Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Breed Profile

Head: Somewhat mesaticephalic skull-type, moderate in size, slightly wedge-shaped, and in proportion to the rest of the body. The topskull is rather flat whether viewed in profile or from the front. It is broad, being broadest between the ears and slightly tapering towards the muzzle. The head, overall, tapers from the broad backskull toward the eyes and again toward the end of the muzzle. The occiput is barely visible. A median furrow starts at the stop and disappears toward the occiput. The head is clean-cut without excess skin or wrinkles.

Eyes: Somewhat medium in size, almond in shape, hazel to brown, darker pigment preferred. Outer corners may be set slightly oblique. The eye rims are well-fitted and well-pigmented. The eyes are never bulging or deep set. There should be sufficient bone in the surrounding orbital sockets to protect the eyes. Any signs of entropion or ectropion are incorrect for this breed.

Ears: Somewhat moderate in size. Set fairly high on the skull, level with the plane of the skull, and fairly well apart on the outer edge of the topskull. Triangular in shape with tips slightly rounded. The ears are dropped, hanging with the inner edges and tips close to the head when resting. They are held slightly forward when alert. The ears are never long, overly large, or fully erect.

Muzzle: The muzzle is straight, blunt, and longer than its depth. Set off from slightly pronounced cheeks. The plane, or bridge of the muzzle, is straight and level. It tapers slightly from the broad base toward the nose but is not pointed. The upper and lower jaws are well developed, approximately equal in length, and have good bone substance, never appearing snipey or weak.

Nose: The nose is well-pigmented and black. The nostrils are well-opened.

Neck: Moderate in length to allow for good head carriage. It is strongly muscled and rather thick. The neck tapers just slightly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is clean-cut and without excess skin, throatiness, or dewlap.

Chest: Deep and broad but never wider than deep. The brisket extends to the point of the elbows. Rather well-developed forechest, but not overly prominent. The depth of the chest to the height of the dog at the withers is about 1:2.

Body: Slightly elongated, but never excessively so. Solid and of good substance, the body is never heavy and cloddy. The width at the forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters.

Feet: Feet are round with well-arched toes and coarse pads. Dewclaws may or may not be present.

Tail: Continuation of the croup, reaching the hocks, and fairly heavy. It is thick from root to tip but slightly tapers at the end. The tail is carried straight or gently curved in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level, but it is never tucked. The tail is of a moderate length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down. When in movement, the tail is carried elevated, with a slight curve, but never over the topline.

Movement: The movement of the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog breed is a powerful drive from hindquarters with a good reach in forequarters. As the pace increases, a single tracking may be seen. Limbs move in a straight line while trotting. The movement is energetic, efficient, and effortless. The characteristics of a healthy structure are evident. When moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the forelimbs and hindlimbs will converge to the centerline of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in line with the nose. When extended, the width between the forefeet should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring.

Temperament: Being neither shy nor aggressive, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog breed is confident with an active, lively, determined demeanor. They are good-natured and loyal to familiar people while also being generally friendly towards welcomed strangers. They are very intelligent and capable of learning many commands and tricks with proper motivation. However, they are the most responsive to their owner. Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed.