Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Care

The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, commonly nicknamed the Swissy, is a giant-sized, affectionate, sometimes stubborn breed that's fairly unusual in the canine world. For one thing, they take up to three years to fully mature, so they'll need extra training and socialization during adolescence to ensure proper behavior; they're also known to have short attention spans, meaning they bore very easily--so they require frequent (if short) exercise sessions to keep them happy. Because these quirks mean extra time and attention from owners, overall Greater Swiss Mountain Dog care and maintenance can take a bit of work.

Below you'll find plenty of details on caring for a Swiss Mountain Dog: puppy development, exercise needs, suggested living environments, and more are all covered here. For answers to your questions about owning this massive, unique breed, read on!

Though large, these dogs aren't especially energetic, so Greater Swiss Mountain Dog exercise requirements are basically moderate. Since they were originally developed to be working farm dogs, Swissys are task-oriented, and will need activities that stimulate them mentally as well as physically. Interestingly, these dogs are known to become bored more easily than other breeds, so several short exercise sessions throughout the day are recommended to keep them occupied.

The typical adult Swissy, depending on its age and overall activity level, will need about 45 minutes of proper exercise per day--which you can accomplish with several short walks and a couple of brief periods of play. You can start exercising your Swissy puppy at 3-3½ months of age by taking it on short (5- to 7-minute) walks, then you can increase the walks' length and frequency as the puppy grows.

Some important precautions to consider when exercising your Swiss Mountain Dog: first, puppies younger than ten months old shouldn't participate in activities that include a lot of jumping, running on hard surfaces, or navigating of stairs, as doing so can injure their still-developing joints and bones. (And Swissy pups have a big growth spurt from about 4-7 months, so owners should take extra care not to overexert their puppies during that time.) Regardless of age, all Swiss Mountain Dogs will do best if leashed while in public. These dogs have pretty high prey drives, and will instinctively chase small animals--birds, squirrels, cats, even small dogs--if given the chance; a leash will help you control your Swissy when it spies an interesting-looking critter. And finally: simply because of their massive size, these dogs overheat easily in hot weather, so it's best not to exercise them in sweltering temperatures; you'll also want to give your Swissy access to fresh water at all times.

Safeguards aside, it's extremely important to exercise a Swiss Mountain Dog several times every day. As previously noted, Swissys become bored quite quickly--and they'll become restless and destructive, and bark nonstop. So consistent, frequent exercise is great for the dog's peace of mind--and for your own sanity as well! Here are a few exercise ideas:

• Walking: Three 10-minute walks per day is a good target
• Tug-of-War: Great indoor, rainy-day activity; use a rope or old towel
• Swimming: Most Swissys love the water; introduce the dog to swimming as a puppy
• Canine Sports: Swiss Mountain Dogs can excel at cart-pulling, obedience trials, and other events
• Hiking: Excellent bonding activity in a Swissy's natural element; the dog can even carry the backpack

If your Swissy spends a lot of time indoors, it'll be good to give the dog access to one or more balls or chew-toys that will allow it to burn excess energy. It's also recommended that you have a consistent exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks after breakfast, lunch, and dinner and play periods in the morning and afternoon.

In terms of shedding and drooling, these dogs need moderate care overall. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog shedding is fair for most of the year, and heavier during the twice-yearly shedding seasons; drooling frequency is surprisingly low in dogs of this breed.

Swiss Mountain Dogs have short-haired, dense, double-layered coats that shed a little bit all year long--but when they "blow" their coats in the spring and fall, the shedding is heavier. Owners will need to brush their Swissys once or twice per week to keep the shedding to a minimum, and hair cleanup (vacuuming the floors and lint rollers on clothes and furniture) will be necessary once in a while. (During shedding season, of course, brushing and cleanup will be needed more often.)

But Greater Swiss Mountain Dog drool tendencies are very low--which is surprising for a dog of this size. If your Swissy is drooling excessively, it may be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care is recommended.

Swiss Mountain Dogs do best if they're allowed to live both inside and outside. Because they're social and affectionate, these dogs will need some time inside with their human family members--but they can sleep outside if the climate isn't too hot, preferably in a large, fenced yard. For the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, apartment living is not recommended due to its large size.

In regards to climate: though short-haired, a Swissy does fine in cold temperatures. Because their size creates lots of body heat, though, these dogs don't handle hot temperatures well, and will quickly overheat on sweltering days--so milder climates are better for them.