Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

These dogs are covered in double coats, featuring an undercoat that is thick and an outer coat that is dense. The coat is about 1 to 1.5 inches long. The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is incredibly animated, showing exactly how they feel in their facial expression and smile. Though it is easy to purchase a purebred puppy, Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are relatively rare in rescue shelters, but breed-specific rescues do exist for those seeking adoption.

History and Origin

The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, as well as other Swiss breeds, most likely developed from the introduction of the Molosser dogs, which were taken across parts of Europe by the Roman Legions. They may have already existed in some form before the Romans’ invasion, but that is unknown. Another line of thinking is that the Phoenicians carried with them a big dog breed to Spain around 1100 B.C., which might have moved westward towards the Swiss Alps.

This breed is the longest-lasting of the Swiss Sennenhund dogs and helped pave the way for the Rottweiler and St. Bernard breeds. They were known to have been utilized throughout central Europe by merchants and farmers for their great ability to pull loads for work. They were also used for simple tasks such as guarding. They were extremely popular in Switzerland until other means of transportation developed around the turn of the 20th century.

3 Pros and Cons of Ownership

Much like all other dogs and pets in general, the dog also has some pros and cons. When adopting this breed, consider the following pros and cons to decide if this dog would be a suitable match for you.

Size and Weight

These dogs are usually large and bulky. The female is usually 23.5 to 27 inches long, reaching a weight of anywhere from 85 to 110 pounds. Meanwhile, the males are a little larger, measuring about 25.5 to 28.5 inches in length and 105 to 140 pounds in weight.

Common Health Issues

These dogs are, like all other living creatures, prone to several health issues. Many of the health concerns associated with this dog are related to its large size, genetics, and other factors.

Perhaps one of the most common ailments of the dog is dysplasia in the hips and elbows. Dysplasia is the abnormal growth in these joints, which causes limping and pain. Their bones are at an elevated risk of damage, which is only proven by their predisposition to orthopedic problems like panosteitis and osteochondritis dissecans.

Panosteitis is also called Shifting Leg Lameness or Pano, and it happens spontaneously. This dog grows quickly, which is part of the reason that they have a higher risk. The dog will end up with inflammation in the long bones in the legs, which can prevent them from moving around. It can happen in dogs as young as two months old.

Osteochondritis dissecans has to be diagnosed with radiography, as it is nearly impossible to diagnose with symptoms. This condition essentially means that there’s improper development in the cartilage, and there’s the possibility of cracks and fissures. Some research suggests that breeders are trying to eliminate this condition from the breed’s genetic makeup.

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog can also suffer from eye diseases, gastric torsion (a twist in the gut), epilepsy (seizures in the brain), and urinary incontinence. Interestingly, female dogs are more prone to the latter than males.

Temperament

These dogs, if properly trained, usually have a calm temperament. They are loyal and devoted to their owners’ families. However, maturity comes slowly to these dogs, and therefore, it can often be tiring to deal with a large-sized puppy.

When these dogs are small puppies, they are very active. However, sometimes, they can get very mouthy, tending to nip at little children when they run and chase them.

The Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are usually eager to please. As long as they are not provoked, this breed is excellent with the children of the family, thanks to their sweet and easy-going nature. These dogs tend to be very cautious and protective of the home. Luckily, this astute attention to their surroundings allows them to show their courageous side as great watchdogs.

How to Take Care of One

Before you get your hands on a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog (as a puppy or adult), you need to make sure that you are prepared for the task ahead of you. Here are a few things that you would want and need to keep in mind before adopting a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog as a pet.

The Best Dog Food

Daily, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog needs about four to five cups of high-quality dry dog food. Rather than allowing the pup to continually have access to food that they can graze on through the day, most experts advise dividing this into two separate meals for the dog.

Puppies are a different story. The puppies in this breed will need to have their food broken into 3 to 4 smaller meals a day. The younger ones tend to have smaller stomachs, making smaller meals easier to digest.

Maintenance and Grooming

These dogs have double coats — one is thick, and one is dense. Brush it weekly to remove dead coat hair, but this brushing is rather easy and relaxing for you and your dog alike.

While these dogs do not drool as other breeds do, they shed a lot. In fact, they have so much fur that they shed heavily during spring and fall months, which is fairly common, even with the more moderate temperatures. A shedding blade is incredibly useful to keep on hand (if you intend to do the grooming yourself).

Nail care is equally important. This dog’s nails can grow quickly, so you should trim their nails every week or two. Teeth should be brushed daily to maintain the health of the mouth and to prevent decay. Many products on the market make this part of their care easy, like treats that break down plaque.

Training

While you can’t keep pushing your dog to train, these dogs shouldn’t be too resistant to it. They are willing to learn for the sake of pleasing their owner, so the best approach will be a training routine that comes with plenty of praise and positive reinforcement. This training will mean the difference between a disruptive dog and a housebroken, obedient dog.

Exercise

These dogs require a moderate amount of exercise each day, so a home with a yard is their best friend. Even with outdoor exposure, it is best to bring this dog out on a long walk once or twice a day to get its body moving. Exercise is also an excellent way to reduce the risk of obesity, which can occur in dogs that don’t get enough physical activity or balance in their diet.

Puppies

Bringing up and taking care of a puppy is similar to taking care of an adult. However, instead of two large meals, you would need to break their meals into at least three to four smaller meals so that the puppies could adjust easily and digest the food properly in their smaller stomachs.

With Children

These dogs are great around children, maintaining a friendly personality that is devoted and loving towards their companions. They make great playmates, and they naturally take on the role of a careful and vigilant watchdog around the family. They will be highly cautious of newcomers in the home, protecting their loved ones as needed. With the right training, this pup would be proud to defend its home.

Similar Dogs

Here are some dogs that are similar to these dogs:

• Bernese mountain dogs: These dogs are much like the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, and they are even mistaken for the same breed (on occasion). However, they have thicker coats and require much more grooming. They are also known to shed more.
• Appenzeller Sennenhund: These dogs are very energetic and serve as rescue dogs who show the way to lost travelers and rescue them.
• Entlebucher Mountain Dogs: These dogs are also very closely related to the Bernese Mountain Dogs. They are alert and are often known as “laughing dogs.”

Famous Examples

Several celebrities own these dogs, like Sarah Michelle Gellar of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer franchise and the Scooby Doo films. These dogs have also been featured in a YouTube film called Pearl.