Great Swiss Mountain Dog Blog

They are two of the four Swiss Mountain dogs, all four are: Bernese Mountain Dog, Appenzeller, Entlebucher, Great Swiss Mountain dDg.
For first look, the two breeds can look quite similar, both are tri-colored, and have similar shape – but the first difference that we can notice is that the Great Swiss Mountain Dog (as we could guess from the name) is taller and heavier than the Entlebucher: the first breed weighs about 40-65 kgs and is 60-72 cm tall, while his colleuge is only 25-30 kgs and 48-51 cm tall as an average.
Both were bred to be working dogs – the difference is that Swissies used to be flock guardians, while the Entlebucher’s task was to work as a herding dog.

The narrow line between training and abuse

Many dog owners think that their Great Swiss Mountain Dog is the smartest in the world. There’s no problem with this, up to certain a point. This point is when the owner expects as much from the dog as if it really was the most intelligent creature the world has ever seen. They expect them to learn everything right away, whereas dogs need time to learn things, the same way as we, humans do. Just in a different way Well, the point is, that training requires time and patience. It can be different for all dogs, but we do have to keep this in mind and take the time and energy to train our Great Swiss Mountain Dog.

Another common mistake (also because of the lack of patience) is to give up. Many people think that they have already tried everything but the dog doesn’t want to learn. In this case, maybe the methods are not the best, or they need more time. There are no dogs who wouldn’t be able to learn at least a few commands. Giving up is never a solution.

So, if we have the time and the patience we can avoid the next, and maybe the biggest mistake: to turn training into abuse. Probably you expect me to tell you where this line is. I can’t. This is something the owner should know. Training is all about communication. If you know your Swissy, if you pay attention to him, you see how he feels. Unfortunately many dog owners don’t have this ability, because they only keep pets for entertainment, while a dog is much more than that.

Going back to training, a very important rule is that your goal should be that your Great Swiss Mountain Dog obeys to commands because he is keen to do so. NOT BECAUSE HE IS AFRAID. Many-many owners forget about this, and feel the training successful, but actually they are making their dog unhappy. How can someone live happily in fear? No way. These owners are only keeping a dog to make themselves happy, and don’t feel the responsibility they should.

So the point is, that ‘positive training’ is possible. Actually, that’s the only way.

The first difficulties most Great Swiss Mountain Dog owners face is potty training their puppy. As with general training, the main principles remain the same: a positive, rewarding approach and a lot of patience is required. There are, however a few tips and tricks that will make the whole process faster and easier for both puppy and owner. Find out what Sharda Baker has to say on the topic, who has developed her best practices by years of trial and error.

Please comment if you have something to add.

Is it normal, anyway?!

Yes, it is. Just imagine the situation from the point of view of your Swissy. He is part of the family, often treated as “the kid”, and then, suddenly, a new creature arrives and takes all the attention of his beloved family. It is quite similar to what older children feel, when a little brother/sister arrives. One of the differences is just that the dog can’t speak English

Actually, if we are aware of this ‘problem’ in advance, the situation can be handled, but it needs consciousness and to be started in time, long before the baby’s arrival. Let’s see how we can prepare our Great Swiss Mountain Dog for the new family member.

If your dog’s daily routine has to be changed with the baby’s arrival (it probably will), you should start changing the rules much earlier, giving him plenty of time to get used to the new set up. This way it isn’t going to be so sudden and shocking. If your Swissy hasn’t really been trained before, it’s high time to start. He should learn at least a few commands, like sit, stay, etc. This way, he’ll be easier to handle.

Many families worry about their dog endangering the health of the child, so the best thing to do is to take your pet to the vet, get him checked and get some advice. Get your Great Swiss Mountain Dog used to the new smells, sounds in advance (blankets, lotions, toys). It’s also a good idea, that just after your baby was born, send home a blanket that the baby had been in, so your dog can experience the child’s smell in advance. It is very important to know that your Swissy will get a lot less attention from the mother, so when taking the baby home for the first time, the mother should greet the dog, so it is better if someone else is carrying the baby.

It is also a good idea not to leave them alone together at the first times, until your Great Swiss Mountain Dog feels comfortable with the baby, because, for example, it is very possible that the dog won’t tolerate the child’s crying very well in the beginning. You have to teach him that this is a normal sound, and you should motivate him not to bark (with treats, for example).

And the most important rule for last, maybe it seems too obvious, but it’s still worth mentioning: try to give as much attention to your Swissy as you can. The point is that he has to feel that you do care about him. If you keep this in mind, most probably there will be no problem. You could also try Preparing Fido, which is an amazing collection of Baby sounds designed especially to get your dog ready for the arrival of the new Baby!

These amazingly beautiful dogs are perfect additional family members. They are very friendly and get on very well with children and are excellent watchdogs as well. Do you want to know how to buy one?

If you know anyone who has a Great Swiss Mountain Dog or anyone who loves this breed (including yourself), then the I Love My Great Swiss Mountain Dog Money Clip can be the best gift from them. A keepsake money clip made from executive stainless steel and can be used for money or credit cards will surely be loved by those pet enthusiasts out there.

Great Swiss Mountain Dogs are very large active working dogs, and just like any breed of huge dogs, it should also be trained how to socialize in its early life stages. This breed is basically even tempered and a good family dog. You should pay attention to its health as Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs carry the genes to produce epilepsy. They may also suffer from bloat and hip dysplasia. Although no information exists on the average lifespan for this breed, it is essential to take care of them in the best possible way to keep them healthy and active.