At a glance the quick version
FCI gives no weight. Wikipedia gives 41-64 kg (males) and 36-50 kg (females); Purina gives 115-140 lb (52-64 kg) and 85-110 lb (39-50 kg).
Coat and looks how to spot one
short-to-medium double coat
A powerful, heavy-boned working dog that moves with surprising agility. Its dense double coat has a medium-length outer layer over a thick, dark undercoat.142
Personality what they are like
A good-natured, people-loving giant that is calm and dignified at home yet watchful and confident. It bonds closely with its family, likes to lean in close to its people, and enjoys having a job to do.1423
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Moderate daily exercise. It enjoys drafting (cart pulling), hiking, herding, obedience, agility, tracking and weight pulling.35
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
The short coat is simple to keep, but it sheds all year with heavier seasonal sheds once or twice a year, so regular brushing helps.23
Home where they are happiest
Needs room to move but not necessarily a large estate; a home with a garden and daily outings suits it.2
Company who they like around
Very social; thrives when included in everyday family life and does not like being left out.32
The story where it all began
Descended from farm dogs of the Swiss Alps used to herd, guard and pull carts, the breed had nearly disappeared by 1900. Professor Albert Heim spotted two short-coated examples at a 1908 show and championed them, leading to Swiss recognition in 1909 and a breed club in 1912. The first dogs reached the USA in 1968.162
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Its pulling power earned it the nickname 'the poor man's horse'.3
- 2
It is the largest of the four Swiss Sennenhund breeds.2
- 3
The US breed club calls it the oldest Swiss breed and credits it with a role in the early development of the St. Bernard and Rottweiler.5
- 4
The Swiss Army used these dogs as draft animals during the Second World War.6
- 5
In the 19th century they were often called 'Metzgerhunde', or butcher's dogs.6
Recognised by the official bits
- FCI
- Standard No. 58, Group 2, Section 3 (Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs); first FCI standard 1939; current standard dated 20031
- Swiss Kennel Club (SKG)
- Recognised as a separate breed in 19091
- AKC
- Miscellaneous Class 1985; full recognition July 1995, Working Group6
- UKC
- Recognised 1992, Guardian Dog Group4
- Canadian Kennel Club
- Recognised 2006, Working Group2
- The Royal Kennel Club
- Working Group2
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- BrushingDaily during heavy sheddingevery 3 days
- Double coats insulate against cold and heat, so shaving is not recommended
- Bathevery 10 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
- Ear checkFloppy ears trap moisture, so check and dry themevery week
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 6every year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at support@furrydiary.app and we will fix it.
- FCI-Standard N° 58 fci.beused for history, size, coat, colour, temperament
- Wikipedia: Greater Swiss Mountain Dog en.wikipedia.orgused for other names, weight, lifespan, recognition, facts
- Purina: Greater Swiss Mountain Dog purina.comused for weight, exercise, grooming, nickname
- UKC Greater Swiss Mountain Dog ukcdogs.comused for recognition, size, temperament, colour
- Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club of America gsmdca.orgused for activities, oldest Swiss breed
- GSMDCA: History of the GSMD gsmdca.orgused for history, AKC recognition
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.