dogs from the Weiler Dürrbach (Canton of Bern) had an exquisite reputation, which made the Dürrbächler dogs (old name for the Bernese) more and more famous and they were increasingly appreciated. The very small residential settlement (hamlet) basically consisted of only one farm and one inn. However, since many trade travelers passed through Dürrbach on the route to Bern, a popular meeting place was the inn and so also the trade with the colorful, three-colored Bernese mountain dogs began.

At that time, however, the breed did not have a uniform name. Rather, they were called Bäri, Vieraugli or Ringli by the farmers. Over time, however, the name Dürrbächler or Dürrbachhund has prevailed. 

The St. Bernard is a strong competitor of the Dürrbach dogs.

In addition to the Dürrbächler, the strong and large St. Bernard, with its uniform markings, increasingly gained the upper hand. He made the hearts of dog fans beat faster. Even today he is considered generous and friendly, who likes to work and has a strong protective instinct. The impressive appearance made the dog attractive and attracted a lot of attention. The farmers and traders had little interest in the Dürrbach dog, thus it fell into the background. Only in the remote mountain regions, where the farmers had long lived with their obedient and loyal mountain dog, he was still popular. It is also thanks to these people that the Bernese Mountain Dog has not completely fallen into oblivion, or worse, died out. 

The birth of Bernese Mountain Dog breeding

The Swiss Kynological Society was founded in 1883 by discerning dog lovers. By Kynological is meant the study of breeds, breeding, care, behavior, training and diseases of domestic dogs. In the first years registrations of different dog breeds were entered into the Swiss pedigree book. About ten years after the founding year, the landlord Franz Schertenleib and Fritz Probst succeeded in rekindling the attention and interest for the Dürrbach dog and the Dürrbächler were selectively bred. With the beginning of the 20th century, other offshoots of the Swiss Cynological Society were founded and the first dog shows took place. For the first time in 1902 the Dürrbächler and other breeds of shepherd dogs took part in these events. The breakthrough of the mountain dogs was at the International Dog Show in 1904 in Bern. There four dogs were awarded, which were then entered into the Swiss Dog Stud Book as Dürrbacher Sennenhunde. Among others, the bitch Belline at that time is considered the ancestor of the Bernese Mountain Dogs.

This was the starting signal for the increasing popularity of the Dürrbächler and the pure breeding began. Through the entry in the Swiss Dog Stud Book the Dürrbächler got the status of a pedigree dog.

The first breeding association and its foundation

Besides the veterinarian Dr. Scheidegger and the breeder Gottfried Mumenthaler, Franz Schertenleib was again present when the Swiss Dürrbach Club was founded in Burgdorf in 1907. Professor Dr. Albert Heim, cynologist and geologist, was one of the founding members and he was also a judge at the dog shows, where he first met the beautiful Bernese Mountain Dog in Lucerne. After detailed information about this breed, he published a paper at the Swiss Cynological Society. Since then he was a great fan of the breed and the Dürrbach dogs conquered his heart.

With a wary eye, he now inspected the Dürrbächler, which he had become very fond of, at dog shows and he urged the breeders to pay particular attention to a good temperament and a uniform appearance in the dogs. The drawings of the coat of the Dürrbächler still showed differences, but with the time a long-haired dog type crystallized. However, the split nose was still criticized.

With regard to the other mountain dog breeds - in the categorization and differentiation of which Prof. Dr. Heim was also involved - the dog researchers (cynologists) made the suggestion to rename the Dürrbächler into the Bernese Mountain Dog. However, this did not meet with approval at first. It was not until 1913 that this was agreed to and so the Dürrbächler became the Bernese Mountain Dog. With this, the original name of the club Schweizerische Dürrbach Klub was changed to Klub für Berner Sennenhunde. Due to the pure breeding, the Bernese Mountain Dog now also differed more and more from the other mountain dog breeds. Its typical appearance as well as some other characteristics were now made obligatory as breed characteristics.

Popular beyond the Swiss border.

Towards the end of the First World War, the number of club members had decreased enormously and the Bernese Mountain Dogs had also shrunk considerably in number. But general breeding of the breed picked up again and in 1919 Bernese Mountain Dogs were bred for the first time in Germany (Schweißheim near Munich). Since the establishment of clubs and associations enjoyed extreme popularity, even so in 1923 the association "Swiss