Savoy Shepherd

History, origin & features

The Savoy Sheepdog has ancient origins. It was very early on used as a guard dog for herds of cows, thanks to its physical aptitudes and character, which are perfectly suited to life in the mountains. The breed owes its name to Swiss architect Miss Marcelle Bruder, who adopted a representative in 1947 while visiting the region. Thinking at first that she was dealing with a cross-breed, she later realized that it corresponded to a well-defined canine variety. So she named him “Berger de Savoie”, simply because she had found him in Savoie. The name “Berger des Alpes” came much later. Man has played only a tiny role in shaping the breed's characteristics, which are mainly the result of natural selection. Savoy Sheepdogs are medium to large-sized dogs of medium-line construction, with well-developed muscles and solid bones, but without heaviness. Coat: double (presence of undercoat combined with topcoat), short or medium-length, hard, thick and dense, lying close to the body. Color: black and tan or harlequin and tan, with white patches of varying intensity.
Head: medium-sized, well proportioned and in harmony with the body as a whole.
Ears: triangular, medium-sized, folded and drooping at the sides. They are slightly pricked at the base when the dog is attentive or in action.
Eyes: Clear, hazel or blue in the case of harlequin dogs, fairly large, with a gentle, even slightly sad gaze.
Body: Rectangular, with length greater than height at withers.
Tail: set medium high, carried curled like a sickle when the dog is attentive.