Greater Swiss Mountain Dog E-Book

Nikki Moustaki

• Herausgeber: CompanionHouse Books
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Serie: Comprehensive Owner's Guide
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 248

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2012

Beschreibung

The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog descends from Switzerland's most ancient dogs and is the largest of the country's four Sennenhund breeds. Although a fairly new face in the US and England, the Swissy, as he's affectionately known, excels at cart-pulling, herding and guarding: he is prized as an "all-arounder," though draft work was his original occupation. Breeders today embrace the breed's tradition and involve their dogs in carting and weight-pulling events. The breed's black, tan and white tricolor markings, in fact the hallmark of all four Swiss mountain breeds, distinguish him as a handsome working dog of impressive height and musculature: he stands 27–28 inches at the shoulder. Like his homeland, the Swissy is industrious, versatile and easy to get along with, an ideal family dog who loves children and devotedly guards them. For an owner willing to give him the exercise, training and leg room he requires, the Swissy makes an exceptional choice. This new Special Limited Edition by well-known dog author Nikki Moustaki presents a complete introduction to the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog breed, including a look at the breed's long and romantic history and its present-day status, its characteristics and owner requirements and the breed standard. Chapters instructing new owners how to select, train and care for the puppy are comprehensive and well illustrated. Additionally, the book provides advice on feeding, grooming, house-training, obedience, showing and more. An up-to-date accurate chapter on healthcare for dogs, written by Dr. Lowell Ackerman, discusses everything a responsible owner needs to know about inoculations, parasites, spaying/neutering and much more.

Leseprobe

Physical Characteristics of the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

(from the American Kennel Club breed standard)

Expression: Animated and gentle.

Skull: Flat and broad with a slight stop. The backskull and muzzle are of approximately equal length. The backskull is approximately twice the width of the muzzle.

Eyes: Almond shaped and brown, dark brown preferred, medium sized. Eyelids are close fitting and eyerims are black.

Muzzle: Large, blunt and straight and most often with a slight rise before the end. In adult dogs the nose leather is always black. The lips are clean and as a dry-mouthed breed, flews are only slightly developed. The teeth meet in a scissors bite.

Chest: Deep and broad with a slight protruding breastbone. The ribs are well-sprung.

Ears: Medium sized, set high, triangular in shape, gently rounded at the tip, and hang close to the head when in repose. The top of the ear is level with the top of the skull.

Neck: Of moderate length, strong, muscular and clean.

Forequarters: Shoulders are long, sloping, strong and moderately laid back. They are flat and well-muscled. Forelegs are straight and strong. The pasterns slope very slightly. Feet are round and compact with well arched toes. The dewclaws may or may not be present.

Coat: Topcoat is dense, approximately 1.25 to 2 inches in length. Undercoat must be present and may be thick and sometimes showing, almost always present at neck but may be present throughout.

Body: Full with slight tuck up. The loins are broad and strong. The croup is long, broad and smoothly rounded to the tail insertion.

Topline: Level from the withers to the croup.

Tail: Thick from root to tip, tapering slightly at the tip, reaching to the hocks and carried down in repose. The bones of the tail should feel straight.

Hindquarters: Thighs are broad, strong and muscular. The stifles are moderately bent and taper smoothly into the hocks. The hocks are well let down and straight when viewed from the rear. Feet are round and compact with well arched toes. Dewclaws should be removed.

Size: Height at the highest point of the shoulder is ideally: Dogs 25.5 to 28.5 inches. Bitches 23.5 to 27 inches.

Color: Topcoat is black. The markings are rich rust and white. Symmetry of markings is desired.

Contents

History of the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

Explore the mysterious beginnings of the rare Greater Swiss Mountian Dog, the oldest and largest of Switzerland’s Sennenhund breeds and forerunner of other more well-known breeds. Learn about the “Swissy’s” history as a superior herding and drafting dog, and follow his slow, steady rise to recognition in Europe and, most recently, the United States.

Characteristics of the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

Discover what makes this versatile and friendly breed tick and the type of person best-suited to care for it. Loyal, powerful, friendly and good with children, the Swissy will be the perfect fit for any home that can guarantee this good-natured dog adequate activity and attention. Learn about training methods that will be beneficial in training the Swissy, as well as health issues pertinent to owners of this wonderful breed.

