WorkingSwitzerland

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

Strong, steady and built to haul a cart.

Weight: 85–140 lbs
Height: 23–28 in
Lifespan: 8–11 yrs

In short

The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a large working breed from Switzerland, the biggest of the four Swiss mountain dogs, used to pull carts and guard farms, weighing 85–140 lbs and living 8–11 years. It's gentle and steady but slow to mature, and bloat is a real risk.

Is it right for you?

A great match if you…

want a calm, devoted family guardian
have space and a cool climate
enjoy hiking or carting

Think twice if you…

live in a hot climate
can't handle a 100+ lb dog on leash
want a long-lived breed

The daily plan

Exercise: 60–90 min
Training: 2–3 × 5–10 min
Treat limit: 175–255 kcal

At a glance

TrainabilityWilling learner7.5/10

EnergyActive6.0/10

Calm at homeSettles well7.0/10

SheddingSheds seasonally6.0/10

What sets it apart

01
Tricolor coat
The black, rust and white coat is short and dense, easier to groom than a Bernese.
02
Draft dog strength
Built to pull carts, so leash training early is a must.
03
Slow maturity
They stay puppy-minded for two to three years.

Size & coat

Specification	Male	Female
Weight	115–140 lbs	85–110 lbs
Height	25–28 in	23–27 in
Lifespan	8–11 yrs
Coat	Short, dense double coat, black with rust and white markings

Side profile 23–28 in at the shoulder

Back in stock soon

Personality

Swissies are calm, confident and devoted to family. They are alert watchdogs with a deep bark. Indoors they are usually mellow once exercised.

With kids

Gentle with kids, but their size can knock over small children.

With other pets

Usually good with dogs and cats when raised together.

With strangers

Alert and reserved, making them good watchdogs.

Alone time

Tolerate moderate alone time but prefer company.

Training

Swissies are smart but independent and slow to mature. Patience, consistency and positive methods work best.

How often

2–3 short sessions a day of 5–10 minutes each.
Socialize early (8–16 weeks)

Between 8 and 16 weeks, focus on strangers, other dogs and handling, so their watchfulness stays friendly.
Self-control

Teach loose-leash walking and a calm greeting early, before they reach full size.
What it works for

Food is a big motivator. Use small, high-value pieces and keep treats within 10% of daily calories; praise and pulling work also reward them.

Exercise

Swissies need steady, moderate exercise like long walks, carting and hiking rather than running.

Exercise a day 60–90 min

CouchModerateAthlete

Good outlets

Long walks
Carting or drafting
Hiking

Brain work

Weight pulling or drafting
Scent work
Puzzle feeders

Best home

A house with a yard; they handle cold well but struggle in heat.

Watch for Avoid hard exercise around meals to reduce bloat risk, and protect growth plates in puppies.

Feeding

Adult maintenance for a typical Greater Swiss Mountain Dog (85–140 lbs) lands around 1,725–2,525 kcal a day. Feed to body condition, not the bag's chart alone, and keep treats inside the 10% rule.

Puppy (to 12 mo)

Daily calories: 2,175–3,150 kcal
Protein: 26–30%
Fat: 16–20%
Treat limit, all treats: 220–315 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 11–16 pieces a day

Adult Maintenance

Daily calories: 1,725–2,525 kcal
Protein: 24–28%
Fat: 14–18%
Treat limit, all treats: 175–255 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 9–13 pieces a day

Active / Working

Daily calories: 2,375–3,475 kcal
Protein: 26–30%
Fat: 18–22%
Treat limit, all treats: 240–350 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 12–17 pieces a day

Senior

Daily calories: 1,525–2,200 kcal
Protein: 24–28%
Fat: 12–16%
Treat limit, all treats: 155–220 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 8–11 pieces a day

Compare every life stage

Life stage	Daily calories	Protein	Fat	Treat limit (all treats)	Saylor's liver, suggested / day
Puppy (to 12 mo)	2,175–3,150 kcal	26–30%	16–20%	220–315 kcal	11–16 pieces
Adult Maintenance	1,725–2,525 kcal	24–28%	14–18%	175–255 kcal	9–13 pieces
Active / Working	2,375–3,475 kcal	26–30%	18–22%	240–350 kcal	12–17 pieces
Senior	1,525–2,200 kcal	24–28%	12–16%	155–220 kcal	8–11 pieces

The treat limit is the 10% rule for every treat combined. Saylor's liver is suggested at about 2% of daily calories, as a small topper: liver is very rich in vitamin A, so it should not become a staple. Check with your vet if your dog has a health condition or a special diet.

Health & grooming

Bloat, splenic torsion, hip and elbow dysplasia and eye disease are the main concerns. Learn the signs of bloat and ask your vet about a preventive gastropexy.

Watch for	Ask the breeder or vet for	When
Hip dysplasia	OFA or PennHIP hip evaluation	Once, in breeding dogs (ask the breeder)
Elbow dysplasia	OFA elbow evaluation	Once, in breeding dogs (ask the breeder)
Inherited eye disease	CAER eye exam by a veterinary ophthalmologist	Yearly in breeding dogs (ask the breeder)
Shoulder problems (OCD)	Shoulder evaluation	Once, from 12 months

Official health tests for breeding dogs

The OFA's CHIC program asks Greater Swiss Mountain Dog breeders to test for these. Ask to see the results before you buy a puppy.

Hip evaluation
Elbow evaluation
Eye exam (ophthalmologist)
Shoulder evaluation

See the full list on OFA.org

Grooming Moderate year-round, heavy twice a year

Brush weekly and more often during heavy sheds. Bathe as needed. Trim nails every 2–3 weeks, check ears weekly and brush teeth several times a week.

History

Ancient

Alpine farm dogs

Swiss farm dogs may descend from large dogs brought by Roman armies.
1908

Rediscovery

Albert Heim recognized the Greater Swiss as a separate breed in Switzerland.
1900s–today

Modern breed

The breed came to the US in 1968 and was recognized by the AKC in 1995.

Questions owners ask

Are Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs easy to train?

Moderately. They are smart but independent and slow to mature, so patience and consistency are key.

Are Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs good with kids and other pets?

Usually. They are gentle with family kids and pets, but their size needs supervision around toddlers.

How much exercise does a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog need?

Plan on 60–90 minutes a day of steady activity like walks, hiking or carting.

Do Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs shed?

Yes. The short coat sheds moderately year-round and heavily twice a year, so brush weekly.

What health problems do Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs have, and how long do they live?

They typically live 8–11 years. Bloat, splenic torsion, hip and elbow dysplasia and eye disease are the main concerns.

Is a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog good for apartments or first-time owners?

No. Their size and strength suit a house with space and an owner ready for a slow-maturing giant.

Freeze Dried Beef Liver Dog Treats

Back in stock soon

We're restocking. When it's back, a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog needs only 9–13 pieces a day, well inside the 175–255 kcal treat limit.

See the product

Where the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog ranks

Health tests follow the OFA's CHIC program. The treat limit is 10% of daily calories for all treats combined. Every dog is different, so use this as a starting point and ask your vet about yours.