Greater Swiss Mountain Dog.

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, breed of working dog. The greater Swiss mountain dog is the largest and oldest of the four breeds of Swiss mountain dogs, including the Appenzell Cattle Dog, Entlebuch Cattle Dog, and Bernese Mountain Dog. Of these four, the American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes only the greater Swiss mountain dog and Bernese mountain dog. The greater Swiss mountain dog originated in the small villages of Switzerland, where it pulled milk carts and rounded up livestock. Swiss dog breeder Albert Heim discovered this dog on remote farms in Switzerland in 1908. He convinced the Swiss Kennel Club to recognize this breed in 1909. The greater Swiss mountain dog has a large, powerful body. It stands about 58 to 69 cm (about 23 to 27 inches) at the shoulders, and weighs about 38.5 to 63.5 kg (about 85 to 140 lb). The front legs are straight, and the back legs are strong and muscular. The chest is deep and broad. Both the long, sloping shoulders and the medium-length neck are muscular. The flat, broad head is sturdy, with a slight furrow running down the strong straight muzzle, which ends in a blunt tip. Medium-size eyes are dark brown. When this dog is alert, its stout tail is raised, and the slightly rounded ears are raised at the base and brought forward. The greater Swiss mountain dog has a thick, full coat of hair between 2.5 and 5 cm. (1 and 2 in) long. Its jet-black coloring is accented by markings of rust and white. The nose is always black. The greater Swiss mountain dog was introduced in the United States in 1968. It received full acceptance from the AKC in 1995. Today the dog is rare both in its native Switzerland and in the United States. Only about 100 puppies are born each year. The national breed club is the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club of America. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.