Breed Standard for the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

Learn the requirements of a well-bred Greater Swiss Mountain Dog by studying the description of the breed set forth in the American Kennel Club standard. Both show dogs and pets must possess key characteristics as outlined in the breed standard.

Your Puppy Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

Find out about how to locate a well-bred Greater Swiss Mountain Dog puppy. Discover which questions to ask the breeder and what to expect when visiting the litter. Prepare for your puppy-accessory shopping spree. Also discussed are home safety, the first trip to the vet, socialization and solving basic puppy problems.

Proper Care of Your Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

Cover the specifics of taking care of your Greater Swiss Mountain Dog every day: feeding for the puppy, adult and senior dog; grooming, including coat care, ears, eyes, nails and bathing; and exercise needs for your dog. Also discussed are the essentials of dog identification and boarding.

Training Your Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

Begin with the basics of training the puppy and adult dog. Learn the principles of housetraining the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, including the use of crates and basic scent instincts. Enter puppy kindergarten, introduce the pup to his collar and leash and progress to the basic commands. Find out about obedience classes and other activities.

Healthcare of Your Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

By Lowell Ackerman DVM, DACVD

Become your dog’s healthcare advocate and a well-educated canine keeper. Select a skilled and able veterinarian. Discuss pet insurance, vaccinations and infectious diseases, the neuter/spay decision and a sensible, effective plan for parasite control, including fleas, ticks and worms.

Your Senior Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

Know when to consider your Greater Swiss Mountain Dog a senior and what special needs he will have. Learn to recognize the signs of aging in terms of physical and behavioral traits and what your vet can do to optimize your dog’s golden years. Consider some advice about saying goodbye to your beloved pet.

Showing Your Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

Step into the center ring and find out about the world of showing pure-bred dogs. Here’s how to get started in AKC shows, how they are organized and what’s required for your dog to become a champion. Take a leap into the realms of obedience trials, agility trials, tracking tests and more.

KENNEL CLUB BOOKS®GREATER SWISS MOUNTAIN DOG

ISBN 13: 978-1-59378-375-4

eISBN 13: 978-1-59378-722-6

Copyright © 2007 • Kennel Club Books® • An Imprint of I-5 Press™ • A Division of I-5 Publishing, LLC™

3 Burroughs, Irvine, CA 92618 USA

Cover Design Patented: US 6,435,559 B2 • Printed in South Korea

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by photostat, scanner, microfilm, xerography or any other means, or incorporated into any information retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the copyright owner.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Moustaki, Nikki, 1970-Greater Swiss mountain dog / by Nikki Moustaki.

p. cm.

ISBN 1-59378-375-2

1. Greater Swiss mountain dog. I. Title.

SF429.G78M68 2006

636.73--dc22                                              2006011614

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Photography by Isabelle Français

with additional photographs by:

Ashbey Photography, Paulette Braun, Bernd Brinkmann, Tara Darling, JC Photography, Carol Ann Johnson, Bill Jonas, Kenneth Reed Photography, The Standard Image and Alice van Kempen.

Illustrations by Patricia Peters

The publisher wishes to thank all of the owners whose dogs are illustrated in this book.

The Swissy has arrived! Although still considered a rare breed, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a versatile working dog and an excellent companion dog, a combination that won’t let the breed remain rare for long.

The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog (GSMD) is known for his dedication to his owners and property and his strong body and diligent work ethic that make him an excellent draft dog. The “Swissy” is one of four breeds that make up a group called the Swiss Sennenhunden; the others are the Entelbucher, the Appenzeller and the Bernese Mountain Dog. The GSMD has an unusual and long history, being one of the oldest breeds from Switzerland yet a relative newcomer to the American pure-bred dog fancy.

Unfortunately, the history of the Swissy is something left up to the suspicions of historians to a great extent. Although there are no official records, the history of the breed presumably begins over 2,000 years ago. Most people believe that the Swissy is derived from the Molosser, a breed that was brought into the region now known as Switzerland when the Romans occupied the area in about 100 BC. No one knows much about the dogs already in Switzerland at that time, but it is presumed that the Roman dogs bred with the native dogs, and the forerunner of the GSMD eventually emerged.

