Great Swiss Mountain Dog - breed description

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is also called Gross. If such a dog goes for a walk, all passersby will immediately pay attention to it. These are the largest representatives of the Dogs. They have a proud posture, a very beautiful color, a powerful body. With all his appearance, the dog shows that it is impossible to joke with her, and this is not some kind of decorative dog. What does a person who wants to buy a dog of this breed need to know?

History of origin

Today, historians cannot tell exactly where this particular breed originates from. Many believe that mastiffs were one of their ancestors. Also to their predecessors, researchers include the ancient butcher dogs and Phoenician breeds. The development of the breed belongs to the first half of the 20th century.It all started at the exhibition, where two representatives participated, who seemed to one of the visitors to look like ancient dogs.

There were very few representatives, so selection was rather slow. It was attended by dogs with short and long hair. For a time, they all belonged to Bernese Mountain Dogs. Pure breed appeared only after crossing large Swiss dogs and Bernians. Their offspring was short-haired. During the existence of the breed, the grosses were at times popular, at times not very. Today, a puppy is worth a lot of money, and finding it is not easy.

Appearance

These dogs are very large in size. They are the largest representatives of the mountain Swiss Shepherd. They are tall, the body folded harmoniously. In addition, the grosses are very strong and durable. Despite the big sizes, they differ in dexterity and mobility. By appearance, you can determine the sex of the dog. Males reach a height of 65-72 cm. At the same time, females are 4-5 cm lower.

Breed standard:

1. The head of the gross is wide and large. The forehead is rather wide compared to the muzzle.
2. The jaw is powerful, strong teeth.Scissor bite.
3. The nose is big and black.
4. Round eyes are not very big. The dog looks attentively and with some wariness.
5. The triangular ears of the gross are plump. When the dog is alert, they rise.
6. The body is rectangular, proportional. The powerful neck has an average length.
7. The back is even and muscular. The chest is oval. Skin without folds.
8. The limbs are muscular and strong, and the legs are large, oval-shaped.

Color and wool

Wool can be short or medium. The undercoat is thick. It may be black or gray. All Sennenhund are bright enough, consisting of three colors.

The main color is black. There are white spots on the body. They are on the paws, on the tail, as well as on the neck and muzzle. Red and brown spots are located on the head and shoulders of the dog, as well as on the limbs and tail. Stains should create a contrast with the rest of the color.

Character

It cannot be said that all Swiss Mountain Dogs have the same character. It depends on many features related to breeding, as well as on the individuality of the animal.But, if you educate and train the dog correctly, their behavior will be predictable. The dog will behave calmly, her psyche will be stable.

Grosses are calm. Their mood rarely changes. If the dog lives in the family, he becomes attached to all members of the household, loves to be around and participate in all activities and activities. Sennenhund is friendly and loving with those whom he knows well. Therefore, you should be prepared that the dog wants to "hug" by jumping with its front paws on his chest. To avoid this, the dog must be weaned from it, when it is still small.

Note! Do not leave the gross alone for a long time. If he pines alone, it can be bad for his character and behavior.

It is necessary to cultivate the necessary features since childhood. Experienced breeders adjust the dog's behavior so that he is friendly to strangers. But if this socialization does not occur, the guardian instinct may well wake up in the dog. It also leads to the dog becoming either cowardly or too aggressive.

Such a dog can be a good watchman. He is very alert, sensitive to the threat.They bark loudly and menacingly. Often this is enough to scare an intruder who wanted to enter the territory. But the disadvantage is that the dog will bark at all other sounds that seem threatening to it.

The advantage of using a mountain dog as a guard is that this dog has a balanced psyche and cold blood. He shows aggression only when he realizes that a person is a real threat to the owner or protected area. Before the attack, this dog will appreciate the situation.

If the dog is well trained since childhood, then it will find a common language with the children. Grosses treat children with understanding. Even if the child inadvertently hurts the dog, it will not strike back. Owners of this breed often say that they have wonderful relationships with their children. They are constantly nearby. But this does not mean that the child should be left with the dog unattended.

Breeders attach great importance to how well the breeds get on with other dogs. Representatives of this breed may well coexist with their own kind, but they can live without them.Males love to exercise leadership, so they can be aggressive with males. But so they behave in the event that the puppy age did not receive proper upbringing and training.

Gross training

These dogs are well trained. This is due to the fact that they are very smart and love when the owner is pleased with them. Grossa can be used to carry cargo, as they are able to perform such monotonous work. This is due to the fact that they were previously used for these purposes.

