All about alpine shepherd dogs

The Alpine (Savoy) Shepherd is a dog made for work. Perhaps, when the word "shepherd" is used by the majority, the association "German" arises, but this is not so. There are a great many varieties of shepherd dogs, and even the charming short-footed corgi breed, so beloved by Queen Elizabeth II, also belongs to the shepherd family. The Alpine Shepherd Dog belongs to a different "direction".

She is a great guard, watchman, protector. However, an inexperienced dog breeder simply cannot cope with such a strong and obstinate dog, and now we will find out why.

The breed appeared many centuries ago, its representatives were excellent shepherds, they could "lead" a large herd. Thanks to their enormous strength, they even coped with cattle without the help of a shepherd. But with the penetration of other breeds of dogs into the Alpine mountains, they began to mix with them and almost disappeared completely. Cynologists believed that there were no pure Alpine Shepherd Dogs in the world, however, several representatives were found in a remote area.

In 1947, work began on the restoration of the breed, and now the Alpine Shepherd Dogs again exist in sufficient numbers. The breed standard was drawn up in the 1960s, but the FCI did not accept the breed. The dog is of medium size, strong and strong bones. Any color is acceptable, but white is impossible, only spots. Most often, the color is two-tone or black and tan.

The ears should hang, the breed does not have erect ears. Paws are very powerful, strong, strong. They reach 55 cm in height, weighing from 20 to 30 kg. The tail is rather long, hangs down, does not lie on the back, does not curl into a "ball".

This breed has a great temperament.It is easy for them to get along with every household member, however, they obey only the one they have appointed as the leader. They love children very much, even small ones, and take great care of them. They can get along even with a cat, but only with the one who lives with them in the house. Alpine shepherd it is not typical to rush at people, however, she will meet strangers or unfamiliar with suspicion.

Another distinctive feature of the animal is its lightning-fast reaction. The Alpine Shepherd Dog is always vigilant, attentive, reacts to changes in the environment extremely quickly. Even in those moments when the dog is supposedly relaxed and does not pay attention to what is happening, it is alert and ready to react at any time.

The Savoy Shepherd is a wayward and a bit stubborn dog. That is why, raising her, one should not show weakness. Only firmness and perseverance will help convince the dog that you are in charge. You cannot shout, let alone punish her physically during upbringing. This will lead to anger of the shepherd dog, resentment towards the owner. And she would never obey.

If a puppy or an adult dog has done something, it is enough to slightly raise your voice and scold him with the help of strict intonation and correctly chosen words... It is necessary to do this neatly, but seriously, thoughtfully, otherwise, after a short time, the pet will repeat its trick. Be persistent, don't lose your presence of mind, and be patient.

Puppies and growing dogs love to be naughty, like any kids. This does not mean that you have to accept their antics, but it is not worth punishing too severely.

Taking care of dogs is pretty simple. Despite the presence of long hair, it is enough to comb them. Bathing will be required about 2 times a year, not more often, unless the dog is very dirty.

In principle, the wool of the Savoy Shepherd Dogs is not heavily contaminated, since the breed has lived in the open air since ancient times and has learned to regulate the purity of the coat. Since the breed has retained its purity since ancient times, she is distinguished by excellent health, no genetic diseases are unusual for her.

The cleanliness of the ears and eyes should be checked as needed. There is no need to cut the claws, nor do the hair between the toes. In general, Alpine Shepherd Dogs do not need a haircut of anything.

Keeping a dog in an apartment is difficult, as in loneliness and in a confined space, she begins to misbehave. Best of all, she will be in a private house with a fenced yard, where she can run freely. The Savoy Shepherd Dog tolerates cold well, which is why it can live in a warm and windproof booth.

In no case should you keep her on a chain or in an aviary, this contradicts her freedom-loving nature (this applies, in fact, to all dogs). The breed needs a lot of movement.

Alpine Shepherd Dog does not need leisurely walks, but a full load.

Since there are very few nurseries of this shepherd breed in Russia and Europe, it will not be easy to find the desired puppy. It is best to contact the dog breeders' clubs, where they will help you in your search. Visiting exhibitions is also a good option. As a rule, there are dogs with pedigree. Having seen a representative of the breed, you can approach the owner and find out if he has puppies (or, maybe, are expected).

Finding a puppy on the Internet is a lottery... Unfortunately, not all owners are conscientious, and buying "from hand" is a very dangerous business.

The cost of a Savoy Shepherd puppy is $ 200-400. You need to understand that the breed has not yet received the recognition of the world community of dog handlers, so there is no need to talk about compliance with the breed standard or excellent pedigree.

You can get to know better and watch the work of the Alpine Shepherd Dog in the following video.