The American Kennel Club recognizes 193 dog breeds, and there are over a hundred more awaiting acceptance. With so many different breeds, it can be challenging to learn them all without a good system for breaking them up into smaller sections.
Location of origin can be a great way to divide the breeds up to learn more about them, and we are going to look at Swiss dog breeds to see what similarities and differences there are among dogs from this part of the world. For each entry, we’ve included a picture of what they look like and a short description telling you a little about them so you can see if they are right for your home.
The 8 Swiss Dog Breeds
1. Swiss Hound
| Lifespan: | 10–13 years |
| Temperament: | Passionate, confident, agile |
The Swiss Hound is a hunting dog that enjoys chasing foxes, rabbits, deer, and even wild boar. It’s an ancient breed brought back to Switzerland by the mercenaries. It’s available in four colors, including black, tan, blue, and orange, and they move quickly with an easy, coordinated gait.
These dogs are confident and passionate about the hunt. They make excellent watchdogs and great family pets.
2. Small Swiss Hound
| Lifespan: | 10–12 years |
| Temperament: | Calm, hardy, agile |
The Small Swiss Hound is a little smaller than the standard Swiss hound, as you might have guessed by the name. It rarely stands taller than 15 inches, and like the Swiss Hound, it has four colors and coats. It’s a fast-moving dog with a great sense of smell, and it will often forget what it’s doing when it picks up a scent.
3. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
| Lifespan: | 8–11 years |
| Temperament: | Alert, fearless, good-natured |
The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a large breed that may look imposing but is quite friendly. It enjoys being near humans and will often sit at your feet. It’s alert and fearless, so it makes a great watchdog, but it remains relatively calm in the face of danger and other dogs.
It doesn’t live as long as many other breeds due to its massive size but has relatively few health problems.
4. Saint Bernard
| Lifespan: | 8–10 years |
| Temperament: | Calm, friendly, gentle |
Saint Bernards are another giant Swiss dog breed that can often weigh more than 150 pounds. They are extremely muscular and can pull carts and are often used in rescue missions on the snowy mountains due to their ability to pull a stretcher. They are also friendly and intelligent enough to help find victims and make them feel more at ease.
5. Bernese Mountain Dog
| Lifespan: | 7–8 years |
| Temperament: | Intelligent, affectionate, loyal |
The Bernese Mountain Dog is a large breed from the Swiss mountains with a thick double coat, capable of withstanding cold temperatures. It’s a sweet breed that enjoys spending time with its owner and likes to play and go for walks.
Children usually enjoy playing with them due to their fuzzy appearance, and it has plenty of patience for rough play and hair-pulling. It’s strong enough for pulling carts and fast enough to catch the small game in your yard or barn.
6. Entlebucher Mountain Dog
| Lifespan: | 12–15 years |
| Temperament: | Agile, independent, intelligent |
The Entlebucher Mountain Dog is smaller than many of the other breeds on this list. This dog usually weighs less than 65 pounds with a smooth coat that’s close to the body. They’re slightly suspicious of strangers but are loving and friendly towards their family members. Inbreeding is the cause of common genetic problems like hip dysplasia and hemolytic anemia.
7. Appenzeller Sennenhund
| Lifespan: | 12–15 years |
| Temperament: | Stable, self-assured |
The Appenzeller Sennenhund is a medium-sized dog that usually weighs less than 70 pounds. They were originally cattle herding dogs, and they still work on plenty of farms, but in America, make fantastic house pets that get along well with other pets and children. It’s a calm dog that is not easily intimidated and likes to jump high into the air and tackle obstacle courses.
8. White Swiss Shepherd
| Lifespan: | 14–15 years |
| Temperament: | Aloof, attentive, lively |
The White Swiss Shepherd is a close relative of the White German Shepherd. The white Shepherd is a disqualifying color in Germany, but it’s perfectly suited to this new breed. Breeders imported these dogs to Switzerland in 1966, and breeders created the final version we have today. It’s a friendly breed that likes to spend a lot of time alone standing guard or patrolling the perimeter.
It’s a great guard dog that doesn’t do a lot of barking. Thanks to the expert Swiss breeding, these dogs have few health problems and are one of the longest lifespans on this list.
Conclusion
Most of these Swiss dog breeds are quite large, so most experts recommend gaining some experience with smaller breeds first. However, any dog on this list would make a great family dog, and they are all well-suited to cold climates.
The Small Swiss Hound and Appenzeller Sennenhound are our recommended starting points, but if you are ready for a large breed, Saint Bernards are one of the most loving and friendly breeds you can get.
Featured Image Credit: Eve Photography, Shutterstock
The 8 Swiss Dog Breeds
One Response
In the Martha Grimes "Richard Jury" mystery "The Black Cat," Superintendent Jury rescues an abandoned Appenzeller and places him on his pal Melrose Plant's estate in Northhamptonshire. The veterinarian comments on how rare the breed is. In the book, the dog immediately sets to herding Plant's goat.