About the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is one of the rarest dog breeds in the world. One of the four original breeds hailing from small villages in the Swiss Alps, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog has been used as a drover and guardian for decades. This large, gentle breed was nearly extinct at the beginning of the 20th century, although careful breeding has brought its population numbers back.

  1. History

    • Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs is the largest of the Sennenhund breeds developed in Switzerland. The Sennenhund breeds, which also includes the Entlebuch cattle dog, Appenzell cattle dog, Entlebuch cattle dog, and Bernese Mountain Dog are thought to be descendants of Roman mossler-type war dogs more than 2,000 years old. The modern Greater Swiss Mountain Dog was discovered at a dog show in 1908. Enthusiasts of the breed came together and bred their dogs to increase the population and save the rare breed from extinction.

    Identification

    • A large dog with a rich tri-colored coat, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is easy to spot in a crowd. Standing between 25 and 28 inches tall and weighing more than 140 pounds, this breed is noted for having a gentle disposition and strong work ethic. The coat of the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is short and soft, with a predominantly black base and white and tan highlights along the face and chest.

    Function

    • Farmers in the Swiss Alps bred the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog as a drover and draft breed. These intelligent dogs still used to drive cattle and sheep today and a single dog can maintain a whole herd or flock with minimal effort. The sturdy body structure of the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog also makes it an acceptable draft breed, often pulling feed and supplies in small carts through the small Alpine villages of its homeland.

    Types

    • Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are still a relatively rare breed around the world, although two main types of this dog do exist. The first type of Geater Swiss Mountain Dog is the show-lined dog, which have been slightly refined for the dog show ring. Working-lined Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are normally bred by farmers and have maintained the traditional large, heavy body type necessary in an active working dog.

    Warning

    • While the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is normally a gentle breed, they are not a breed for novice dog owners. Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are highly intelligent and can pick up bad habits to amuse themselves if not properly trained. The large size of this breed also makes them prone to health concerns such as dysplasia and bloat, so only tested and cleared stock should be bred to prevent passing on these genetic conditions.