There is another theory that dogs owned by the Phoenicians who inhabited Spain around 1100 BC started to spread across Europe and also contributed to the origins of the Swissy’s bloodline, but no one knows for certain. Historians do know that the Swissy is a forefather of both the Saint Bernard and the Rottweiler.

The Entelbucher and the Appenzeller are two of the Sennenhund breeds and are related to the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog.

ON THE RISE

Recent AKC registration statistics rank the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog as 92nd in popularity among the over 150 AKC-recognized breeds.

Around the time of the GSMD’s appearance, dogs were bred for work (as they still are today). Farmers mated together dogs with the ability to perform similar tasks, creating offspring that were also good at that particular chore. This is how the Swissy’s propensity for pulling carts or sleds was established. Swissys were used for other farm-related chores, like guarding and herding. The breed was also used as a butcher’s dog and worked a great deal with livestock on cattle farms. The Swissy is known as a “generalist,” as he is able to perform many tasks but, because of this, he can lose focus easily.

As the Swissy was bred more and more for draft work, this became the breed’s specialty. It was still used for other purposes, but physically the Swissy was gaining the muscular back legs and solid physique required for drafting.

The drafting quality of the Swissy made it an excellent resource for farmers. The Swissy could also be used for human transportation and could do a lot of the work that a horse would do on a farm, and a dog is much cheaper and easier to care for. The dog could transport a farmer to the barn, help him haul bags of grain, herd cows, ward off predators, keep the farmer company and then cart him home again. No wonder the breed flourished for a time!

By combining the desirable traits of certain dogs, farmers were able to create a breed that was beneficial in the field. The result was the exceptionally well-built, loyal and loving Greater Swiss Mountain Dog.

Though a rare breed, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog can be found on the international dog-show circuit; this attractive Swissy competes at the World Dog Show in 2002.

However, despite the breed’s many abilities, historians presume that the advent of technology put the once-popular Swissy out of work. The breed’s numbers dwindled, though they were still certainly in use on farms throughout Europe. Laws were enacted to ensure that the draft dogs were treated ethically, and competitions were created to see what the dogs were truly capable of doing. This enabled the owners of the dogs and the lawmakers to note the limitations of the dogs, figure out how they could make equipment safer and gauge exactly how much the Swissy and other draft breeds were able to pull without endangering their health. It also helped the breed develop as a more successful draft dog, as dogs were bred to do well in these competitions.

Traditionally bred as a draft dog, the Swissy is also a capable sheep herder as demonstrated by Barton Manor’s Black Jack.

SENNENHUND BREEDS

The Swissy is a member of the Sennenhund breeds, which also include the Appenzeller and the Entelbucher (both cattle dogs) and the Bernese Mountain Dog. The GSMD is the largest and the oldest of the four breeds, though it was only first entered into regular AKC classes in 1995.

FINALLY RECOGNIZED

In 1910 the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog was finally recognized by the Swiss Kennel Club. The Swissy, until then considered a short-haired type of the Bernese Mountain Dog, had not been given much attention. At a dog show in 1908, Albert Heim was judging a group of Bernese Mountain Dogs and came across one of these short-haired varieties. He noted how the dog differed from the others and thought that this type should be considered its own breed. With Heim’s encouragement, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog was given its own title, and a breed standard was established. Immediately, efforts began to increase the Swissy’s numbers. With the efforts of the new breeders, the first GSMD club was created and the breed slowly began to multiply. It was a slow process, though, with only 50 or so dogs being added to the club’s stud book per year throughout the 1930s. It was then, and is still, considered a rare breed in its homeland as well as here in the United States.

Ch. Barton Manor’s Brooke, happy to do what Swissys do best—draft work on the farm.

Throughout the middle of the 20th century, the breed continued to work as a draft dog. The Swiss Army used the Swissy for draft purposes during World War II. With their help and the efforts of others, the Swissy grew in popularity as more people became aware of its existence as a distinct breed and the positive qualities that set it apart from other breeds of dog. At this point, for the first time on record, the number of new Swissy puppies registered every year was over 100. Overall, the number of Swissys in the world had increased to almost 400 by 1945, a vast improvement from 1910 when the Swissy was first recognized as a breed.

