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Greater
Swiss Mountain Dog - dog breed
If you
are a
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog owner,
and you would like your pet's picture displayed
here, e-mail us at breedprofiles@pets.ca.
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Dog breed group |
Working
Dog |
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Origin of breed |
Switzerland
to pull farmers' carts. |
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Life expectancy |
10
to 12 years |
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Color |
Black
with bright, symmetrical russet and white markings. |
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Coat type |
Stiff
and Short |
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Exercise needs |
Needs
regular exercise and plenty of wide open spaces to enjoy a free
run. |
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Temperament |
Bold, faithful, willing worker. Alert and vigilant. The Greater
Swiss Mountain dog is eager to work and loves farm chores such
as pulling carts and sleds and children. |
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Good with children |
They
make an excellent family dog, with a sense of duty to its family
and home. Makes a good watchdog. |
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Grooming needs |
Regular grooming of his coat is required with a bristle brush.
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Average size (inches) |
23.5
- 28.5
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23.5
- 28.5
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Average weight (lbs) |
130
- 135
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130
- 135
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Health issues |
Hip dysplasia, eye problems. |
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Living conditions |
More suited to
country living than city life. |
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Dog
breed description
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The Greater Swiss Mountain
Dog is considered the oldest of the Swiss breeds and was instrumental
in the early development of both the St. Bernard and the Rottweiler.
There are several theories regarding the ancient origins of the Swiss
Sennenhund breeds. The most popular theory states the dogs are descended
from the Mollasian, a large Mastiff-type dog that accompanied the Roman
Legions on their invasion of the Alps in the 1st century BC However,
a second theory holds that the Phoenicians (c. 1100 BC) brought a large
breed of dog with them to settlements in Spain, and that these dogs
later migrated eastward to influence the development of the Spanish
Mastiff, Great Pyrenees, Dogue de Bordeaux, and eventually the large
Swiss breeds. Yet a third possibility is that a large breed was indigenous
to central Europe as far back as the Neolithic period. Whether or not
a large breed was already in existence at the time of the Roman invasion
of the Alpine regions, it seems clear that the Roman dogs would have
been bred with these dogs. As a result, several breeds, including the
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, St. Bernard, and Bernese Mountain Dog, are
largely descended from the Roman Mollasian.
The breed was rediscovered
earlier in this century by Franz Schertenlieb and is a probable descendent
of the great Roman mastiffs. Franz Schertenlieb took his discovery to
Albert Heim who had thought this breed extinct. Everyone worked together
and until the 1930s used dogs without pedigrees so long as they were
a true reflection of the breed with required characteristics.
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Dog
breed infobits |
It
is also known as the Grosser Schweizer, Sennenhund, and Great Swiss Cattle
Dog
The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog also doubles as a good watchdog and has
a marvelously throaty, deep-sounding bark. |
Disclaimer:
Pets.ca cannot be responsible for the accuracy of the above
presented information.
Please double check all information prior to making any decisions about purchasing
this or any breed.
If you think we have made an error with some of the information presented here,
please e-mail us at breedprofiles@pets.ca
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