Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
FCI:
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog - Group II - Pinschers and Schnauzers, Molossoid breeds, Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs.
General Appearance:
This breed is highly valued for its calm, reliable temperament, reasonable temperament without the slightest hint tendency - apathy or choleric and foremost as a dog for the whole family (it is not one master dog). Also it is gaining popularity as a formidable social breed pleasing coat colour.
In everyday situations it behaves confidently, it is good-natured and affectionate to owners, members of his family and familiar people, it is confident to strangers, but at the same time attentive and vigilant watchdog , it is ready to protect the owner´s property and its utterly fearless defender. During the rest, which it gives it a sense of its own power as well as "nerves" it cannot be disturbed just any little thing, but it is always very alert.
As a socially-based dog is happiest among "its " people's love present in every major events in family "pack", and due to its coat it can easily be all year round in the outdoor kennel, but mentally it suffers. It gets well with children because of its kindness , but due to size it better when children are under control by their parents, also when it is feeding , relaxing and sleeping everybody must respect its personality.
Training/Behaviour:
It can be used after passing the appropriate job training as well as a draft dog harnessed to a cart. It was, after all, the normal work of its ancestors. It would be therefore easy to use it for sports e.g. pulling competitions. Education of prudent dog it usually makes the problem even for beginners, if methods are kindly consistent and their actions against it is always consistent. The main goal is made the dog of this size and strength in adulthood that dog will be always and under all circumstances manageable.
One of the most important tasks is therefore teach it to walk on a leash without pulling. With a little perseverance and the owner helps positive stimulation (praise, treats), it is fairly easy, it will start by a small puppy. Early socialization and is very suitable due to character foundation .It generally proceeds smoothly.
Body:
It is a sturdy dog with strong bones, powerful muscles and pleasing tricolour coat colour despite its size and body. Weight is a hardy and agile. Sexual expression males and females must be significantly different. Length of body from the front edge of the shoulder to point of buttock in the pan should be the height at withers is 10: 9. Height at withers, male is from 65 to 72 cm for female is from 60 to 68 cm.
Head is suited with the size of the body, but not coarse. For dogs it is usually heavier than by the females. Skull should be above flat and wide. Its length is the length of the muzzle as the 1: 1 and its width has a width of muzzle as 2: 1. Longitudinal furrow front beginning end of the front slope (stop) toward the crown gradually loses. Stop is gradual.
The muzzle should be strong, longer than the deeper, even when viewed from above or from the side must not be pointed. The muzzle is level, without longitudinal central depressions. Nose must be black. Lips should not be too strong and free, must fit to the jaws and teeth and are on the edges of black.
The jaws should be massive. It requires a strong, complete and regular scissor bite. Tolerates the absence of two first premolars (P1) or two second premolars (P2) and possibly. Missing molars 3 (M3) is not taken into account.
Eyes are medium sized, almond-shaped, not sunken or bulging, from hazelnut colour to maroon. Their expression is bright and friendly. Eyelids tight fitting to the eyeballs and they have dark pigmented borders. The earlobes are medium sized, triangular in shape, relatively high. In repose hanging flat to the cheeks, in the heat of passion are rotated forward. Inside and outside should be well feathered.
The neck should be strong, muscular and rather dumpy. On the neck should never be dewlap. The body is slightly longer than height at withers. The back should be of medium length, hard and straight. Loins are broad and heavily muscled. The croup is long and wide, slightly sloping, never overbuilt (higher than the withers) not shrunk.
Its tail forms a smooth continuation set. It is fairly heavy and reaching to the hock. The rest is hanging in the heat of passion and movement it is carried higher and slightly curved upwards, but it is never curled and may be carried flipped over back. The chest is big and wide, reaching to the elbows. Its depth has to be to height at withers as 1: 2. The imaginary cross-section has to have a short oval shape, or may be decidedly flat or downright barrel.
The chest is significant. The abdomen is only slightly tucked and weaknesses are easily rolled up. The forelegs must be seen from the front straight and parallel, their stance is wide. Shoulders should be long, strong and adequately sloping. Lying close to the chest wall and are appropriately muscled. Their axes make with the shoulder bones very obtuse angles. Forearms should be strong bones, straight pasterns firm. When viewed from the front is the direct continuation of the forearm when viewed from the sides is nearly vertical to ground.
Hindquarters seen from the rear are straight and not too close together. Thighs should be fairly long, well muscled, broad, thick, knee bent distinctly dull. Tibia must be relatively long. Hocks are strong and appropriately bent. Hocks and feet must not be turned in or out. Feet should be strong and should point straight forward. Toes are nicely arched and tight fitting. Nails should be strong. Dewclaws should be removed except in those countries where the act is prohibited by law to protect animals.
Movement is always (at the walk, trot and canter) spacious, well-balanced. Action forelegs should be abundant and free. They are the source of pelvic forward drive pulse (reflection). In trotting when viewed from front and behind limbs move straight forward and parallel to each other.
The outer coat is medium length and dense undercoat should have the most dark grey or black. Short outer coat is permitted if missing undercoat.
Coat colours are typical, tricolour, black with symmetrical tan markings and clean white markings. Tan markings are always among the black coat colour and white markings on the cheeks, above the eyes, on the inside of the ears, on both sides of the chest, legs and underside of tail. White markings on the head, on the forehead –called-bald and muzzle, throat and chest from the front (bib stretches without interruption up to the throat), feet and tip of tail. Between the blaze and tan markings above the eyes should be stripe black coat colour. A white patch on the neck or a white "collar" around his neck is tolerated.
