Great Swiss Mountain Dog, originated in Switzerland, belongs to working dogs. Among the four known Swiss mountain dogs, it has the largest size.
It is a tricolored, massive and robust dog with a firm gaze, smooth and shiny coat, very attractive, long tail always dragged behind.
It is energetic and seems to be unaware of fatigue, maintaining strong energy whether it is day or night, with excellent jumping ability.
Great Swiss Mountain Dog, originated in Switzerland, was first discovered in the 4th century. In some remote areas of Switzerland, the Great Swiss Mountain Dog was mainly used by farmers for herding livestock, guarding homes, and pulling carts. People outside of Switzerland know little about the origin of the Great Swiss Mountain Dog, but it is known that their early development was helpful to the Saint Bernard and Rottweiler.
The Great Swiss Mountain Dog is the oldest and largest breed among the four Swiss Mountain Dogs, known as "Great Swiss Mountain Dogs" in Europe. It is said that the ancestors of Swiss dogs were brought by the Romans in the 1st century BC.
In the mid-19th century, the number of this breed continued to decline for various reasons, and it even faced the threat of extinction. Only a few purebred dogs survived, and many of the tasks that were once completed by the Great Swiss Mountain Dog were replaced by other breeds.
In the early 20th century, Dr. Albert Heim, the first researcher of the Mountain Dog, discovered this breed. With his efforts, the Great Swiss Mountain Dog family was revived, and their numbers have stabilized.
In 1910, the Swiss Kennel Club recognized and registered the Great Swiss Mountain Dog. In 1939, it was recognized by the FCI.
Later, it was introduced to the United States, and after a long development, the American people also gradually began to like this large breed. In 1968, in order to persuade the American Kennel Club to recognize the Great Swiss Mountain Dog as soon as possible, the American Great Swiss Mountain Dog Club was established. On March 17, 1993, the American Great Swiss Mountain Dog Club handed over 1,300 Great Swiss Mountain Dogs to the American Kennel Club. Finally, on April 1, 1995, the American Kennel Club formally recognized and accepted the Great Swiss Mountain Dog as a working dog.
The Great Swiss Mountain Dog is mainly used for herding and guarding livestock and can also be used as a drafting dog.
It has a calm temperament, is easy to train, and is actually very suitable as a companion dog. However, its size and activity level are too large, requiring a spacious living space. Therefore, it is not very suitable for families in densely populated urban areas to keep them.
1. Heart disease
Canine heart disease is often associated with obesity and old age. When a dog has heart disease, the main symptoms are fatigue and shortness of breath. Dog heart disease is difficult to detect, and when the owner notices it, the dog is usually seriously ill.
2. Infectious diseases
Canine distemper and canine parvovirus are common malignant infectious diseases in dogs, with a high mortality rate. Dogs that are not vaccinated in a timely manner are very susceptible to these two infectious diseases. Once they are sick, they will show symptoms such as listlessness, loss of appetite, elevated body temperature, vomiting, and diarrhea.
3. Kidney disease
Speaking of common diseases and symptoms in dogs, it is necessary to mention kidney disease. The horror of dog kidney disease lies in the unconscious process of the disease. After the owner discovers it, the damage to the dog's kidney cells often exceeds 75%. When dogs have problems, the symptoms are usually blood in the urine, abnormal urine color, and changes in urination habits.
4. Parasites
Intestinal worms such as ascaris, hookworms, and heartworms are common parasites in dogs. When dogs are infected with gastrointestinal parasites, the main symptoms are emaciation, listlessness, diarrhea, worm feces, and pale gums. Heartworms are parasites that live in the dog's heart. After a dog is infected, it will show symptoms such as poor vitality, coughing, anemia, asthma, and ascites.
5. Canine pneumonia
Pneumonia is also a common disease in dogs, but canine pneumonia is a complication of other diseases and often occurs in dogs with abnormalities in the upper respiratory system, bacterial infections, canine distemper infections, viral colds, impaired lung function, and heartworm infections. Coughing, nasal congestion, and elevated body temperature are the main symptoms of canine pneumonia.
Minerals are the main components of functional tissues, bone marrow, and teeth of dogs. They maintain the acid-base balance and osmotic pressure as the basic substances and are also the main components of many enzymes, hormones, and vitamins. Owners need to pay attention to the intake of minerals in order to ensure that dogs maintain normal physical functions. However, dogs have certain requirements for the amount and proportion of mineral intake. Excessive intake can cause poisoning or even death. Especially for the ratio of calcium to phosphorus, it must be appropriate, usually 1.2:1. Since the phosphorus content in the liver is tens of times that of calcium, it is not recommended to feed the dog's liver for a long time, especially for the development of puppies' bones.
It is recommended to feed the dog some vegetables, sticks, and various bones properly, which not only exercises the biting force of the dog's teeth but also helps to clean tartar and plaque.
1. Do not bathe frequently
When bathing a dog, it should not be done too frequently. The frequency of bathing depends on the dog's hygiene condition. In hot weather like summer, it can be bathed one or two more times, while in winter, it can be reduced by one or two times. But in general, the number of baths should not exceed 5 times. Otherwise, it will damage its fur and skin!
2. Regularly brush the fur
Dogs shed hair almost every day, especially during the spring and autumn seasons when seasonal shedding is more severe. If you want the fur to grow well, regular brushing is an important step. Pet owners can use pet-specific brushes to help the dog clean naturally shed hair and prevent tangling. Brushing once in the morning and once in the evening for about five minutes each time is enough.
3. Sunbathe
Sunbathing is beneficial for the growth of a dog's fur. Besides making the fur more shiny, letting the dog sunbathe can also help kill bacteria. While sunbathing, pet owners can let the dog exercise a bit, which can improve the dog's physical fitness, promote blood circulation, and help grow healthier fur.
4. Deworming
Poor fur condition is also closely related to parasites. Parasites absorb a large amount of nutrients from the dog's body, depriving the nutrients. Therefore, deworming is essential. During deworming, it is recommended to do internal and external deworming at the same time. Moreover, deworming medication has a great impact on the dog's gastrointestinal system, so it is recommended to feed probiotics regularly to alleviate gastrointestinal discomfort.
5. Pay attention to diet
In order for a dog to have a beautiful coat, it must have a good nutritional foundation and pay attention to daily diet. On one hand, feed the dog with nutritious and healthy dog food, choose a suitable and nutritious dog food that meets the dog's needs. On the other hand, you can give the dog a moderate amount of lean meat, cooked egg yolk, and vegetable oil, etc.
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