Great Dane vs Appenzell Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison

Great Dane vs Appenzell Mountain Dog - Breed ComparisonGreat Dane is originated from Germany but Appenzell Mountain Dog is originated from Switzerland. Great Dane may grow 30 cm / 12 inches higher than Appenzell Mountain Dog. Great Dane may weigh 58 kg / 128 pounds more than Appenzell Mountain Dog. Both Great Dane and Appenzell Mountain Dog has almost same life span. Great Dane may have more litter size than Appenzell Mountain Dog. Great Dane requires Low maintenance. But Appenzell Mountain Dog requires Moderate maintenance

History

great dane - historyKnown as the Deutsche Dogge or Apollo of dogs, the giant-breed Great Dane hails from Germany and not Denmark as many people believe.

The large Great Dane has been around for about 400 years already. They descend from mastiff-like dogs, being needed to protect country estates.

In the 18th century, apart from watching over estates, they were also popular with the upper class for sport.

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:
Companion dog
Herding dogs
Origin:
Germany
Switzerland
Height Male:
76 - 86 cm
29 - 34 inches
52 - 56 cm
20 - 23 inches
Height Female:
76 - 86 cm
29 - 34 inches
50 - 56 cm
19 - 23 inches
Weight Male:
54 - 90 kg
119 - 199 pounds
22 - 32 kg
48 - 71 pounds
Weight Female:
54 - 90 kg
119 - 199 pounds
22 - 32 kg
48 - 71 pounds
Life Span:
9 - 12 Years
12 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 15
4 - 6
Size:
Giant dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Apollo of Dogs, Dane, Deutsche Dogge
Appenzeller Mountain Dog, Appenzeller Sennenhunde
Colors Available:
black or brindle - bi-color, Fawn
Black, white, tan
Coat:
Short and smooth
Shortish, straight hair, dense
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate, Constant
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Social, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

great dane puppy - descriptionThe Great Dame is a tall, lean, athletic, muscular, elegant looking dog. He can stand anything between 76–86cm in height and weigh around 54–90kg. The large head is long and narrow, and the medium sized floppy ears can be left or they can be cropped.

The tail is long and held low. The coat is short and smooth and can be in several colors such as fawn, black or brindle.

Temperament:

Any kind of aggressiveness was bred out of the Great Dane and today he is a gentle giant of a dog, getting on well with other dogs, children and everyone in his human family.

Even though he is a gentle giant, he will still require training and socialization just because of his size. Then they become the devoted pet that they are so well known to be. You'll want to know that when he comes indoors, he will obey you when you tell him to lie-down, sit or come, otherwise his sheer size will see him knocking things accidentally off table-tops.

He is an intelligent dog and is eager to please so he'll learn easily. He craves human companionship, so make sure that your social Dane has plenty of interaction with you.

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 dane dog - characteristicsThe Great Dane is a large breed, bred to hunt wild boar. The intelligence, bravery and fearless nature of the dog meant that he was sought after for this task.

Known as the Apollo of Dogs, you won’t find the Great Dane being used for hunting purposes anymore, being more suited as a companion dog.

While developed as a working breed, today he is a well balanced, intelligent, calm, loving, social, dependable dog that just wants to be loved by his human family and to provide love, loyalty and companionship back in return.

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 dane puppies - health problemsTypically of giant dogs, the Great Dane doesn't have a particularly long life-span and will live to be about 8 to 10 years of age. Also, giant-breed dogs like this are susceptible to what is known as bloat.

You'll notice it because there is swelling of the stomach with gas buildup and also twisting of the stomach. It's a life-threatening condition and you'll need to get your dog to the vet as soon as possible. You can combat it by feeding him smaller, more frequent meals and perhaps buying a slow-feeder dish, forcing your hungry pet to eat slower and not gulp his food down.

Also, large dogs like this can develop hip dysplasia and with a dog like the Great Dane, it takes a while for the bones and joints to grow and then become stable. That is why it is important not to make him do any vigorous exercise till he is at least 18 months of age, as these exercises can put a lot of stress on the joints and bones which can lead to hip dysplasia later on.

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

Diet:

great dane dogs - caringThis is a large dog so you’ll notice that with commercially manufactured dog foods, there are those made specially for large- or giant breeds. It is important to choose the right dog food for his large size so that you can be sure he gets the right amount of nutrients in for him to grow strong and healthy.

If you aren't sure about what food would most benefit your Great Dane, ask your vet. While it is important to also feed him quality home-made food and raw meat, when buying kibble for him,check the label of the food you buy him and make sure that the concentration of protein isn’t more than 23 to 25%.

Remember to provide him with a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Grooming:

Brush your Great Dane’s coat at least twice a week. He has a short, smooth coat so it will be easy, and the brushing will keep his coat soft and shiny. Use this time to also check for fleas and ticks or lumps. You will also need to check his nails and trim them if they don’t trim down on their own.

Exercise:

Your Great Dane will need to be exercised every day if you want him to maintain his lean, muscular shape. It keeps him happy too. He isn’t the kind of dog though that you want to turn into your running partner when you go jogging or cycling. He can go on a walk and play in the garden, but the exercising shouldn’t be for long periods of time.

His first checkup:

Every puppy needs to get to the vet for his first check-up when he is 6 weeks of age, and your Dane will also have to. As a puppy he will need to be de-wormed which will happen with this 6 week check up. He will also be vaccinated for distemper.

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. Shiloh Shepherd vs Great Dane - Breed Comparison
  2. Irish Mastiff Hound vs Great Dane - Breed Comparison
  3. Great Dane vs Bernese Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  4. Great Dane vs English Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  5. Great Dane vs Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  6. Great Dane vs American Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  7. Great Dane vs Alaunt - Breed Comparison
  8. Great Dane vs Bully Kutta - Breed Comparison
  9. Great Dane vs Alangu Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  10. Great Dane vs Francais Blanc et Orange - Breed Comparison
  11. Great Dane vs Billy - Breed Comparison
  12. Great Dane vs Bisben - Breed Comparison
  13. Great Dane vs American Molossus - Breed Comparison
  14. Great Dane vs American Staghound - Breed Comparison
  15. Great Dane vs Cao de Gado Transmontano - Breed Comparison
  16. Great Dane vs Broholmer - Breed Comparison
  17. Great Dane vs Ciobanesc de Bucovina - Breed Comparison
  18. Newfoundland Dog vs Great Dane - Breed Comparison
  19. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Great Dane - Breed Comparison
  20. Leonberger vs Great Dane - Breed Comparison
  21. Irish Wolfhound vs Great Dane - Breed Comparison
  22. Mountain Burmese vs Great Dane - Breed Comparison
  23. Gaddi Kutta vs Great Dane - Breed Comparison
  24. Pyrenean Mastiff vs Great Dane - Breed Comparison
  25. Moscow Watchdog vs Great Dane - 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