Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

The largest of the four Swiss Mountain breeds (or Sennenhunds), the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog has the typical black, tan and white colors of the Swiss Mountain Breeds.

History:

This breed originated in Switzerland nearly 1500 years ago. It was originally used to pull small carts and as a general purpose farm dog. However, by the mid-1800s the breed's popularity had declined markedly and it almost vanished. To revive the breed, the few purebred individuals remaining were crossed with Smooth-Coated St. Bernards. The breed is now once again well-established and was introduced into the US in 1968; it is also found in the UK and Canada.

Physical characteristics:

Not a purpose-built dog, this breed has no outstanding physical characteristics, and is built for the all-purpose life that it lives. Height: 24 - 28 in (61 - 71 cm). Weight: 80 - 130 lb (36 - 59 kg); this is a relatively bulky dog for its height. The head is broad with a relatively short muzzle that is nevertheless broad and deep. The brown eyes are almond-shaped and give the dog a kindly, intelligent expression. The ears, which are moderate and roughly triangular in shape, hang to the side of the head. The neck is short and strong and the chest is broad and deep. The back is straight and strong, and the long tapering tail is carried low, or flags behind during movement.

The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog has a short coat that is easy to groom. It is mainly black with characteristic tan and white markings in defined patterns. Tan occurs over the eyes, on the side of the muzzle, and on the legs. The white is found as a blaze between the eyes, around the nose (which is black) and on the chest, feet, and tip of the tail.

Behavior:

This large lovable bear of a dog is now mainly used as a companion animal. It usually has a gentle, almost benevolent nature. It is a great family dog, as it has the size to cope with the games of children and the gentleness to tolerate their sense of fun. This large dog should be well socialized with people when it is young, and should naturally not be left unattended with small children. The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog also doubles as a good watch-dog and has a marvelously throaty, deep-sounding bark. This dog will benefit from plenty of exercise.

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