The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog originates from Switzerland dating back to ancient times. It is believed by some to be a descendent of
Molossian dogs owned by Julius Caesar. Although near extinction in the 19th century, its numbers slowly started to increase because of a breeding
program begun under the direction of Albert Heim and Franz Schertenlieb. Popularity of this breed was slow in building,
hampered in part by the turmoil of two world wars in Europe during the twentieth century.
The Greater Swiss was introduced into North America in the late 1960's and received full AKC recognition in 1995. Although a fairly large dog, it makes a very good and devoted family companion.
| Origin |
Switzerland - antiquity |
| Original Use |
The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog had a variety of uses in the past, including guard dog, draft animal, and cattle protector. |
| Use Today |
Today it is mainly a companion. |
| Temperament |
The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is even tempered, intelligent, quiet and gentle. It is very sensitive and responsive to its master. It makes a great family dog. |
| Acceptance of: |
Other Dogs - Not very accepting |
| Other Pets - Very good |
| Strangers - It is not very accepting of strangers; rather it is usually quite suspicious of them. |
| Children - Good
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| Watchdog Ability |
It is very territorial and makes an excellent watchdog. |
| Guard dog Ability |
Good. |
| Ease of Training |
Very Good |
| Living Conditions |
It is content to live outdoors in most temperate to cool climates. It does not do well in hot or hot humid climates. It requires a lot of space for exercise and movement, and is not suited to urban living. It prefers to stay in close contact with its family. |
| Exercise |
As you would expect with a dog of this size, it requires a lot of daily exercise. It enjoys long walks, jogs, and pulling. |
| Coat |
It has a thick, short, glossy coat. |
| Grooming |
Requires brushing on a weekly basis. |
| Colors |
The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is black with white on its chest, face, paws, and the tip of its tail. It always has tan markings on its face, legs, and sometimes on its chest. The color scheme of black, white, and tan is similar to that of its relative, the Bernese Mountain dog. An easy way to remember the difference is that the Bernese Mountain dog has a long luxurious coat. |
| Height and Weight |
Weight range for females is 85 to 110 pounds (38.6 to 50 kg) while the weight range for males is 100 to 140 pounds (45.4 to 63.5 kg). The height range is 23 to 29 inches (58.4 to 73.7 cm). Variations may occur in individual animals. |
| Life Expectancy |
10 to 12 years. |
| Group |
The AKC places the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog in the Working group. |
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