FCI Group 2. Not recognized by AKC. County of origin: Switzerland. In 1853 an Appenzeller Mountain Dog (also know as a Sennenhund) was first described in the book "Tierleben der Alpenwelt" (Animal Life in the Alps) as "...a clearly barking, short haired, medium size, multicolour cattledog of a quite even Spitz type, which can be found in certain regions and is used partly to guard the homestead, partly to herd cattle." Today it is a versatile working and family dog.