Grooming
For most of the year, the Swissy is a low-maintenance breed. Here are some grooming tips for your Greater Swiss Mountain Dog:
Brushing: Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs only require a quick brushing once a week to maintain their silky coats. A two-sided brush, like the ConairPROPET brush, pulls double-duty as the pin brush side will remove the dead hair and the bristle brush side will keep your dog’s topcoat looking sleek and shiny. The Swiss Mountain Dog sheds heavily twice a year, in the spring and fall, in a process known as blowing their coat. A dog who blows their coat will shed it in chunks of fur instead of shedding individual hairs. During that time, you’ll need to use a dog deshedding tool, like the FURminator, to remove the shedding undercoat every day. They might not shed quite as much as their close (and longer-haired) cousin, the Bernese Mountain Dog, but you’ll still encounter a significant amount of fluff.
Bathing: Swissies are generally very clean, so you shouldn’t need to bathe them more than once every two months for most of the year. During shedding season, you may want to up the frequency to once a week as this can help get ahead of any loose hairs.
Nail trimming: Trim your Swissy’s nails when you hear the tell-tale clip-clap on hard flooring, about once a month. Start teaching them to accept this chore from puppyhood by rubbing their paw pads regularly—it helps them get used to having their paws touched.
Dental care: Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs’ teeth need brushing daily to avoid gum disease and plaque buildup. Start this process while your dog’s a puppy to help them get used to it quickly. As well as brushing at home, an annual dental deep clean by your vet is recommended.
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Training
Diligent and dedicated training brings out the best of the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog’s brains and brawn. As a large breed, Swissies take time to mature mentally and physically, and they’re independent and intelligent, too. They need a calm and confident leader who understands these pups need patience and consistency in training them. First-time pup parents can be frustrated with the challenges of training this breed, making Swissies a better choice for someone with previous dog experience.
When it comes to training your Swissy, plenty of socialization should be the priority with quality over quantity when it comes to interactions with people, other dogs and new environments. To help get them used to meeting new people and other dogs, start while they’re a puppy and take them on walks to meet and sniff the people and other dogs they encounter. And enroll in puppy preschool, where they learn to play nicely with other puppies and meet new people all in one location.
Obedience training is important for all Swissies, whether they’re puppies or fully grown. Your dog needs to learn basic commands like sit, stay and come. These dogs are genetically hardwired to pull carts, so they’re prone to pulling you along on walks, too. Focusing on leash training will curb that tendency, and it’ll be rewarding bonding time for pet and parent alike. Be sure to use rewards like treats, praise and playtime to encourage your pup when they do a good job.
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Diet
The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog breed typically thrives on a complete and balanced high-quality commercial dog food. Choose a food that’s designed specifically for large-breed puppies (like Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Large Breed dry dog food) or adult dogs (like Hill’s Science Diet Adult Large Breed dry dog food) to make sure they receive all the nutrients they require; and don’t forget to choose a food that’s appropriate for their life stage (puppy, adult or senior). Look at the packaging for a statement that says it meets the standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials.
One of the most important things to consider when raising a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is the fact that, like many large dog breeds, they’re slow to mature, and that’s OK. It’s essential to avoid rapid weight gain, which can cause orthopedic disorders as your puppy grows up. The easiest way to achieve this is to provide the correct nutrition and not overfeed them, as this can lead to preventable health issues, including obesity and joint problems.
Don’t forget to include the treats you give in your daily meal plan. Those calories count, too! If you see your dog gaining extra weight, speak with your vet. They can help you develop a customized nutrition plan based on your dog’s needs to shed the weight and still maintain their optimal nutritional needs.
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Exercise
Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs have plenty of energy and will enjoy 30 minutes of walking a day. They love the great outdoors, so include them on hikes or long walks in nature. They’re not, however, suited for jogging.
This working breed was originally used by farmers, herdsmen and merchants and was bred for a variety of tasks, including guarding and drafting (pulling carts). Swissies are able to pull up to 3,000 pounds! They can perform well in a variety of dog sports, including drafting, weight pulling, herding, agility, dock diving, conformity (dog shows) and more. They’re game for trying anything, as long as it means more time with you. Before you do try a new activity, check in with your vet to make sure your pup is physically healthy and up to the task.
Swissies aren’t very well-adapted to hot conditions, so take care not to overwork your dog in hot weather and keep your exercises to the cooler parts of the day.
A note about puppies: Large-breed dogs like the Swissy take longer to grow up, and care needs to be taken to support their growing joints and growth plates. Keep puppy exercise more low-key (like walks) and avoid more strenuous activity (like dog sports) until they’re fully grown, around 2 years old.
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Environment
Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs love nothing more than being part of your world, whether that’s just you or a family. They crave attention, physical contact and lots of activity. Swissies won’t enjoy being left home alone or out in the backyard without company.
With plenty of socialization and training, Swissies can live alongside other pets, including cats, very happily. They can have a high prey drive, so all your leash training will come in handy when a squirrel or bunny runs across the street on evening walks.
This breed absolutely needs a family that can provide the physical and mental activity they need to thrive. Give your Swissy a job, like a dog sport or pulling kids in a cart, and they will make sure it gets done! They love to watch over their pet parents but will also enthusiastically participate in anything else you ask of them. Swissies are independent and need a confident, consistent leader to guide them, making the dog a better choice for an experienced pup parent.
Some Swissies don’t cope with heat very well—which isn’t too surprising when you consider their Alpine origins. If you live where it gets warm, keep your outdoor activity to the cooler parts of the day and keep the AC going when inside.
One of the classic Greater Swiss Mountain Dog traits is keeping a keen eye on their surroundings and barking whenever something seems outs of place. However, they tend to be both confident and kind around strangers, so they don’t make great guard dogs.
Because these dogs are large and very active, they need a home and yard with lots of room to move around and run. This makes them an unsuitable choice for people living in small spaces, like apartments and condos.
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