THE GREATER SWISS MOUNTAIN DOG COMES TO AMERICA

In 1968, the first Greater Swiss Mountain Dog was brought to the United States by Patricia and Frederick Hoffman and Perrin Rademacher. Together, these three enthusiasts formed the first GSMD club in the United States immediately upon their arrival, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club of America, Inc. (GSMDCA). Howard and Gretel Summons were also an integral part of the creation of this first club in the US. It was their hard work that created the athletic, charismatic stock from which the American Swissy derives today.

The GSMDCA spent years working toward achieving breed recognition by the American Kennel Club (AKC). The club held its first national specialty in 1983; at that time, the club had a registry of 257 dogs. By 1985 the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog was included in the AKC’s Miscellaneous Group. On March 17, 1993 the club transferred their stud records to the AKC, which was used as the foundation for the breed. This record contained over 1,300 dogs. Finally, on July 1, 1995, after 27 years of dedicated work on the part of the GSMDCA, the AKC officially recognized the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog as a breed; the Swissy is included in the AKC’s Working Group. Since then, the Swissy has grown in numbers and popularity across the United States. It still remains an obscure breed, but it is more popular than ever before in its history.

Here’s a nice example of an American-bred Swissy. This is Ch. Palisades Regal Victoria.

The Swissy has taken nicely to his more recent role as a companion dog.

Today there are around 40 officially recognized Swissy breeders nationwide. Swissy clubs in the United States and Switzerland continue to work together for the betterment of the breed, sending dogs with certain skills or especially good traits back and forth to try and create the highest quality dogs possible. The standard for the breed remains the same in both countries. The physical condition of the dog is still the most important factor for breeders and when dogs are judged at shows. More than anything, the Swissy is a drafting dog, and a solid, muscular body is more important to the integrity of the breed than any other physical trait. There are certain important points, like coat and eye color, but, other than that, the dog’s ability to work is what counts in shows and on the farm.

The Swissy is still considered a draft dog, but now the breed competes and participates in a multitude of other events: conformation, agility, search and rescue, obedience, tracking, pack hiking, herding, weight pulling, therapy work and versatility. There are clubs for people interested in training their Swissys for each of these tasks. Clubs provide a great deal of resources for newcomers to these activities.

Considering how recently the Swissy has become a breed and how limited the breed’s numbers are in the United States, breed-specific competitions are still being fine-tuned. As of now, there is no draft competition strictly for the GSMD. Instead, they compete with other breeds like the Newfoundland and the Bernese Mountain Dog. There are various distinct titles that the Swissy can earn in competitions, including Draft Dog (DD) and Novice Draft Dog (NDD). The first Swissy to earn one of these titles was Ch. Derby’s Eisenhower CD, who earned the NDD from the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America. Since then, other dogs like Dav-Ka’s Cardinal Virtue CD and Ch. Lonestar’s Ace CD have gone on to earn their DD titles. The Swissy is certainly stiff competition in drafting contests, with his strong, muscular body and willful determination, but a Swissy’s success at drafting is not solely up to the dog. There has to be solid communication between the dog and his owner or handler.

The GSMDCA has started moving toward having an all-Swissy competition, the first step being the creation of the club’s own rules and regulations for competition and the training of judges. Rules for a draft competition were written in 1995 and approved in 1998. Since then, several members of the club have taken the steps necessary to be able to judge such a competition, although one has not yet taken place as of this writing.

Another type of competition suited for the Swissy is weight-pulling. The GSMDCA does have its own rules and competitions for this event, but there are also competitions available through the International Weight Pull Association and the United Kennel Club. As with any competition, the safety of the dogs in weight pulling is the first priority. Dogs must be at least 14 months old to compete and be in good physical condition. Equipment must be appropriate and fit the dog well. Dogs in these competitions can pull over 20 times their body weight across a span of 4 to 6 feet, which is an enormous task.

Since the Swissy is known for being a versatile animal, it seems almost natural that he would be an active competitor in versatility competitions. In these kinds of trials, the Swissy is expected to work with his owner or handler through a variety of tasks including conformation, obedience, drafting, weight pulling, packing, stock work and other activities. This is a sort of decathlon and requires an all-around athlete with amazing competence in every area.

Ch. Polyanna’s Keno proudly shows off the powerful hindquarters required for traditional draft work and more recently, weight pulling.

