Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

Thousands of years ago, when the Romans ventured into Switzerland their Mastiff-type canines accompanied them. As a result of these dogs’ invasion of the local dog population, we now have the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, an impressive and strong shorthaired pup. Once thought to have become extinct, the Swissy was an indispensable worker for hundreds of years herding livestock, keeping watch on property and even hauling carts.

As modern technology has caused the Great Swiss to be gradually displaced from its work, it is now largely known as a beloved companion. Its character is calm and self-assured yet cheerful, making it an excellent fit for families with children given its considerate nature. The breed also exhibits guarding instincts that enable them to aggressively protect themselves or their loved ones if necessary; however, they are generally quite open-minded towards outsiders.

With a delightful combination of athleticism and agility, the giant breed is perfect for farm work. This dedicated worker can even pull carts with its immense strength; it has been called “the poor man’s horse”. To maintain good health, this pup needs plenty of outdoor exercise and space—not ideal for city living. Distantly related to their cousins like the Bernese Mountain Dog and Saint Bernard but much healthier, these dogs make an excellent companion! Like other breeds with imposing size, the life expectancy of the Swissy is typically only 8-10 years.

The Switzerland has four distinct mountain dog breeds (Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, Entlebucher, Bernese Mountain Dog, and Appenzeller Sennenhund), with the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog being the largest of them all. It takes 4 to 5 years before this giant breed reaches its full maturity – males weight between 105 and 140 pounds whereas females between 85 to 110! This size was necessary in order to pull carts loaded with dairy products like milk and cheese.

If you are looking to bring a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog puppy into your home, be prepared for plenty of work. These puppies have voracious appetites for chewing and their large size can cause more destruction than other breeds may do. Items such as socks and dish towels have been known to get ingested, leading to emergency trips the vet or even surgery if an intestinal blockage occurs. Carefully research where you go to find him and make sure that once he is part of your family, ample time has been set aside in order to properly train him and socialize with other people or animals.

The Swissy is a wonderfully versatile breed that fits easily into any lifestyle; they are content with moderate amounts of exercise, such as one long walk per day or multiple short walks. Remember to avoid strenuous activity when it’s hot outside! The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog also thrives in activities like agility, carting, herding, obedience training and tracking competitions – even therapy work. Their kind nature makes them perfect for helping others feel comforted and supported.

With their convenient short coats, Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are easy to groom. Give them a weekly brush, especially during shedding season for ultimate hair control. To keep your Swissy’s beautiful tricolor coat shining and healthy, clean their ears as needed and trim their nails regularly. When it gets dirty or messy outside, don’t forget to give that furry friend of yours a good bath!