Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

Lifestyle needs

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog or ‘Swissie’ is a large herding dog which needs plenty of space.   He requires moderate activity and regular exercise and is most content when there is work to do.  He is generally alert and vigilant and will bark at anything unusual.  He has a well developed prey drive and should have a well fenced garden.  The Swissie is not a dog for a first time owner and perhaps not the best choice for a family with young children.  A dedicated owner is needed to give this magnificent dog the challenges and training he needs.  He will need regular grooming to keep his coat in good condition.  Temperament varies but there is breed tendency for dominant behaviours.  Early socialisation with other dogs and people is essential.

Inbreeding coefficient – COI

(should be as low as possible and not higher than 6%)

The breed average COI is 0% (based on UK pedigree records)

See A Beginners Guide to COI.

Health and welfare problems due to conformation

(body shape and physical characteristics)

• Gastric dilation volvulus or ‘bloat’ (stomach fills with air and can twist – a life threatening condition which needs urgent vet treatment)  Common in deep chested breeds
• There are orthopedic concerns in large breed dogs.  Great care must be taken to prevent injury to bones in growth stages.

BVA/KC Health Schemes

• Hip dysplasia (a malformation of the hip joints causing pain and arthritis) breed mean score not know - should be as low as possible.
• Elbow dysplasia (malformation of the elbow joints causing pain and arthritis)  scores should ideally be 0:0 (as low as possible)
• Eye disease: Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) (progressive sight loss); Cataract

DNA tests available

          None currently applicable

Unofficial (breed club) schemes

• Character test
• Heart test
• Eye disease litter test at 7 weeks

Ask the breeder to show you the certificates for the above tests/screening for both parents (or check the KC’s health test results finder). If any of the above tests have not been considered necessary by the breeder (and there may be good reasons), ask her to explain why.

Other diseases

(for which there are currently no genetic or screening tests for sire or dam)

• Epilepsy
• Osteochondrosis dessicans (abnormality of cartilege in limb joints which causes chronic pain and leads to arthritis)
• Patellar luxation (slipping knee-cap)
• Postoperative hemorrhage (blood clotting problems)
• Distichiasis (double row of eye lashes causing irritation, pain and sometimes damage, to the eyes)
• Entropion (inward turning eye lashes)
• ‘Swissy Lick’ (sudden onset of frantic licking and indiscriminate eating – cause unknown, possibly gastro intestinal)

Ask the breeder about the medical history of the parents, grandparents and great grandparents. Consider carefully whether to purchase a puppy if some of these or other diseases are in the family line.

Ask about the breeder’s policy in cases of serious genetic diseases occurring to your puppy in later life. Good breeders will request to be informed of such events in order to improve future breeding decisions. Some breeders will also agree to contribute towards medical costs or refund purchase price.

You are strongly advised to buy from a breeder who uses (or is prepared to use) the RSPCA / BVA AWF Puppy Contract and Puppy Information Pack (PIP):  www.puppycontract.org.uk

You are also advised to buy from a breeder who follows the Dog Advisory Council’s Standard for Breeders: http://www.dogbreedhealth.com/dac-breeding-standard/

List of Dog Breeds