Where to Adopt or Buy a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Greater Swiss mountain dogs are not incredibly common, but it’s still worth checking local shelters for a dog in need of a home. Also, see whether there are breed-specific rescue groups in your area. If you’re looking for a reputable breeder puppy, expect to pay around $1,500 to $3,000, though this can vary widely depending on bloodline and other factors.
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Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs can be great dogs, but it definitely takes work and training to get them that way. The first time many people meet their first Greater Swiss Mountain Dog they are impressed by their sweet demeanor and stunning good looks, but keep in mind that the reason you probably met them is because their people were devoted to socializing them and making sure they were out exercising and meeting new people all the time! Swissies love to have a job, just because they arent your typical obedience type breed doesnt mean they dont like to work, you just have to be creative in finding the things they like to do best.
Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs need to feel like they are part of the family, they do not make good outdoor dogs (and they HATE the heat!). We will not sell a puppy to anyone who plans to keep their dog outside, we dont feel like this is a good situation for the puppy to grow up in, and if all you want is an outdoor watch-dog or a livestock guardian breed, there are several breeds that are much better suited for the task. Most swissies have way too much prey drive to make a good livestock guardian dog.
Yes, Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs shed! Depending upon how much undercoat they have it can be a lot of hair! You will be sweeping your house constantly, they can be messy drinkers, and although they are a dry-mouthed breed they still will leave water all over your floor. Plus, as puppies they can pee HUGE puddles and the boys are notorious for walking while they pee so that they leave a trail from one end of the house to the other. If you arent ready to be cleaning up puppy pee multiple times a day (until 4 – 6 months of age, sometimes longer) then dont purchase a swissy puppy. No matter how many puppies you have raised, a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog puppy will prove to be a tough housebreaker – prepare yourself in advance!
When thinking of pros and cons of different breeds, take into account what they were bred to do. You can train a dog to fit into your lifestyle; however, taking into account what has historically been a breeds job will give you an idea of traits that have a higher likelihood of inherently being a part of your puppys genetic make-up (and thus harder to change). Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs were all-purpose farm dogs that were bred to pull the farmers cart to market, watch over the farm and give a warning about strange situations or strangers, and possibly help move the farmers livestock. These jobs mean that the Swissy inherently likes to pull (you will have to work hard and be very consistent about loose leash walking) and will not be an easy dog for a child to ever take for a walk in the neighborhood. They watched over the farm and warned about strange happenings – which means if you are looking for a quiet dog that will just sit and watch the neighborhood going-ons without a peep – this is not the breed for you. Swissies were bred to alert their family and most of them take this job very seriously. Swissies were also sometimes used to drive livestock – meaning they would follow behind the herd and keep them moving in the direction the farmer wanted. They didnt traditionally herd livestock like a border collie, they were drovers. What this translates to is that a lot of Swissies will instinctively want to drive your children or other smaller pets – i.e. bark at them and/or chase them to get them moving and keep them moving. This is something to keep in mind if you have small children – this drive seems to vary from swissy to swissy but can be very strong and hard to train out of some of them. Swissies should never be mean, agressive, shy, or have a tendency to bite – they are supposed to be a bold, faithful, willing worker. But keep in mind a breeds original purpose when deciding which breed is right for you – it will go a long way in helping you to make the right decision and also help you in understanding your dog or puppy as they grow!
As puppies, Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs tend to be hard to house train, they tend to eat and/or chew things they arent supposed to (which can lead to expensive obstruction surgeries), they require a lot of early socialization, and they require a lot of firm, consistent training. Some swissies will constantly test you to see who is going to be the leader of the house (especially for the first 2-3 years), you will need to make sure you understand how to train a large, intelligent, stubborn dog. Swissies need a lot of socialization, constant socialization throughout their lives is a definate plus, but early socialization as puppies is a necessity!
4. Their history as a draft dog makes Swissys natural pullers, and their strength is impressive. The average Swissy is capable of pulling a load of 3,000 pounds or more, so walking politely at the end of a leash can be a challenge. From the time he’s a puppy, it’s important to teach your Greater Swiss Mountain Dog how to behave properly when he’s on leash.
5. Hot weather is difficult for Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs. Most of them do not handle the heat with ease, so during hot summers, or if you live in a hot climate, be sure your Swissy has access to clean drinking water and lots of places to escape the direct sun. Consider bringing your dog into an air-conditioned house when the mercury peaks. And never exercise your Swissy during the hottest part of the day.
6. Swissys tend to match their activity level to that of their human family, but need at least one or two walks a day. However, to keep your dog in peak condition, consider a more vigorous schedule of exercise. The working spirit and versatile background of the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog makes them super partners for many different activities, including drafting, which is the pulling of a cart or wagon. Other sports your Swissy might enjoy are agility, backpacking, herding, hiking, or obedience trials.
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3. Swissys are a rare breed, even today, both in the United States and their native Switzerland. During World War II, the Swiss army used them as draft dogs. But by the end of the war, in 1945, there were only about 350-400 Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs left. The first Swissys were imported to the U.S. in 1968.
BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO GREATER SWISS MOUNTAIN DOGS
The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a giant working dog breed from Switzerland with a short, tricolor double coat and typically a white blaze running down the center of its face. Despite the breeds majestic and imposing size, these dogs are gentle giants. They are very in tune with their owners and can make great family pets. They love being busy and having jobs to do. And their friendliness, trainability, and strength have led to their success as therapy animals and search-and-rescue dogs.