The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a versatile working breed, capable of being a fantastic companion for the right owner. These large, big-boned workhorses have a lot of strength and were originally designed as all-around farm dogs. As such, they do best when living with owners who will give them a job (or several jobs) to keep them mentally and physically fit. Swissies are a confident breed that are both strong and agile. Their sheer size and intimidating appearance means that even the smallest owner will feel safe when walking with them late at night. Despite their large frame and serious nature, however, they are gentle and polite even with children.
Swissies are often enthusiastic and happy. They love to be around people and to meet new friends, and many don’t realize their large size makes them difficult lap dogs. This means that young dogs might be a bit too much to handle for frail or elderly owners… at least until they are trained. They should also be socialized as young puppies in order to grow into their unshakeable temperaments, although many require less socialization than other breeds. When trained and socialized, these dogs are usually unfazed by new situations. Additionally, most get along great with other dogs as well as other pets (although same-sex aggression is something to watch out for).
The Greater Swiss is usually active in short bursts throughout the day. He is not a lazy dog, nor is he on-the-go constantly, provided he gets the required exercise. This means he is adaptable to many different living situations (although he doesn’t tend to thrive in apartments). Usually, the more active the family – the more active the dog because he always wants to be in the middle of the action, if at all possible. Younger dogs have more energy – and will mature slowly both physically and mentally. So while a puppy will take about a year and a half to grow to his full height, it will take even longer before his brain “slows down”. Owners should be cautious about giving a puppy too much forced exercise, however, as doing so can be physically taxing to his joints.
Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are territorial and make great watchdogs. They will bark to alert when people come on the property. They will also bark when they notice anything out-of-place, which means they can be a loud breed in certain homes. They are not guard dogs, however. It takes a lot for a Swissy to actually bite someone, and they will do their best to keep a bite as a last resort. Most owners rely on their dogs intimidating presence to be a deterrent to intruders, rather than counting on them to actually defend them from a robbery.
Swissies were bred to work with people and therefore expect to have structure and rules placed upon them. It is a good idea to obedience train every breed, but Swissies tend to take extra-well to being trained as they have strong work ethics. Many of them are submissive in nature and love to be given instruction, although others have more of a dominant personality. It depends on the dog. In homes where the owner does not take on a leadership role, Swissies tend to become stressed. They will take on the role themselves, although most don’t want to. Work with them from the time they are puppies to satiate this need, as well as to curtail potential issues such as leash-pulling. The versatile nature of this breed means that they thrive when working in many different events such as obedience, agility, herding, draft work, conformation, rally, tracking, backpacking and weight pulling. The list goes on and on… 
Some Greater Swiss have high prey drives while others have less. The high-drive dogs are often more apt to chase smaller animals, and so should be taught from an early age that this is not allowed. This may also translate to chasing small children – therefore training and supervision is highly recommended for families that have toddlers. A strong fence is a requirement of many Swissy breeders because the instinct to chase small animals can be so high. Dogs with a higher prey drive are usually dogs that also have high herding drives – those particular individuals do much better when allowed to fulfill this need. Whether herding, pulling carts or working in another manner, it is important to remember that Swissies are working dogs first and foremost. They are not decorations and must be given jobs to fulfill.
Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs have short, easy-to-care-for coats although it is worth noting that these dogs do shed year-round. Their tricolor double coats have a couple of heavy shedding seasons (often in the spring and fall) with a low, constant shed in all other times of the year. Keeping the dog brushed out will help somewhat. As with all other breeds, keep the nails trimmed, teeth cleaned, and check the ears regularly to make sure they’re clean as well. Luckily, the Swissy’s coat doesn’t hold on to dirt for very long and therefore doesn’t have too strong of a doggy odor.
Swissies don’t tend to handle heat very well and should be monitored closely when outside on hot days. This means that they should never spend too long outside in hot Texas summers, nor should they be exercised in the middle of the day when the temperature is too warm. If you feel like you need to be inside with your air conditioning… so should your Swissy! These dogs do much better when living inside with the family anyway – they don’t do well when kept kenneled or out in the yard all day.
The Greater Swiss is generally a healthy breed but there are a few health problems that are seem occasionally, such as hip dysplasia and other orthopedic ailments, epilepsy and bloat. Make sure to buy from a reputable breeder who health tests the parents, rather than buying from a pet store or backyard breeder. This won’t eliminate your chances of getting a puppy with a health defect, but it will lessen the chances. Bloat, in particular, is a condition that many large, deep-chested breeds are prone to.
Due to their working nature and high need for activity and a job, Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are not a good choice for those who have never before owned a dog. They can be pushy and even bossy with individuals who don’t know what they’re doing. They must be worked regularly, and their sometimes sensitive nature means they must be treated fairly. They always want to be in the middle of the action – regardless of whether or not they’re in the way. Finally, they can be agonizingly slow to housebreak. For experienced owners who put the time in, however, the Swissy is a dependable and loyal companion.
