Greater Swiss Mountain Dog - Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Temperament

The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a sociable, active, yet calm and dignified dog, and loves being part of the family. These dogs are fiercely loyal and protective of their family, and make good watchdogs. The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is well suited to family life, but does need plenty of room to exercise. He can be stubborn and determined, and is best suited to those with some experience of dog ownership. With a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog you will have a loyal and loving family pet that is devoted to his loved ones, and is eager to please. The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is an intelligent breed and is a quick learner. However, he can be difficult to housebreak, and tends to try and eat just about anything, edible or not.

The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog gets along well with children, and is both devoted to them and protective of them. However, the giant size of the breed may make life difficult of you have very small children in the household. If you have pets then early socialization is important - some Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs will get along well with other pets, but others may chase smaller animals, and some can be dog aggressive with strange dogs. With strangers the reaction can vary too depending on the personality of the individual dog, and whereas some may be friendly others may be reserved or even aggressive.
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Appearance

The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a giant breed, and has a sturdy and athletic body with good muscle tone. The coat of the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is short, hard, and close fitting, and the coloring of the coat is black with white and rust markings. The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog has a wise and dignified expression. The weight of these dogs is around 90-110 pounds for females and 105-130 pounds for males. The height is around 23-27 inches for females and 25-29 inches for males.
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Grooming

When it comes to grooming the coat of the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog simply needs to be brushed once weekly, although you will have to brush more often if he is shedding more heavily. These dogs are medium shedders, and shed more heavily on a seasonal basis, which means that they may not be best suited to those with allergies.
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Health Problems and Life Expectancy

The life expectancy of the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is around 8-10 years, and there are various health problems and disorders that are linked to the breed. This includes bloat and torsion, OCD, HD, thyroid problems, spleen problems, digestive problems, and eyelid disorders. The parents of the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog should have OFA and CERF certificates.
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog History

The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog originates from Switzerland, and is a descendant of the Roman Mastiffs. He was developed to be a guard dog, a pack dog, and to pull carts on farms. The breed was registered with the AKC in 1995.

# AKAGrosser Schweizer Sennenhund, Great Swiss Cattle Dog
# SizeGiant
# Ease of trainingMedium
# GroomingLow
# SheddingMedium (seasonal)
# Exercise neededDaily walk
# Energy levelMedium
# ProtectionHigh
# Good with childrenYes
# Health clearancesOFA, CERF
# Popularity97/155