Great Swiss Mountain Dog Blog

If you had a dog when you were a child, you will want your own children to experience the same positive feelings and you will get your children a dog. If you did not, you just have to read My First Best Friend to find out what an amazing thing a dog can be in a child’s life. Not only does a dog teach children responsibility, but it also helps them develop a healthy personality and a balanced emotional life.

However, bringing a dog into the family is not always a smart thing to do. You need to make sure that both the children and the adult members of the family are ready for a furry friend, otherwise someone is likely to get disappointed over time. You also need to make sure that you are selecting the right breed and you are treating your dog in a way that guarantees your children’s safety.

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If you would like to have an excellent watchdog for yourself and for your family that is courageous and alert, yet never aggressive, then the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is the best breed for you. This breed starts to bark to warn their family if there’s something unusual happening around the house. This dog is also friendly and is fond of children. On the other hand, they need early socialization and obedience training if you would like to have another dog in the house or you already have some other pets, as this dog can start chasing them – because of their nature.

The coat of these dogs is coarse, short and dense; they are average shedders, so they require at least weekly brushing. The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a relatively healthy breed, but occasional visits to the vet are required, as they are slightly prone to health issues like abdominal diseases, urinary incontinence or hip dysplasia.

Training of this breed is relatively easy, as this dog is very clever and loves to be taught. However, the trainer must be an experienced one, as this dog is really big in size and requires many rewards.

All in all, these dogs are good for people who would like to have a big ‘bear’ as a companion that is lovely and eager to please. They require not too much exercise, but love long walks with their master.

I hope this article about the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog will help you decide whether this breed is the best one for you.

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!

If big dogs strikes a fancy, then the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a good choice for a companion. These dogs can grow up to 24 to 29 inches and can weigh between 85 to 140 pounds. But despite their sizes, they are loving pets that crave to be indoors with their owners but need to be outside for exercise. If ever one wants to buy a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, it is recommended that research be done on this canine. One good start is to begin with the breed standard. This tells one what exactly a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog should look and act like. For example:

Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs have muscular frames and is longer than tall. Coats are short and dense coats with black with rust and white markings. Heads are large and broad heads with dark eyes and triangular ears that hang close. They have an appearance of sturdiness and are graceful.

It is also important to note that they are prone to eye problems and epilepsy. Now following the standard means that the dog will be of good quality as it fits the mold. But other kinds of breeders will try to sale something otherwise. Read the rest of this entry »