Alpine (Savoy) Sheepdog - a dog created for work. Perhaps the word “shepherd” gives the majority an association of “German,” but this is not so. There are a great many varieties of shepherd dogs, and even the charming short-legged Corgi breed, so beloved by Queen Elizabeth II, also belongs to the shepherd family. Alpine shepherd belongs to another "direction".
She is a wonderful guard, watchman, protector. However, an inexperienced dog breeder simply can not cope with such a strong and obstinate dog, and now we will find out why.
Breed history
The breed appeared many centuries ago, its representatives were excellent shepherds, could "lead" a large herd. Thanks to their tremendous power, they even managed 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. Dog handlers believed that there were no pure alpine shepherds in the world, however, several representatives were found in a remote area.
In 1947, work began on the restoration of the breed, and now Alpine shepherds re-exist in sufficient quantities. The breed standard was made in the 1960s, but the breed was not accepted in FCI. The dog is medium in size, powerful and strong skeleton. Any color is acceptable, but white is not possible, only spots. Most often, the color is two-tone or black with tan.
Ears should hang, standing ears of the breed do not exist. Paws are very powerful, strong, strong. They reach a height of 55 cm, weighing from 20 to 30 kg. The tail is quite long, hangs down, does not lie on the back, does not curl up in the “fist”.
Character
This breed has an excellent character.It is easy for them to get along with every household, however, they obey only the one who was appointed leader. They are very fond of children, 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 dog it is not peculiar to rush at people, however, she will meet suspiciously unfamiliar or unfamiliar people.
She is a great watchman, but she needs to be educated and socialized from the first months of her life. Only experienced dog breeders can do this.
Another distinctive property of the animal is its lightning-fast reaction. The alpine shepherd always remains vigilant, attentive, reacts very quickly to changes in the situation. Even in those moments when the dog is supposedly relaxed and does not pay attention to what is happening, she is alert and ready to react at any time.
How to educate?
Savoy Sheepdog - dog wayward and a little stubborn. That is why, raising it, one cannot show weakness. Only firmness and perseverance will help to convince the dog that you are the main one. Neither screaming, much less punishing her physically during parenting is impossible. This will lead to bitterness of the shepherd, resentment of the owner. And she would never obey.
To beat an alpine shepherd dog means to ruin it. The dog, which was subjected to physical punishment, will not guard either the owner or his family.
If a puppy or adult dog has done something, it is enough to slightly raise the voice and, using strict intonation and correctly selected words, scold it. You need to do it kindly, but seriously, thoughtfully, otherwise, after a short time, the pet will repeat its trick. Be persistent, do not lose your presence of mind and be patient.
Puppies and growing dogs like to play pranks, like any kids. This does not mean that you need to put up with their antics, but too strict punishment is not worth it.
How to care and where to keep?
Caring for dogs is quite 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, except in cases where the dog is very dirty.
In principle, the hair of the Savoy shepherd does not become heavily contaminated, since the breed has lived in the fresh air since ancient times and learned how to regulate the purity of the coat. Since the breed has maintained its purity since ancient times, she is distinguished by excellent health, no genetic diseases are unusual for her.
Ear and eye cleanliness should be checked as necessary. Claws do not need to be cut, the hair between the fingers is also not necessary. In general, alpine shepherds do not need to cut anything.
Keeping a dog in an apartment is difficult, because in loneliness and in a confined space, she begins to disorderly. Best of all, she will be in a private house with a fenced yard, where she can run around freely. The Savoy shepherd tolerates cold well, which is why it can live in a warm and windproof booth.
In no case can she be kept on a chain or in an aviary, this contradicts her freedom-loving nature (this applies, in fact, to all dogs). Representatives of the breed need a lot of movement.
Therefore, if it is not possible to provide her with independent walks and runs through the territory, it is better to have another breed.
An alpine shepherd dog needs some leisurely walks, but a full load.
Where to buy a puppy?
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 assist you in the search. Also a good option is visiting exhibitions. There, as a rule, dogs with a pedigree perform. Seeing the representative of the breed, you can go to the owner and find out if he has puppies (or maybe expected).
Searching for a puppy over the Internet is a lottery. Unfortunately, not all owners are conscientious, and buying “on hand” is a very dangerous business.
Before acquiring a puppy (of any breed), check the information about the kennel or breeder from whom you intend to make a purchase, how conscientious, honest he is, what kind of pedigree his dogs have.
The cost of a Savoy shepherd puppy is 200-400 dollars. It must be understood that the breed has not yet received recognition from the international community of dog handlers, so there is no need to talk about compliance with the breed standard or an excellent pedigree.
You can get to know closer and watch the work of the Alpine Shepherd in the next video.
