These dogs are covered in double coats, featuring an undercoat that is thick and an outer coat that is dense. The coat is about 1-1.5 inches long. The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is incredibly animated, showing exactly how they feel in their facial expression and smile. Though it is easy to purchase a purebred puppy, many of these dogs are found in rescue shelters across the country.

The Best Wet Food for Senior Dogs for 2022

The 4 Best Dog Food for Allergies (Adult, Puppy, Senior)

The 5 Best Dog Water Fountains, We Checked

See all of our expert product reviews.

3 Pros and Cons of Owning a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

Much like all other dogs and pets in general, the dog also has some pros and cons. When adopting this breed, consider the following pros and cons to decide if this dog would be a suitable match for you.

button.pulse {
transform: scale(1); animation: pulse 2s infinite;
box-shadow: 0 0 0 0 rgba(11, 247, 25, 1);
}

@keyframes pulse {
0% { transform: scale(0.90); box-shadow: 0 0 0 0 rgba(11, 247, 25, 0.5); }
60% { transform: scale(1); box-shadow: 0 0 0 15px rgba(11, 247, 25, 0); }
100% { transform: scale(0.90); box-shadow: 0 0 0 0 rgba(11, 247, 25, 0); }
}

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Size and Weight

These dogs are usually large and bulky. The female is usually 23.5 to 27 inches long, reaching a weight of anywhere from 85 to 110 pounds. Meanwhile, the males are a little larger, measuring about 25.5 to 28.5 inches in length and 105 to 140 pounds in weight.

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Common Health Issues

These dogs are, like all the other living creatures, prone to a number of health issues. Many of the health concerns associated with this dog are related to their large size, genetics, and other factors.

Perhaps one of the most common ailments of the dog is dysplasia in the hips and elbows. Dysplasia is the abnormal growth in these joints, which causes limping and pain. Their bones are at an elevated risk of damage, which is only proven by their predisposition to orthopedic problems like panosteitis and osteochondritis dissecans.

Panosteitis is also called Shifting Leg Lameness or Pano, and it happens spontaneously. This dog grows quickly, which is part of the reason that they have a higher risk. The dog will end up with inflammation in their long bones on the legs, which can prevent them from moving around. It can happen in dogs as young as two months old.

Health and Entertainment for your Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

See all of our expert product reviews.

Osteochondritis dissecans has to be diagnosed with radiography, as it is nearly impossible to diagnose with symptoms. This condition essentially means that there’s improper development in the cartilage, and there’s the possibility of cracks and fissures. Some research suggests that breeders are trying to eliminate this condition from the breed’s genetic makeup.

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog can also suffer from eye diseases, gastric torsion (a twist in the gut), epilepsy (seizures in the brain), and urinary incontinence. Interestingly, female dogs are more prone to the latter than males.

Some of the problems that these dogs are prone to are:

• Hip Dysplasia
• Elbow Dysplasia
• Eye diseases
• Panosteitis
• Osteochondritis
• Gastric Torsion
• Epilepsy
• Urinary incontinence

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Temperament

These dogs, if properly trained, usually have a calm temperament. They are loyal and devoted to their owner families. However, maturity comes slow to these dogs and therefore it can often be tiring to deal with a large-sized puppy. Another dog that has this slow maturation is the Saint Bernard.

When these dogs are small puppies, they are very active. However, sometimes, they can get very mouthy, tending to nip at little children when they run and chase them.

The Greater Swiss mountain dogs are usually eager to please. As long as they are not provoked, this breed is excellent with the children of the family, thanks to their sweet and easy-going nature. These dogs tend to be very cautious and protective of the home. Luckily, this astute attention to their surroundings allows them to show their courageous side as a great watchdog.

How to Take Care of a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

Before you get your hands on a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog (as a puppy or adult), you need to make sure that you are prepared for the task ahead of you. Here are a few things that you would want and need to keep in mind before adopting a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog as a pet.

The Best Dog Food for Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs

On a daily basis, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog needs about four to five cups of high-quality dry dog food. Rather than allowing the pup to continually have access to food that they can graze on through the day, most experts advise to divide this into two separate meals for the dog.

