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Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

Appearance

Gallery

Origin

Temperament

Training

Interesting facts

Appearance

Gallery

Origin

Temperament

Training

Interesting facts

Home

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

Appearance

Gallery

Origin

Temperament

Training

Interesting facts

Appearance

Gallery

Origin

Temperament

Training

Interesting facts

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

A lot about Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs becomes clear just from the name, for example, that they come from Switzerland and are quite large. The future owner should be prepared for the fact that these large dogs will not feel well in an apartment; the spacious conditions of a private house are better for them. Also, pay attention to their protective qualities, which need to be developed in the right direction.

FCI group:

Pinscher and Schnauzer - Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs

FCI section:

Swiss Mountain- and Cattledogs

Male

Female

Withers height

65-72

25.6-28.3

cminch

cm inch

Withers height

60-69

23.6-27.2

cminch

cm inch

weight

41-64

90.2-140.8

kglbs

kg lbs

weight

36-50

79.2-110

kglbs

kg lbs

life span

8-11 years

country of origin

fur length

Short

breed origin

Crossbreed

size

Large

Appearance

Representatives of this breed have a good, confident appearance, this can be seen in the large and wide chest, and heavy bones. Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs develop muscles well. At the same time, the paws should be slightly shorter than average, but muscular and strong. Thick durable neck. A large square face with massive jaws and ears hangs on the head's sides. The eyes are intelligent, almond-shaped, and dark in color. Long tail with elongated fur. By the way, Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs have a coat color according to the standard; it should be a combination of black, red, and white colors. The breed also comes in other colors which include blue, white, and tan tri-color; and red and white bi-color.

Eye colour

Fur colour

Ears

Eyes shape

Fur length

Fur type

Head shape

Tail

Eye colour

Fur colour

Ears

Eyes shape

Fur length

Fur type

Head shape

Tail

Gallery

View 12 more photos

Gallery

View 12 more photos

Origin

Representatives of this breed are considered one of the oldest Swiss breeds, it is believed that Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs were brought there by Roman legionnaires in the third century BC. These were not quite modern dogs, but rather their ancestors. Back then, locals used them as guards for their own houses or livestock. Some took them with them on hunting. By the way, now you can even meet them as shepherd dogs (so that you understand how versatile they are). In 1908, a famous researcher of dogs Albert Heim, who at that time was still a member of the Swiss Kennel Club, began to popularise dogs of this breed as much as possible, and already in 1909 Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs were recognized in Switzerland as an official breed.

Origin countries

Switzerland

Temperament

Even at first glance, representatives of this breed do not seem aggressive or angry, that's how it is. These are calm, balanced dogs that are also distinguished by their friendliness and openness. Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs will not be the first to get into a conflict, but if the situation requires protecting the owner or the home, it is better not to joke with them. In the family circle, they treat everyone with love, including children also with special patience and a sense of responsibility. Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs will always treat strangers with distrust and caution, but if they see that the owner trusts this person, they will act in the same way. They treat other pets completely calmly, even if it is a cat. Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are also very smart and clever, so they are ideal for guard functions (thanks to their undercoat, they can even live in a booth on the street), but these dogs should not be left alone for a long time, because they will miss their owner.

Behavior:

Loyal to owner

Friendly toward humans

Activity Level:

Active

Training

Dogs of this breed are very smart and clever, so by nature, Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs will need essential self-development and training. Their personality is formed for quite a long time, from two to three years, so it will be easy for them to form the right character. In training, in no case use aggressive or cruel methods, it is better to show patience and leadership qualities. From an early age, be sure to engage in behavior correction with the Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs and teach the basic commands to begin with.

Activity Level:

Active

Interesting facts

If you have allergies, it is better to stay away from Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs, because they are not a hypoallergenic breed.
Although Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are quite large and massive, they like to participate in various sports.
They are very resistant to various weather conditions, so you don't have to worry about the dog getting cold.
Some people even gave Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs a nickname: big good guys, because of their character.

Keeping conditions

Diet preferences

Grooming

Common health issues

Diet preferences

Grooming

Common health issues

These are rather large dogs that cannot stop themselves from eating and always overeat if you give them free access to food. Therefore, the owner should always monitor the dog's food intake, and if you do not understand something, it is better to consult a veterinarian. Remember that the diet should be updated as the dog grows, of course, it is always better to have a natural, fresh diet, which will include meat, meat offal, porridge, and cheese. Dry food should be selected specifically for the dog's characteristics, as well as a vitamin-mineral complex for a natural diet. In both cases, it is always necessary to ensure that the dog has free access to water.

Representatives of this breed do not need complicated or capricious hair care, it will only be enough to comb them once a week, you can bathe Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs in the same way, with the help of special shampoos, so as not to damage their skin. After walks, be sure to check the cleanliness of the ears and eyes, clean them with a cotton pad dipped in a special lotion. Claws can be trimmed as needed. Also, never forget to treat your Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs for parasites in time.

Grooming intencity:

Easy to groom

Unfortunately, Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs have a large list of diseases that should not be forgotten and it is better to know about all possible symptoms:

Hip dysplasia.

Dysplasia of the elbow joint.

Osteochondrosis.

Urinary incontinence.

Distichiasis.

Curling of the eyelid (entropion).

Epilepsy.

Stomach enlargement.

Tumours of the spleen. With such a large breed, it can be difficult to visit the vet often, but it should be done whenever possible and as often as possible.