Overview

Greater Swiss Mountain dogs are very loyal, protective and affectionate. They make excellent watch dogs and are very eager to please their master. These dogs are very good workers as well as being amazingly bold.

Activity

The Greater Swiss Mountain dogs usually don't need a lot of exercise. However, since these dogs are quite large, they should get occasional exercise. They'll do fine without access to a yard, but they do love to take long walks.

Care

Greater Swiss Mountain dogs are average shedders. They do need a rubber brushing on occasion, or brushing using a hard bristle brush. The brushing will keep the shedding as minimal as possible. These dogs don't need regular bathing but a brisk wipe down now and then should work well for them.

Character

Greater Swiss Mountain dogs are very alert, which makes them ideal as watchdogs. They're not aggressive, though, so they're not good as guard dogs. This is a very courageous breed and they bark at strange noises or at the first sign of intruders.

Coat

The coat of the Greater Swiss Mountain dog breed is a short double one. The top coat is somewhat coarse and dense. The under coat should be thick and will show around the neck.

Temperament

The Greater Swiss Mountain dogs make excellent companions as they're faithful, loving and dedicated. They're wonderful when dealing with children, and are typically quite well- mannered with other pets. They do like to chase small animals so they need to be trained not to do this.

Training

Greater Swiss Mountain dogs are very intelligent and do well in lots of sports. This includes obedience. They should be trained only by trainers experienced because they're quite large. These dogs are eager to please, though, so normal training methods should work nicely.