Dogs working in versatility events should be old enough that strenuous exercise will not harm their developing joints and bones. Throughout the competition dogs are continually monitored to make sure that they are not hurt. These competitions are a chance for the dog to indulge his competitive nature and bond with his favorite people. It’s also a chance for the dog to show off his abilities, but competition should, overall, remain fun.

With the proper care and guidance, there is very little this rare newcomer can’t accomplish.

There are two types of titles that a Swissy can earn in versatility competition: Versatility Greater Swiss (VGS) and Versatility Greater Swiss Excellent (VSGX). The VGS denotes that a dog has shown a proficiency in several areas. The VSGX denotes that a dog has performed to standards of excellence in several areas. To earn these awards, the dogs must have won a title in conformation, a Companion Dog (CD) title in obedience and two titles from other categories. Winning one of these titles requires a commitment from the dog but also an unwavering desire on the part of the owner, trainer or handler. Dogs alone cannot win these titles.

There is a competition and title built to suit any owner and his dog, but the GSMD as a pet certainly does not have to compete for anything to be a “good” dog. Overall, the Swissy is a big-hearted dog that likes to work hard. The GSMD enjoys working for the people he loves, whether by protecting them, pulling them around in a cart or just by making them laugh. The Swissy seems to fit into any home that offers a lot of careful attention and an understanding of the physical needs specific to the breed. This is a breed sure to grow in popularity in years to come, as it has too much to offer to be ignored.

The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, known in its homeland as Grosser Schweizer Sennenhund, is powerful enough to pull a cart of horse feed across the farm by day yet temperate with his family in the evening, playing fetch with the children and cuddling up with everyone in front of the TV. He takes to home life as readily as he takes to cart work, guarding and herding livestock. The Swissy is incredibly versatile, but one thing remains true of these dogs in all situations: they remain constant companions that want nothing more than to spend time with the people they love. This dog will also protect his property with a fierce stance, barking at what he perceives as intruders—guests beware!

The Swissy is a large, tri-colored, double-coated breed known primarily as a draft dog, but also as a herding dog and guard dog. Males are generally between 105 and 140 pounds and 25 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder. Females are slightly smaller, weighing 80 to 110 pounds and being 23 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder. Swissys should be slightly longer than they are tall, with a length to height ratio of 10 to 9; they are certainly not delicate-looking dogs. They are very muscular and heavy-boned, enabling them to do the strenuous work they are known for.

The undercoat of the GSMD is a thick, insulating layer that is ideally dark gray but may also be light gray or tawny. The black top coat ranges in length from 1¼ inches to 2 inches long, and the markings are red and white. Though the coat is easy to care for, these dogs shed a lot, especially when they “blow” their coats twice a year. Weekly brushing is recommended.

The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog tends to shed his coat, but it is otherwise easy to care for, with regular brushing keeping it in fine shape.

Most of the dog is black, with white running in a blaze down the forehead and across the muzzle. Red accents the eyebrows of the dog, the undersides of his ears and his cheeks. The neck and chest are also typically white, although patches of white elsewhere are acceptable. Red appears on each leg and white on each foot. The bottom of the dog’s tail is red and the tip is white. Symmetry is ideal but not absolutely necessary in the dog’s coloring. The only way that a dog’s coloring could lead to disqualification in a conformation show is if the dog is not black, red and white. Some dogs are born with a blue or charcoal topcoat or are just red and white. For working dogs and family pets, the texture and length of the Swissy’s coat is ideal because it stays clean and attractive with very little maintenance on the owner’s part.

The eyes are almond-shaped and brown. Darker brown is preferred, but any brown will do. If either one or both eyes are blue, the dog will be disqualified from conformation showing.

A SWISSY TO WATCH ME

The GSMD is known primarily as a drafting dog, but he is an excellent watchdog as well, alerting the family to any intruders, whether a human or just the neighborhood cat. They generally aren’t persistent barkers but will bark up a storm when they perceive trouble.

The tail is not docked but is long and sturdy like the rest of the dog, only tapering at the very tip. The tail does not hinder the working capabilities of the breed. The ears, also undocked, are medium-sized and triangular in shape. Normally the droopy ears stay close to the head, but when the dog’s attention is drawn to something, the ears will perk up and the flaps of the ears will move a little forward and slightly away from the head.

