Swiss Dog Breeds

While many people are familiar with the Saint Bernard and Bernese Mountain Dog, these are just two of the many dog breeds from Switzerland. From herders and hunters to mountain rescue dogs and companions, these canines each offer something different and unique. So here are all of the Swiss dog breeds and what you’ll want to know about each of them.

Saint Bernard

This extra-large canine is probably the most well-known of all the Swiss breeds. It is a massive dog with a powerful build. However, it is typically considered to be a gentle giant. The Saint Bernard is particularly good with children, and generally easy-going although it can be protective of its family when needed.

It was originally developed by the monks at the Great St. Bernard Hospice near the southwestern border of Switzerland and Italy in the Great St. Bernard Pass. There it functioned as a guardian and draft dog, although it’s most famous for its role as an Alpine rescue dog helping to both find and save the lives of lost travelers.

The breed’s coat comes in two types short-haired and longhaired. In addition to the requirements of owning such an enormous dog, potential owners should be aware that because of its low-hanging jowls the Saint Bernard is a serious drooler.

White Swiss Shepherd

The White Swiss Shepherd Dog or Berger Blanc Suisse is a relatively new breed. While the development of the breed started in the 1960s, using a white strain of German Shepherd from the United States and Canada, it wasn’t officially recognized as a separate breed by the Swiss Kennel Club until 1991. These medium size dogs are athletic, agile, and incredibly intelligent.

And like the German Shepherd, they are versatile canines that can function as companions, family dogs, guide dogs, herders, detection dogs, and police dogs along with many other duties. They are considered to be easy to train and are well-known for their faithfulness and devotion to their owners.

This white Swiss dog breed ideally has a coat that is pure white in color; however, it can range from light cream to a light biscuit. Potential owners should realize that while its dense solid-white coat is incredibly attractive, this is considered a heavy-shedder that sheds year-round.

Swiss Hound

The Swiss Hound, also known in Switzerland as the Schweizer Laufhund, is a regal-looking dog with ancient origins. Its ancestors are believed to have first been brought to Europe by the Phoenicians traders, and then to Switzerland by the Roman legionnaires. Later on, the breed was further influenced by the crossing of French scent hounds that were brought back to Switzerland by mercenaries.

This medium-size hound has a large elongated head and long ears that can reach the tip of its nose or further. It is known as an exceptional hare hunter and is also used for roe deer, fox, and wild boar. The Swiss Hound is an independent hunter that is able to manage extremely rugged terrain.  And while it is tenacious when on the hunt it is incredibly sweet and affectionate when at home with its family.

The breed comes in four different color varieties the Bernese Hound (white with black patches or a black saddle and with tan markings), Lucerne Hound (blue speckled with a black mantle), Schwyz Hound (white with orange markings), and the Jura Hound (black with tan markings or tan with a black saddle). Each of these varieties is named for the region in Switzerland where they were originally bred.

Small Swiss Hound

When the hunting areas in Switzerland were restricted in size, hound hunters needed dogs that would hunt at a slower pace. The solution was to create a hound breed with shorter legs and smaller proportions. By selectively breeding the four varieties of Swiss Hounds down in size they created the breed we know today as the Small Swiss Hound or Schweizerischer Niederlaufhund.

Each of the four types of Small Swiss Hounds are named after the larger variety that they are descended from. These include the Small Bernese Hound, Small Lucerne Hound, Small Jura Hound, and Small Schwyz Hound. Unlike their larger relatives (which only have a smooth coat) this Swiss hunting dog breed comes in two coat textures, both smooth and rough. These are exceptionally friendly dogs that have fantastic noses.

And because of this, the Small Swiss Hound is often employed not only to locate game animals but also to help recover wounded animals as well. The breed typically hunts on its own rather than in a pack. And don’t be fooled by their short legs these canines are adept at handling rough terrain.

Continental Bulldog

This Swiss bulldog breed was created using both the English Bulldog and Olde English Bulldogge. The goal was to create a medium-sized bulldog that kept the lovable personality of the English Bulldog but at the same time was more athletic and did not have the many health problems associated with it.

