Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a powerful, good-natured and family-devoted dog, historically a farm worker in the Swiss mountains. It is calm and friendly with children, but its size and strength call for early training and socialisation.
Weight
38–65 kg
Height at withers
60–72 cm
Life expectancy
8–11 years
Size
large
Activity
moderate
Shedding
moderate
Barking tendency
moderate
Apartment friendly
Not suited to a small apartment because of its size and weight; more comfortable in a house with a yard.
Care
Moderate daily walks of 1–1.5 hours; feed 2–3 small meals and avoid exercise after eating because of bloat risk; do not overwork puppies before growth is complete; brush weekly, more often when shedding
Health
Gastric torsion (bloat), hip and elbow dysplasia, splenic torsion, epilepsy, entropion and distichiasis, osteochondritis
Coat
Short, dense double coat, tricolour
Travel
Needs a roomy car or van; avoid overheating in hot weather; plan how a dog this heavy will get in and out of the vehicle.
Carrier size
A very large breed: needs the largest crate size; not eligible for the cabin, and cargo-hold carriage in an IATA crate is not available on every airline.
Harness size
Size XL, chest girth typically 85–105 cm; a wide harness with soft padding
Leash
A very strong 1.5–2 m leash, 2.5 cm or wider; the dog is heavy and strong, so loose-leash walking should be trained early.
Airline cabin travel
usually not
Hani Walk — walk tracking, a digital pet passport and vaccination reminders, always at hand in the app.