![]() ![]() Heim was a Sennenhund expert, and started to encourage breeders to take an interest in them. Heim recognized them as representatives of the old, vanishing, large mountain dog, whose ancestors had been widely spread across Europe, and bred as guard dogs, draft dogs, and droving-cattle dogs. In 1908, on the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Swiss Kennel Club (Schweizerische Kynologische Gesellschaft or SKG), two short-haired Bernese Mountain Dogs were shown by Franz Schertenlieb to an advocate of the Swiss mountain dogs, geology professor Albert Heim (Ap– August 31, 1937). It was assumed that the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog had almost died out by the late 19th century, because their work was being done by other breeds or machines, but they were rediscovered in the early 1900s. Renewal of breed Prevailing theory Īt one time, the breed's ancestors were believed to have been among the most popular dogs in Switzerland. By the 19th century, the ancestors of the modern Greater Swiss Mountain Dog were widely used in central Europe by farmers and tradesmen. The breed was also used as a butcher's dog, having been "popular with butchers, cattle dealers, manual workers and farmers, who used them as guard dogs, droving or draught dogs and bred them as such." Its popularity as a draft dog led to the nickname "the poor man's horse". Large, sturdy and confident, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a draft and drover breed that is robust and agile enough to perform farm work in very mountainous regions. The Swiss farmer needed a strong, multi-purpose dog capable of contributing to daily life on the farm. Selective breeding was based on a dog's ability to perform a particular function, such as pulling loads or guarding. These two Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs, forming a double team, have collar harnesses, with the shaft between their legs. The breed was bred as a draught dog to pull heavy carts, to guard and move dairy cattle, and as a watchdog and family companion. The early ancestors of the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog were used by farmers, herdsmen and merchants in central Europe. Whether or not a domesticated large breed existed in the Alpine area when the Romans invaded, Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are almost certainly the result of the mating of native farm dogs with large Mastiff-type dogs brought to Switzerland by foreign settlers. Ī third possibility is that a large dog breed was indigenous to central Europe during the Neolithic Period, when humans grew wild and domestic crops and used domesticated animals. ![]() These dogs later migrated eastward and influenced the development of the Spanish Mastiff, Great Pyrenees, Dogue de Bordeaux, and Sennenhund breeds. Ī second theory is that in 1100 BC, the Phoenicians brought a large dog breed with them to settlements in Spain. The most popular theory states the dogs are descended from the Molossus, a large mastiff-type dog, which accompanied the Roman Legions on their invasion of the Alps more than 2,000 years ago. There are several theories regarding the origin of the four Sennenhund breeds. Specific dog breeds were created by inbreeding, and puppies were given to neighbors and family members. Beginning in 1515, the remote valleys of Switzerland were more or less isolated from world history for three centuries. The origin of the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is not known. Among the four Sennenhunde, or Swiss mountain dogs, this breed is considered the oldest, and is also the largest.Ī painting of an Alpine Mastiff which was brought to Britain in 1815 It is relatively healthy for its size and tends to have far fewer problems than more popular breeds in its size range. The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is sociable, active, calm, and dignified, and loves being part of the family. Its breed standard calls for a black, white, and rust colored coat. The breed is large and heavy-boned with great physical strength, but is still agile enough to perform the all-purpose farm duties it was originally used for. It was assumed to have almost died out by the late 19th century, since its work was being done by other breeds or machines, but was rediscovered in the early 1900s. ![]() At one time, the breed was believed to have been among the most popular in Switzerland. Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are almost certainly the result of indigenous dogs mating with large mastiff-type dogs brought to Switzerland by foreign settlers. The name Sennenhund refers to people called Senn or Senner, dairymen and herders in the Swiss Alps. The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog ( German: Grosser Schweizer Sennenhund or French: Grand Bouvier Suisse) is a dog breed which was developed in the Swiss Alps. ![]()
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