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Greater Swiss mountain dog

The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is the largest and oldest of the four Swiss Sennenhund breeds, used as a draught and drover dog on Alpine farms.

It was thought extinct by the early twentieth century and was rediscovered in 1908 when a single dog was shown to a Swiss cynologist.

It stands 60 to 72 centimetres, weighs 38 to 70 kilograms and lives eight to eleven years, with a short tricolour double coat. It is calm, steady and affectionate, and remarkably strong — Swissies were pulling carts to market within living memory. The short lifespan and the risk of two abdominal emergencies are the things a prospective owner most needs to know.

Origin
Switzerland; the largest and oldest Sennenhund
Size
60–72 cm; 38–70 kg
Lifespan
8–11 years
Coat
Short tricolour double coat; sheds heavily
Temperament
Calm, steady, affectionate and very strong
Health
Bloat and splenic torsion, hip and elbow dysplasia, epilepsy

Related: Bavarian mountain scent hound · Bernese mountain dog · Entlebucher mountain dog · Estrela mountain dog

3 greater swiss mountain dog photos of 2 dogs, newest first

  • Heidi, a greater swiss mountain dog

    Heidi

    Heidi stops in the middle of the bridge every single time, because that is where the view is.

    FrostyOtter · 5 days ago

  • Bergamot, a greater swiss mountain dog

    Bergamot

    Bergamot was promoted to scientist monitoring a bubbling but harmless experiment; unfortunately, a clockwork train misses the platform.

    FrostyOtter · 1 week ago

Living with a greater swiss mountain dog

Learn the signs of bloat and act immediately: unproductive retching, a swelling abdomen, restlessness and pacing. Greater Swiss are also prone to splenic torsion, which presents similarly and is equally urgent. Both kill within hours without surgery, and many owners elect preventive gastropexy at neutering.

Grow puppies slowly on a large-breed diet; rapid growth in a giant breed causes lasting joint disease.

Ask for hip and elbow scores and about epilepsy in the lines.

They are strong enough to pull an adult over. Lead training from puppyhood is essential while they are still liftable.

They enjoy carting and drafting work. The short coat sheds far more than it looks like it should.

General guidance, not veterinary advice. Individual dogs vary, and anything about a specific animal is a question for a vet who has seen it.

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