Greater Swiss Mountain

Life span : 7 to 9 years

Availability : Easy to get

About Greater swiss mountain
The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is considered one of Switzerland's oldest dog breeds. There are several theories as to the Swissy's origins. The most popular is that he's descended from large, Mastiff-like dogs that were brought to the Alps by invading Roman Legions.

The Swissy's ancestors served as herding, guard, and draft dogs. At one time the Swissy is thought to have been one of the most popular breeds in Switzerland. By the 1900s however, their numbers dwindled, probably because their traditional jobs on Swiss farms were taken over by other dog breeds or machines.

Heim lobbied to get the dogs recognized as a separate breed and, in 1909, the Swiss Kennel Club listed the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog (Grosser Schweizer Sennenhund) in the Swiss Stud Book.

Since then, the breed's popularity has grown slowly, but steadily. In 1968 the first Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs were brought to the U.S., and soon after, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club of America formed. The Swissy was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1995, as a member of the Working Group.

The Swissy's personality is gentle, alert, and fun loving. These aren't easygoing, pushover dogs, however; they're confident canines with their own ideas, and they can be stubborn at times. Because of their bold personality, Swissy dogs do best with owners who can be kind, yet confident, leaders.

Visits to Groomer-Low

Drooling-No

Bath-Rare

Tolerance to heat- Get a heatstroke

Tolerance to cold-Loves snow

Exercise Requirement-Lots

Under Coat-Yes

Colour- Tricolor (black, rust or tan, and white)

Coat Type- Thick

Hair Length-Flowing

Hair Density-Dense

Swissy dogs are generally healthy, but like all breeds, they're prone to certain health conditions. Not all Swissy dogs will get any or all of these diseases, but it's important to be aware of them if you're considering this breed.

Hip Dysplasia

Elbow Dysplasia

Osteochondrosis Dissecans (OCD)

Patellar Luxation

Gastric Torsion

Splenic Torsion

Cataracts

Distichiasis

Entropion

Panosteitis

Swissy Lick

Temperament
The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a happy, jovial breed who loves people and craves attention and physical contact. They can be the ideal family pet for some, but are not the breed for everyone. The Swissy makes an excellent watchdog. This is a suitable dog breed for kids. The Swissy makes an excellent watchdog. He looks intimidating, and he is naturally protective, alert, and aware.

Training & Intelligence
The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is considered to be a very intelligent dog. They like to please their owners. However, they can also be determined and stubborn at times.The Swissy can be hard to house train. They may understand the idea early in the training but it may take a while for them to follow through. Otherwise, the Swissy can be very good at obedience work, rally, agility and other kinds of dog activities.


Breeding
Litter Size- 6 to 10 puppies (approximately)

Complication in Breeding-No

Procreation
The Greater Swiss Mountain are a healthy and sturdy breed . Generally a dog takes around 18 months to reach his or her full height and structure. It is advisable to breed your dogs after at least two years of age. If you are a first timer at breeding then taking a vets help.