Article From SubmitYOURArticle.com: Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Breed Temperament, Health Issues, Grooming and Living Conditions

Description: The Greater Swiss Mountain dog is a
large and muscular dog, with a tri-colored coat.
Their coat should have a black base with white
and rust marking, symmetrical marking are
preferred by breeders. They have straight legs
with compact and round feet. They can weigh
between 90-140 pounds and stand 24-29 inches,
with males being on the larger size. They have a
deep chest with a level top line. Their head is
broad and flat with a square muzzle, their ears
are triangular in shape and lie close to the
head, with eyes that are almond shaped and hazel
or chestnut in color.

History: As the name would suggest the Greater
Swiss Mountain Dog was developed in Switzerland,
and is thought to be descended from the Roman
Mastiffs, brought to the area more than 2000
years ago. They are the largest and the oldest of
the four Sennenhund Breeds. They were used as
guard dogs, and as working dogs, at one time
having the nickname 'the poor mans horse' they
were used to pull carts and to guard and heard
livestock. It is thought that it was the rise in
machinery that brought about the demise of the
dog. However, it's thanks to, Dr. Albert Heim,
who 'rediscovered' the breed in 1908 and worked
to revive their numbers, that they are arround
today. They were recognized by the AKC in 1995,
but to this day remain a rare breed.

Temperament: The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog makes
a great family pet and will be very devoted. They
have an easy-going nature and will happily
welcome, family and friends. They also make good
watch dogs, and will bark if they hear or see
something that shouldn't be there, however they
do not make good guard dogs as they are not at
all aggressive. They are slow to mature, taking
2-3 years, and have a habit of chasing small
animals, something they should be trained not to
do from a young age. Overall though they are a
happy dog, that enjoys family life and has an
even temperament.

Health Issues: Similarly, to most large dogs, the
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is prone to bloat and
hip dysplasia and other digestive problems. They
are also at risk of developing epilepsy, with an
American survey showing that 98% of them carry
the gene for epilepsy, though, due to their low
numbers, the actual number of dogs with epilepsy
is not known. They can also suffer from
distichiasis, which is where they have extra
eyelashes. Their lifespan like their health
issues cannot be accurately measured due to their
low numbers, but is thought to be around 10-12
years. Grooming: The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
is easy to groom, they are an average shedder
and, a simple brush down with either a rubber
brush or a hard bristled brush should be all
that's needed. Bathe them only when necessary
though a simple brush or wipe down should suffice.

Living Conditions: Overall the Greater Swiss
Mountain Dog prefers cooler climates, but will be
fine as long as it's not too hot. They would do
fine in an apartment, though a small garden would
be more than suitable. They are not inactive, but
they are definitely not hyper-active dogs. Only
moderate exercise is needed, however a good long
walk once a day would be perfect.

----------------------------------------------------
Be sure to check out my website Teacup Yorkie. We
Specialize in Teacup Yorkies and We Now Have Some
Tiny and Beautiful Teacup Yorkie Puppies For Sale.
http://www.teacup-yorkie.com

EasyPublish this article: http://submityourarticle.com/articles/easypublish.php?art_id=100579

>