Puppies are a different story. The puppies in this breed will need to have their food broken into 3 to 4 smaller meals in a day. The younger ones tend to have smaller stomachs, making smaller meals easier for them to digest.

A-Z Animals feels the best dog food for Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs is Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food Chicken with Shreds.

The high-protein formula is intended to nourish large dogs and their outsized nutritional needs. It’s made without artificial colors and flavors, so instead you’ll find chicken, beef ingredients, plus fish, a source of glucosamine for stable joints. You’ll also be relieved to find calcium phosphate to build and maintain strong bones. The rice adds natural fiber to the probiotics for easy digestion.

Consider adding Purina Pro Plan Large Breed dog food to your amazon cart.

Purina Pro Plan Joint Health Large Breed Dog Food, Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula – 34 lb. Bag

• One (1) 34 lb. Bag – Purina Pro Plan Joint Health Large Breed Dog Food, Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula
• Crunchy kibble combined with tender, shredded pieces for taste and texture dogs love. High protein formula, with real chicken as the first ingredient
• Fortified with guaranteed live probiotics for digestive and immune health. Used to be known as SAVOR Shredded Blend Large Breed Formula
• Glucosamine and EPA, an omega-3 fatty acid, for joint health and mobility. High level of protein, combined with proper exercise, helps promote muscle conditioning
• Natural prebiotic fiber nourishes specific intestinal bacteria for digestive health. 26 percent protein and 12 percent fat to maintain an ideal weight and body condition

Buy on Amazon

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Maintenance and Grooming

These dogs have double coats – one is thick, and one is dense. Brush it weekly to remove dead coat hair, but this brushing is rather easy and relaxing for you and your dog alike.

While these dogs do not drool as other breeds do, they shed a lot. In fact, they have so much fur that they shedding heavily during spring and fall months is fairly common, even with the more moderate temperatures. A shedding blade is incredibly useful to keep on hand (if you intend to do the grooming yourself).

Nail care is equally important. This dog’s nails can grow quickly, so you should trim their nails every week or two. Teeth should be brushed daily to maintain the health of the mouth and to prevent decay. Many products on the market make this part of their care easy, like treats that break down plaque.

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Training

While you can’t keep pushing your dog to train, these dogs shouldn’t be too resistant to it. They are willing to learn for the sake of pleasing their owner, so the best approach will be a training routine that comes with plenty of praise and positive reinforcement. This training will mean the difference between a disruptive dog and a housebroken, obedient dog.

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Exercise

These dogs require a moderate amount of exercise each day, so a home with a yard is their best friend. Even with outdoor exposure, it is best to bring this dog out on a long walk once or twice a day to get their body moving. Exercise is also an excellent way to reduce the risk of obesity, which can occur in dogs that don’t get enough physical activity or balance in their diet.

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Puppies

Bringing up and taking care of a puppy is similar to that of taking care of an adult. However, instead of two large meals, you would need to break their meals into at least three to four smaller meals so that the puppies could adjust easily and digest the food properly in their smaller stomachs.

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and Children

These dogs are great around children, maintaining a friendly personality that is devoted and loving towards their companions. They make great playmates, and they naturally take on the role of a careful and vigilant watchdog around the family. They will be extremely cautious to newcomers in the home, protecting their loved ones as needed. With the right training, this pup would be proud to defend their home.

Dogs Similar to Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs

Here are some dogs that are similar to these dogs:

• Bernese mountain dogs: These dogs are much like the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, and they are even mistaken for the same breed (on occasion). However, they have thicker coats and require much more grooming. They are also known to shed more.
• Appenzeller Sennenhund: These dogs are very energetic and serve as rescue dogs who show the way to the lost travelers and rescue them.
• Entlebucher Mountain Dogs: These dogs are also very closely related to the Bernese mountain dogs. They are alert and are often known as “laughing dogs.”

Famous Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs

Several famous celebrities own these dogs, like Sarah Michelle Gellar (of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer franchise and the Scooby Doo films).

These dogs have also been featured in a YouTube film called Pearl.

Popular Names for Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs

Here are some of the popular names for these dogs:

• Moose
• Bear
• Bella
• Charlie
• Luna

Last update on 2022-07-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

View all 115 animals that start with G