The breeding program was a success and the Continental Bulldog was added to the Swiss Kennel Club in 2005. The Conti has a short dense coat that comes in every color and pattern but always with a black nose. The breed has less of an underbite and a smaller head than the English Bulldog.

And in contrast to the English Bulldog and several other types of bulldogs when the Continental Bulldog is exercising or running it is not a noisy breather. This is a friendly and quiet breed and therefore is not suited for guarding or protection as some bulldog breeds are. It is, however, an excellent companion and family dog but of course, as any bulldog, it can be a bit stubborn.

Entlebucher Mountain Dog

Despite being a medium-sized canine this is the smallest of the four Swiss mountain dog breeds also known as the Swiss Sennenhunds, a group of related versatile farm dogs all of which have a striking tricolor coat that is black, white, and rust. The Swiss Sennenhund breeds also include the Appenzeller Mountain Dog, Bernese Mountain Dog, and  Greater Swiss Mountain Dog.

The Entlebucher Mountain Dog is a cow herder, although because it is nimble-footed this breed has also been used to herd other types of livestock as well such as horses and pigs. In the past, the Entlebucher also functioned as a guardian and to pull carts of cheese and milk to the market.

It is a tireless worker with a high-energy level and therefore requires daily exercise or better yet a job to do. Although the breed is stern with the cows it is known for being incredibly gentle with children and makes a quiet and devoted companion. An added bonus for owners is that is known for being a particularly clean breed.

Appenzell Cattledog

This livestock guardian and cattle herding dog is not well known outside of its home country of Switzerland other than by admirers of the breed. It was originally developed in the Appenzell region of Switzerland and is also sometimes called the Appenzeller Mountain Dog.

It is an athletic canine with a high-pitched bark and is considered by those familiar with the Sennenhunds breeds to be the most lively and spirited of the four. The Appenzell Cattledog is a muscular medium to large size dog that is slightly bigger than its cousin the Entlebucher.  Unlike the other Swiss mountain dog breeds the Appezeller’s tail is carried in a tight curl over its back.

Because of its background as a guardian, the breed has an instinctive mistrust of strangers and is naturally protective of its family and property. And while the Appenzell Cattledog makes an excellent family pet it isn’t the dog for everyone. It does best in a home with a large yard, and because of its high energy, it does need to be kept busy physically and mentally stimulated in order to keep it happy and out of trouble.

Bernese Mountain Dog

Of all the  Swiss mountain dog breeds the Bernese Mountain Dog is without a doubt the most recognizable and widespread. It is also the only one of the four Sennenhund breeds with a long coat. The Bernese Mountain Dog’s thick, long, and slightly wavy coat insulates it from the freezing Alpine weather. However, at the same time, it makes it a breed that is not suited for hot climates.

This big powerful dog originated in the valleys of the lower Alps and was used as a cattle drover, watchdog, and draft dog for pulling heavy carts full of dairy products. Nowadays it mainly functions as a large family dog. And as any Berner owner will tell you, it is definitely a canine that loves to be surrounded by its family at all times.

Although it does tend to become much more attached to the one specific family member that it identifies as its master. While typically placid, because of its size, strength, and confidence this is a breed is that commands respect.

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

The Greater Swiss Mountain dog is an extra-large canine that is robust and heavy-boned, yet at the same time athletic. Slightly longer than it is tall, this giant breed matures slowly usually taking up to three years. Despite its size, however, it doesn’t need a large living space as long as it has daily exercise.

This is the biggest of the four Swiss mountain dog breeds and is also considered to be the original ancestor of the other three. While there are several theories on how the breed came to be, one of the most popular is that it is the result of the crossing of the Roman war dogs which passed through Switzerland with the local livestock guardian dogs.

The breed was originally used by farmers as a drover of cattle, to guard the herds and homestead, and pull extremely heavy carts. Not only is this one of the largest and beefiest draft dogs it is considered by many to be the most powerful draft breed on the planet. The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is believed to have been used in the development of both the Saint Bernard, another of the Swiss dog breeds, and the Rottweiler, a German breed, as well.

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