Great Swiss Mountain Dog
The largest Swiss cattle dog: a powerful, short-coated tricolour working dog that is calm, loyal and watchful.
At a glance
- Size
- Giant
- Height at the withers
- Males 65–72 cm · Females 60–68 cm
- Weight
- Males 50–65 kg · Females 40–54 kg
- Life expectancy
- 8–11 years
- Exercise
- 45–75 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Double coat, short
- Colours
- Tricolour
- Bred for
- Draught work, Guarding, Herding
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- FCI
- Group 2, no. 58 · Pinschers, molossers & mountain dogs
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 5/5 – Very high |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 4/5 – High |
| Good with other dogs | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with cats | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Open to strangers | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Energy | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Playfulness | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Needs mental stimulation | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Easy to train | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Prey drive | 2/5 – Low |
| Watchful and protective | 4/5 – High |
| Barking | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Shedding | 4/5 – High |
| Grooming effort | 2/5 – Low |
| Drooling | 2/5 – Low |
| Good for first-time owners | 2/5 – Low |
| Suits apartment living | 1/5 – Very low |
| Adaptability | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with cold | 4/5 – High |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- want a large, calm family guardian
- have room and a secure garden
- enjoy carting or hiking
Think twice if you …
- live in a small flat
- can't handle a strong dog on lead
- live in a hot climate
Care
Temperament
Confident, calm and loyal, with a watchful nature. It is affectionate with family and usually reserved with strangers. It can be dominant with other dogs if not socialised.
Exercise
Daily walks and some free movement in a secure area suit it. Carting, hiking and tracking are excellent outlets.
Grooming
Short double coat: brush weekly and more often during seasonal shedding.
Training
Willing but strong and slow to mature. Start with lead manners and socialisation early, and train consistently.
Health
Hip and elbow dysplasia, bloat, splenic torsion and epilepsy are reported, along with urinary incontinence in females. Ask the breeder for the parents' hip, elbow and eye results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Elbows (ED)
- Eye examination
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Great Swiss Mountain Dog, or Grosser Schweizer Sennenhund, worked on Swiss farms as a guard, cattle drover and draught dog, pulling carts to market. It almost disappeared in the late 19th century and was revived after Albert Heim promoted it around 1908.
It is a strong, steady companion that is gentle with its family and alert to strangers. It needs room, early training and a good fence. It matures slowly, can pull hard on lead if not taught, and is best suited to owners who are comfortable with a big, confident dog.
Did you know?
It is the largest and generally regarded as the oldest of the four Swiss Sennenhund breeds.