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| Welcome to the
Alki Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Information Pages. There is specific information about the History of the breed, Diet, Vaccines and the
Official AKC Breed Standard for the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. All
the information about the Breed, except the AKC breed standard, is based
on
my personal experiences of the last decade and my serious involvement in the
breed. The last 30-something years (10+ years in each of the other 3 breeds
included) have contributed to my opinions and are the foundation of my understandings. I believe that this is
good information and important if you're considering adding a Swissy to your home. Temperament, Training, Exercise, Socialization and Questions often asked to be added soon. Please, be patient, as I am continuing to develop this site. Feel free to call for more info. |
In Brief:
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The Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs is new
to the AKC but is an ancient breed that originated in
Switzerland as a draft dog and cattle drover on Swiss farms and
still possesses the natural abilities that made them essential
on these small dairy farms as working farm dogs before the
industrial revolution.
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They are descended from the ancient Roman Molosser Dogs. As the industrial age progressed, the breed fell into disfavor for its need as a working dog, and was almost extinct by the early 1900's. The Grosser Schweizer Sennenhund was recognized at a dog show in 1908 and the preservation of the breed began. The breed has steadily grown in popularity achieving AKC recognition in 1995.
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Temperament, health, structure,
socialization and training all play significant parts in
preserving this wonderful breed's good qualities.
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In the old country, they were the poor man's horse; pulling
freight wagons that weighed up to 800 pounds, moving dairy and
beef cattle and protecting farm and family...today, they should
still be physically and mentally capable of performing these
tasks.
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As adults, they should be large, stable and willing to work.
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They get large quickly, are slow to mature and, as young
juveniles, must be managed carefully to avoid bloat, OCD or
other joint difficulties. They are mentally and physically
immature for a long period of time, often making them slow to
housebreak and appear stubborn.
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They should be kept trim and need training and exercise daily.
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They are extremely fond, desiring a strong bond with their
owners, responding well to a 'firm but kind' training approach.
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The Swissy does not respond well to abuse, but as a working
breed, needs a 'leader' within it's household. Obedience
training, with a firm, but gentle approach is essential for this
breed's proper temperamental development.
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They are often hard to housebreak and requires socialization and
training to mature into stable and versatile adults.
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They are expected to be energetic and physically capable of
performing their original functions as working farm dogs.
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They are also effective as watch dogs, loudly barking and
standing their ground, to protect their families and property.
Their true nature is that of a dog who is friendly, confident,
outgoing and companionable, noting that they should never be
aggressive or extremely shy.
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Most specimens stand 25 1/2 inches to
28 1/2 inches at the highest point of the shoulder for males. 23
1/2 to 27 inches for females.
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Weight can vary from 100 to 135 for
males and 85 to 110 for females.
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The coat is a tri-colored black base
coat, with rust and white markings. The undercoat is ideally
grey to black.
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About Diet | Recommended diet for Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs | | About Vaccines | Recommended vaccines and when to administer them |
| Breed History and Function | The origin of the Breed, it's development and function. All important to the understanding the nature of the GSMD today. | | | | | | |
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