In order for training to give good results, the owner must show firmness, control everything that the dog does. It is important that the owner was able to show that he is in charge. It is good if an experienced person will be training the dog, as otherwise you may be faced with the fact that the dog will show leadership.

It is not necessary in the classroom to yell at the dog. The atmosphere must be collected so that the dog can concentrate on learning. Teams must be given clearly. If the dog has done everything correctly, it must be praised.

It is important not to miss the moment so that the dog does not hold the leading position.After that, it will be difficult to get to perform tasks and commands. It is better to turn to a professional if you are unable to practice with a dog due to lack of experience.

Care

To care for a mountain dog is not very difficult. To do this, follow the general rules of care.

1. These dogs have short hair, and the undercoat is rather soft. Molting Grossy twice a year. In those periods when there is no molt, it is enough to comb the dog every week. And when the dog sheds, it should be done twice as often. It is important to pay attention to areas where the wool falls more intensively. This is the neck and chest of the dog.
2. Eyes and ears should be examined as often as possible. They must be cleaned if contaminated. To do this, you can moisten the cotton wool in the tea brewing and chamomile floss. If there are suppurations or other problems, do not hesitate to contact a specialist.
3. If the dog is used for working purposes and is constantly active, it does not need to cut off the claws. If the dog lives at home, this should be done as it grows. Paws should be inspected so that they are not damaged. After walking, they need to be washed or rubbed. If dirt has gathered between the fingers, it must be removed.
4. Since dogs are often outside, they should also be frequently inspected so that there are no ticks. Do not pull out the parasites on their own. It is better to take the dog to the vet. To rid the animal of fleas, it should be bathed using a special shampoo. It is also recommended to put special drops that will prevent not only the appearance of fleas, but also protect against ticks.

Health

Sennenhundy are very hardy and rarely get sick. Their immunity is high. But since the breed was bred artificially, some hereditary diseases are characteristic of its representatives.

They may suffer joint dysplasia or osteochondrosis. Of eye diseases, a dog will have entropion, retinal atrophy, or cataracts. They also sometimes suffer from cancer. Often these dogs are allergic to any substance.

But these diseases in representatives of the breed are quite rare. Basically, if you take good care of the gross and feed it properly, it will live for about 10-12 years.

Nutrition

These large dogs must eat very well in order to maintain health and activity.If the food is not enough necessary for the pet substances, then in the process of growth may be problems with bones. The same problems can occur in an adult dog.

Puppies are fed 6 times a day. As they get older, the number of meals is reduced to two. In the diet should be animal protein in the form of meat and offal. It should be given raw. The meat is cut into pieces and boiled water.

But, in addition to meat, in the diet should be other products. If you give gross to offal, you need to boil it well. Also in the diet should be cereals. Of them boil porridge in water or broth. There you can add vegetables and herbs. You can add butter to this porridge. For a dog to get vitamins, you need to give it vegetables. They can be cooked or given raw.

Fruit, many dogs also love. They can give everything except grapes. Sometimes you should treat the dog with low-fat cheese and dairy products.

It is not necessary to feed the Mountain Dog from your own table. They are contraindicated pastries and chocolate. If you want to prepare food for the dog yourself, then it is important to monitor the balance of nutrition. In addition to the above products, it is necessary to additionally add complexes with vitamins, which will advise the vet. For example, food sometimes needs to add bone meal.

If you feed such a dog with store food, it is important to choose the highest quality product. It will already contain all the components and additives that are necessary for the dog.

Content

If you live in an apartment, but still really want to have this particular dog, then you need to take into account a few points. Since childhood, a puppy needs to be trained so that he barked only when necessary. Also be prepared that the dog will long get used to the toilet outside. In the apartment you will often find rather big puddles. Like other large dogs, the groses will mature within 6 months. If a puppy of this breed appears in your apartment, you will have to be patient.

Buying Gross

In Russia, this breed is very rare. To purchase a puppy must be approached with a very large responsibility.Here it is really important that the dog be healthy in terms of physical and mental indicators. A puppy of a pet-class costs 25 thousand rubles, a brid-class - 30-45 thousand. If you want a dog that can participate in exhibitions, then the price for a puppy will be from 50 thousand rubles.

Before you buy a representative of this rare breed, it is important to consider many points. Not only its acquisition will require costs, but also its maintenance. Consider whether you will have time for classes and walks with a puppy, whether there will be enough finance to provide the dog with proper nutrition. If in doubt, it is better to think about acquiring a smaller dog.

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