All Dogs Welcome

This is another of the gentle giants originally of the Mastiff or Molosser family of dogs. These beautiful dogs are heavy boned, well muscled, and of sturdy appearance.  Yet they are very agile for their size.  The GSMD has a gentle but animated expression.  Truly it has one of the most beautiful facial expression ever seen on a canine.  It has a large head with flat broad skull and strong muzzle ending with a dark black nose.  The chest is deep and broad with well defined ribs.  The Swissy movement is strong, balanced, and energetic.
But it is the coloring and markings of these dogs that make them stand out.  The overall topcoat is black with white and rust appearing in various places throughout the body.  These markings should be very symetrical with white typically appearing on the head and muzzle and can vary in length and width between dogs from a thin strip to a thick band down the blaze.  White also appears in an unbroken pattern from the throat to the chest, on all four feet and on the tip of the tail.  White patches are sometimes seen on the collar or neck.  Thr Rust coloring typically appears as a thumbprint over each eye, on each cheek and the undersides of the ears.  Rust also appears on both sides of the forechest, all four legs and under the tail.  Black remains the predominant color on the back, ears, tail and legs.

There are four varieities of Sennenhunde or Swiss Mountain dogs.  These are the Appenzeller, Entlebucher, Bernese and Greater Swiss Mountain Dog.  The GSMD is the oldest and largest of the four.  All four are believed to be descendants of the Roman Mastiff or Molossian dogs that were brought to the Swiss when the Romans crossed through Switzerland. Although it is also possible that these dogs arrived in Switzerland sometime in the 1100's after the Phoenicians brought them to Spain.  In either case these dogs spread throughout the european communities.  They bred with local dogs and developed regionally specific traits.  Yet the size, coloring and markings of the four breeds are so similar that until the late 1800's they were considered to be a single breed.  Professor A. Heim began studying the Swiss Mountain breeds and identified distinct differences that allowed them to be categorized as four separate and distinct breeds.  The Greater Swiss Mountain dog was dubbed as such and recognized in 1908.  Professor Heim noticed a short haired dog that had been entered in a Bernese Mountain Dog show.  He determined that it had significant differences from the Bernese and began to refer to it as the 'Greater Swiss Mountain Dog' based on its resemblence to the Swiss butcher's dog.  These dogs were originally kept as all purpose guard dogs and draft dogs for farmers and merchants.  The breed was not initially very popular and it's growth and development as a breed was slowed by both WWI and WWII.  Afterward the breed began to develop slowly.  But the efforts of Professor Heim combined with those of Franz Schertenlieb kept the breed from becoming extinct.  It is believed that the GSMD first arrived in the US in 1968 and that the first litter was born in 1970.  The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is believed to be a major contributor to the development of the Saint Bernard.

Though a very large and powerful dog remember that the Greater Swill Mountain Dog is considered one of the gentle giants originating from the Mastiff of Molloser type dogs of Rome. This is a  easy going breed with a stable personality. They are sensitive and gentle with children and other pets. While they will bark to alert you to a perceived threat they warm up to strangers quite easily.  

This breed is never aggressive if unprovoked. However they can be bold and territorial in defense of their people and property.  This animal is alert, fiercely loyal to its family, calm and eager to please.

Daily exercise such as a walk is necessary but the Swissy does not require 'hard play.'  However, this is a dog that likes to work and aims to please so activities such as hiking, carting, obedience trials, herding, and weight pulling, will keep your GSMD happy and healthy.
This breed is an average shedder and requires regular brushing and occassional bathing.

Experienced owners living an active lifestyle in either a rural or suburban environment.
This breed can live happily in an apartment if provided sufficient exercise and stimulation

All purebred dogs are more susceptible to certain health conditions while less susceptible to others.  It does not mean that your dog will or will not suffer from these or other conditions. 

• Lick fit is a term used to describe the frantic licking behavior often seen in the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. This behavior results in the dog licking anything from carpets, floors, walls and furniture — and eating anything including grass, leaves, and dirt.  It will also gulp air and swallow constantly. These actions make it obvious they are in severe gastrointestinal discomfort. Lick fits can be avoided by ensuring the dog never has an empty stomach. Feed him small, frequent meals and large dog biscuits as snacks in between meals.
  
• Like many large, deep-chested breeds the GSMD is inclined to bloat.  This is a condition that is caused by ingesting too much food or water too quickly or by strenuous activity or even stress shortly after eating.  This condition is life threatening and requires immediate medical condition.
• There are two types of eyelash issues which have been seen in this breed. The first, distichiasis, is a condition where extra eyelashes are present on the eyelid.  This can occur without any negative impact on the dog or it might cause irritation to the eye.  If the latter occurs treatment can consist of having a vet perform electrocautery or freezing the affected follicles.  The second type of eyelash irritation is known as Entropian.  This is a condition where the eyelid rolls in a way that causes the eyelashes to irritate the eye.  If this condition exists it will normally require surgery.  Once surgery has been performed the condition is not likely to recur. 
• Other conditions that are seen with a higher than average degree of occurring in this breed include hip dysplasia, urinary incontinence, and idiopathic epilepsy.    

AKC, Working
CKC, Mastiff
UKC, Guardian

ACR, AKC, APRI, CKC,  DRA, FCI, NAPR, NKC

View a list of designer and mixed breeds that are based on the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. 

View a list of Breed Specific Rescue organizations supporting the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog.