Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
The largest and oldest of the four Swiss mountain breeds, and a draft dog: it pulled milk carts. Slower to rouse than the Bernese and heavier when it does.
Overview
The Swissy is the largest and oldest of the four Swiss mountain dog breeds, a draught dog used to pull milk carts and to drive cattle. It was thought extinct by the early twentieth century and was rediscovered in 1908 when a single dog was shown to a judge who recognised the type.
It is short coated, unlike the Bernese, and considerably heavier, at eighty five to a hundred and forty pounds.
Temperament
Confident, gentle and boisterous. Swissies are affectionate with their families, good with children, and they are considerably more outgoing than a Bernese.
They are slow to mature, staying puppyish for two to three years, and in a dog this size that is a management issue. They are alert watchdogs with a deep bark and they can be pushy without training. They are not aggressive.
Care and grooming
A short double coat that needs weekly brushing and daily attention during the moults. Straightforward.
Hip and elbow dysplasia are common, and this breed has an unusually high bloat risk along with a related condition, splenic torsion. Epilepsy and urinary incontinence in females also occur. Eight to eleven years.
Living and exercise
An hour a day of moderate exercise as an adult, much less while growing.
They enjoy carting and weight pull, which is what they were built for. They overheat easily and need cool in summer, and they want to be with their family rather than outside alone.
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