Return to Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Directory
The Greater Swiss
Mountain Dog is a very uncommon type of dog. Serious consideration
should be given to one's lifestyle, expectations, the personalities involved,
and family situation before choosing this breed as a life time family member.
The Swissy is a large, powerful, willful, working breed. As such,
if there is any question as to who the dominant members of the family are,
the Swissy will fill any void of doubt. If the family or owner cannot
control the dog as a puppy, how is the situation going to improve when
the puppy turns into an 85 to 140 pound dog, who is not even fully mature
until it is about 3 years old?
The Swissy is not a mean dog, it is very even
tempered. It is energetic and loves to have a job to do If
there is any such thing as a workaholic in the canine world, this breed
certainly fills the bill. For the most part this breed is calm, but
alert and protective of its family. This is not a "backyard" dog,
if there is any such thing, this breed needs to be near and part of the
family's activities. A well bred Swissy is never aggressive, nor displays
nervousness. However, let it be known that it is intelligent, incredibly
strong, and likes to be in control of situations, in other words, dominant.
The owner(s) must have confidence in his/her ability to train and control
this breed. Obedience training and socialization is imperative, the
puppy needs to be starting at a young age, preferably from 8 weeks old
on.
For those of you who think that obedience
training is an option, not a requirement. It is important to realize
that a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is capable of pulling thousands
of
pounds(this is not a typographical error). Now you want to take an
untrained Swissy for a walk on its leash. Call the newspapers before
you leave, they will want pictures of this. Force and fear is not
an effective training tool with this breed. If you think you are
going to pit yourself against this dog and win, you are in for some surprise
and disappointment. It will be far easier to convince the Swissy
that it is fun to obey you, that cooperation is desired and rewarded.
Socialization is not just the dog getting
to know the immediate family members. It is desirable to have a dog
that is tolerant and trustworthy of being in crowds, around other pets,
and children. Socialization is the dog being able to handle unusual
situations without getting nervous or aggressive. You, the owner,
must be able to predict how your dog is going to react to situations, and
anticipate reactions. The owner needs to know the dog. This
comes from being a part of the training and working with your dog every
day. The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog must be a part of your
life, and you must be a part of his.
The Swissy will need to have a rural or suburban
environment in which to live. This breed does not do well in an apartment,
or city. Confinement in a bathroom or kennel is not acceptable to
these dogs and they are imaginative in the way that they express themselves.
They will bark at anything that is unfamiliar that enters their universe.
Sometimes they will bark when there is nothing apparent to bark at.
Never, ever leave a small child, or children,
alone with a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. The Swissy loves his family,
and is a very devoted canine, but, we are dealing with a dominance issue.
This is a working breed, a large dog, and a dog that herds. The Swissy
does not always recognize a small child as its superior. The dog
may try to herd the child, or children, especially if they start to rough
house, or do a lot of screaming or yelling. The size of this dog
is such that an accident will happen and one of the children will get hurt.
Then a whole new set of problems are incurred.
These dogs will need a large fenced in yard
for a little self exercise. This is not enough, though, to keep a
Swissy in good healthy condition. A daily walk is necessary to maintain
an adult dog in good muscle tone and weight. We are talking two to
three miles for the adult dog. The Swissy is not known as a jogger's
dog, being a large dog with large bones, jogging may be too strenuous on
the dog's joints. Some GSMDs like to swim, others hate to get their
paws wet.
Potential owners of a Greater Swiss Mountain
Dog may want to work with their dog on some of the performance events that
are available now through the GSMDCA(Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club of
America), and/or AKC, or some other registry service. Some of these
activities include: herding, tracking, weight pull, cart, pack, obedience,
agility, therapy assistance, and search and rescue. Through the GSMDCA
there are available versatility titles that the dog can earn recognition
for its achievements.
Some interesting FAQS about the Swissy:
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