Greater Swiss Mountain Dog (GSMD) is the largest – and perhaps the oldest – of the four Swiss mountain breeds, the ‘Swissy’ descended from mastiffs that accompanied Caesar’s invading legions. Like the Bernese Mountain Dog, this breed was used to assist the farmer and butcher by guarding and driving livestock and by pulling carts. In the late 19th century, it was assumed the breed had died out but in 1908, a famous dog expert of Zurich saw a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and urged dog breeders to find other specimens to save this ancient Alpine dog breed. The GSMD was gradually reclaimed in its native land and spread to other countries.
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog (GSMD)
General Appearance: The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a draft and drover breed and structurally should appear as such. It is a tricolour, sturdy, heavy boned and well-muscled dog. In spite of his size and weight, it is agile. The difference between the sexes is distinctly obvious.
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog (GSMD) Temperament: Self-confident, alert, watchful and fearless in everyday situations. Good natured and devoted towards people familiar to him. Self-assured with strangers. Medium temperament.
Size: Height at the withers: Males: 25 inches to 28 inches (65 cm to 72 cm). Females: 24 inches to 27 inches (60 cm to 68 cm).
Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs
Important Proportions: Body length (measured from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock) to height at withers = 10:9 ; Depth of chest to height at withers = 1:2 ; Length of skull to length of muzzle = 1:1 ; Width of skull to width of muzzle = 2:1
Coat & Colour: Coat: Double coat consisting of thick, outer coat of medium length and dense undercoat. The latter as dark grey or black as possible. Short outer coat permissible if there is undercoat. Colour: Typically tricolour. Main colour black with symmetrical, reddish-brown (tan) markings and clean white markings. The reddish-brown colour is situated between the black and the white markings on the cheeks, above the eyes, on the inside of the ears, on both sides of the forechest, on all four legs and underneath the tail. The white markings are on the head (blaze and muzzle), running down unbroken from the throat to the chest, also on the feet and the tip of the tail. Between the blaze and the reddish-brown markings above the eyes, a band of black should remain. A white patch on the neck or a white collar around the neck is tolerated.
Head: Strong corresponding to the body, but not heavy. Dogs stronger in head than bitches. Skull: flat and broad. The frontal furrow beginning at the stop gradually runs out towards the top. Stop: hardly pronounced. Nose: black. Muzzle: strong, longer than its depth. Must not be pointed, seen either from above or in profile. Nasal bridge straight, without furrow. Lips: barely developed, well fitting. Black pigmentation. Not pendulous. Jaw/Teeth: strong jaws; complete, strong and regular scissor bite. The absence of two teeth (premolar 1 and/or premolar 2) is tolerated. Absence of the molars 3 (M3) is not taken into account. Eyes: almond-shaped, of medium size, neither deep set nor protruding. Hazel to chestnut brown, with alert, friendly expression. Lids close fitting. Eye rims dark. Ears: of medium size, triangular and set on fairly high. In repose hanging flat and close to the cheeks, but raised forward when attentive. Well covered with hair, both inside and outside.
Neck: Strong, muscular, rather thick-set, without dewlap.
Forequarters: Straight and parallel when seen from the front, set rather broad. Shoulders: shoulder blade long, strong, well laid back, close-fitting to the body and well muscled, forming a not too obtuse angle with the upper arm. Forearm: heavy boned and straight. Pasterns: firm, seen from the front in straight line with the forearm; seen from the side almost vertical.
Body: Slightly longer than it’s height at the withers. Back: moderately long, strong and straight. Loins: broad and well muscled. Croup: Long and broad. Gently sloping. Never higher than the withers or abruptly slanting. Chest: strong, broad, reaching to the elbows. Seen in cross section, the ribcage is roundish oval shaped, neither flat nor barrel-shaped. Forechest well developed. Belly and underline: belly and flanks barely tucked up.
Hindquarters: Straight and not too close when seen from the back. Metatarsus and feet turning neither in nor out. Dewclaws may be removed. Upper thigh: fairly long, broad, strong and well muscled. Stifle: forming a distinctly obtuse angle. Lower thigh: fairly long. Hock: strong and well angulated. Feet: strong, pointing straight ahead, with well-knit, well-arched toes and strong nails.
Tail: Set on harmoniously following the croup, fairly heavy and reaching to the hocks. Pendulous in repose; when alert and in movement carried higher and slightly curved upwards, but never curled or tilted over the back.
Gait: In all gaits, balanced movement with good reach. Free stride reaching well out in front with good drive from the hindquarters. At the trot, coming and going, legs moving forward in a straight line.
Faults: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree. ; Unreliable behaviour ; Absence of any teeth other than 2 PM1 and/or PM2 (Premolar 1 or 2). The M3 are not taken into account. Level bite. ; Light eyes. Lids not close fitting Coat & Colour: visible yellow-brownish or light grey undercoat. Colour and markings not clear ; Mismarking ; Absence of white markings on the head; blaze too wide ; White markings on muzzle reaching distinctly beyond the corners of the mouth ; White pasterns or hocks (“boots”) reaching beyond the pastern joints or hock joints ; Noticeably asymmetrical markings.
Disqualification: Serious faults in temperament (fear, aggressiveness) ; Overshot or undershot mouth, wry mouth ; Entropion, Ectropion ; One or two blue eyes (wall eye) ; Short coat without undercoat ; Long coat ; Other than tricolour coat ; Main colour other than black ; Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
GSMD puppies
Link: Greater Swiss Mountain Dog (GSMD) club