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Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Dog Breed Facts
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Breed: Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
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Also Called: Grosser Schweizer Sennenhund, Great Swiss Cattle Dog
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Height: The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is about 23.5-28.5 inches tall.
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Weight: The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog weighs between 130-135 lbs.
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Colors: The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog can be black. The markings are rich rust and white.
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Physical Appearance: The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a Draft and Drover breed and should structurally appear as such. It is a striking, tri-colored, large, powerful, confident dog of sturdy appearance. It is a heavy boned and well muscled dog which, in spite of its size and weight, is agile enough to perform the all-purpose farm duties of the mountainous regions of its origin.
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Temperament/Personality: The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog displays the temperament of a willing worker and faithful companion, always alert and vigilant. They have a sense of territory and will not take kindly to a stranger's invasion of property or home. Normally a quiet dog, they do have a deep, loud bark that, combined with their size and self-assurance, keeps home and family well protected.
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Care: The Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs need regular grooming of their coat with a bristle brush.
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Health Concerns/Problems: Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are generally healthy for a large breed of dog but may experience the following health issues: Urinary Incontinence, Eyelash issues, Lick Fit, Epilepsy, Abdominal health issues (Bloat), Hip Dysplasia, and Osteochondrosis.
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Training: The Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs train quickly and are content to be family members, involving themselves in many aspects of your life. Outdoors, they tend to be at your side or watching as children play.
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Activity: The Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs need regular exercise and to be allowed to run free in an open space.
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Life Span: The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog lives an average life of 6-9 years old.
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Litter Size: The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog has an average litter of 4-8 puppies.
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Country of Origin:
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Brief History: The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a very ancient breed, tracing its time of origin to approximately 2,000 years ago as a direct result of the Roman invasion and conquest of Europe. As a result of the crossing of the Roman Mastiffs with the local Swiss working dogs came the four Sennenhund breeds: Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, Appenzeller, Entlebucher and the Bernese Mountain Dog. It is generally accepted that the GSMD was the first of these breeds, and the other three developed from it. The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is also thought to have been a major influence on the Rottweiler.
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