The GSMD is a breed made for pulling heavy loads, and its strong hind legs are evidence of that. Consequently, the Swissy is more suited to slow, continuous movement and is built for strength and endurance. The Swissy is better suited for long walks than for runs or sprints. When a Swissy moves, his front legs reach out far in front of him and his strong back legs propel him forward, along with the cart he is pulling. Throughout these movements, the back of the dog remains straight and level.

One distinguishing characteristic of the GSMD is that, unlike other large breeds, the Swissy is dry-mouthed and doesn’t drool excessively. This is a very welcome characteristic for people looking to take their dogs on car rides and have drool-free homes. This also makes the Swissy lower maintenance and better smelling than many other dogs of similar stature.

Another quality that sets him apart from other breeds is that the Swissy does not tend to bark unless there’s a reason. When he does bark, he has a distinctively loud and deep voice. Normally, the Swissy is fairly quiet unless there’s something to bark at, like guests, prowlers or intruding animals.

What big eyes the Greater Swiss has. The Swissy’s brown, almond-shaped eyes are all the better to keep a watchful eye on his loving owner.

TEMPERAMENT AND PERSONALITY

The Swissy is described by many as loyal, devoted, strong, industrious, loving, gentle, versatile and eager to please. Of course, every Swissy has his own unique personality and temperament, but the breed, in general, is naturally hard-working, both because Swissys seem to enjoy the exercise and also because they are always looking to help or protect their families. Although the Swissy is a working dog, he very easily adapts to a calm, quiet home life, but he does need considerable exercise. The Swissy is not a “couch potato,” especially when young. The GSMD is good with children and other animals, but the manners a dog needs inside the house and socialization skills are something more completely and quickly learned when the owners make a point of exercising and training the dog.

The gentle Greater Swiss loves little more than spending quality time with the people he loves.

While working, the Swissy remains just as friendly and good-natured as when playing fetch in the backyard. Though no one can know what a Swissy is thinking, the dog certainly seems to enjoy his work, perhaps even thinking of it as a kind of game. These dogs are always eager to help their owners and do not often get stubborn when they are working.

Swissys are quick learners. The ability to pull a cart does not come from instinct alone. However, Swissys develop in the same way that they move, slowly and steadily. It takes around three years for a Swissy to fully mature, making certain things, like house-training, a lengthier process than it is for some other breeds.

The GSMD is also a fantastic family companion. Swissys are incredibly gentle and patient with children. In fact, they tend to like playing with children and feel protective of the children in their families. Even though Swissys are large dogs, they generally seem to recognize that children are small and they act accordingly. They tend not to jump up on kids and generally do not play roughly with them. Although, as a gentle giant, sometimes the Swissy can make the occasional clumsy mistake like hitting a child with his wagging tail, which can be quite a blow for smaller children. For this reason, small children should always be supervised when playing with a Swissy.

Certainly there are things an owner can do to ensure a good dog/child relationship. First, children should be taught to respect the dog, the appropriate way to pick up or handle a puppy and to not hurt or taunt the dog. Also, the earlier you introduce your Swissy to children, the more welcoming and accepting your Swissy will be, although Swissys are generally very accepting of people as a rule.

The GSMD is as accepting of other animals, of all sizes and species, as he is of people. Since the Swissy was developed as a working dog for farmers, he is well behaved and rarely aggressive toward livestock or other dogs—although, as with children, the sooner Swissys are introduced to other animals and the more time they spend around them, the more accepting they will become.

Swissys can become territorial when they are in an enclosed space, barking and jumping to protect that space from strangers. For example, a Swissy locked in a car can do some damage if there are a lot of people walking by. It is not recommended to leave any dog alone in a car, and this is but one more reason why it is unsafe to do so with a Swissy. However, when Swissys are in an open space, they tend to be very amiable.

While the majority of Swissys are incredibly friendly, on occasion it is possible to find one that is a little shy or aggressive. This can be avoided by getting a dog from a reputable breeder and meeting the sire and dam of the puppy to ensure that both have pleasant personalities. Also, with the right socialization early enough in life, these less outgoing dogs can learn better social skills.