Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog adult
BISS Ch TreeNSea's Hyde Park Rudy
"Rudy"

Considered to be the oldest of the Swiss mountain breeds, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog descended from Mastiffs that came to Switzerland with the Romans.

The "Swissy" was bred to help farmers transport goods to market, drive cattle, guard livestock and pull carts. He was also used to track, and as a rescue dog.

This is the largest of the four Swiss mountain dogs, standing up to 28 1/2 inches tall at the shoulder, and weighing up to 140 pounds. The Swissy has a dense, thick, short, weather-resistant double coat with distinctive tri-color markings. He is black with white and tan trim on the face, chest, feet, and tail. The undercoat is subject to significant seasonal shedding. Swissys do not tolerate heat well and need to be protected from excessive heat.

An easy going, obedient, even-tempered dog, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog loves children and makes an excellent watch dog. The affectionate Swissy needs to be part of the family unit. Generally he enjoys other dogs and may tolerate cats if socialized properly. He is fun loving, bold and natural comedian! He does very well in obedience training and should be trained and socialized from an early age. He's a large, powerful, strong-willed dog who is a little slower to mature mentally and physically and requires the guiding hand of a consistent, patient, and loving owner. Swissys need a strong leader whom they can respect.

Although the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a large breed, he is not considered one of the more active breeds. The Swissy's exercise needs can be easily met if he has a field or yard in which to run and play. Alert and surprisingly agile, the Swissy loves to have a job to do. Once he has matured physically, he will enjoy hiking, carting, herding, weight pulling, and backpacking.

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