Description
As the name suggests, the Great Swiss Mountain dog is the largest of the Swiss herding breeds and the heaviest in build. He shares the same origins as the Bernese and carries the typical tricolour markings but he has a short dense coat and is perhaps a little heavier in head.
The breed was used for herding cattle, as a guard dog and as a carting dog. Often working in pairs, the Great Swiss Mountain Dog was used for pulling milk carts to the cheese factories and taking the cheeses to market.
Breed Group
Working
Vulnerable Native Breed
No
Size
Large
How much exercise?
Up to 1 hour per day
Length of coat
Short
How much grooming?
Once a week
Supposedly sheds? *
Yes
Town or Country
Country
Type of home
Large House
Minimum Garden Size
Large
Lifespan
Over 10 Years
* If you are asthmatic or have an allergy, you should consult your medical advisor before considering obtaining a dog. More information can also be found on
the Kennel Club website.
The
Working Breed Group
Over the centuries these dogs were selectively bred to become guards and search and rescue dogs. Arguably, the working group consists of some of the most heroic canines in the world, aiding humans in many walks of life, including the Boxer, Great Dane and St. Bernard. This group consists of the real specialists in their field who excel in their line of work.