Mountain Dogs > Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Pictures

Memorial Day Weekend with Ranger

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dohertyswissy:
Just one more.....back to guarding the door the next morning!!!  A Swissy's work is never done!

jabear:
Those are great pics. It looks as if you all had a blast at the beach. Did Ranger get to go swimming? Were there other dogs there to play with?

nickerbokker:
oh hes such a big boy!  LMAO, it always cracks me up how big these "puppies" are.

looks like he is one happy boy! 

pndlake:
How pretty he is.  Hubby looks pretty good too.  hee hee. I love the looks of this dog.  Where do you find a Swiss Mountain Dog ??? Do they drool a lot ??? I just lost our Queensland mix and am researching.  We had CoCo for 18 years, so it is hard to believe she is no longer around.  She just got too old to walk. She had a good life.  Anyway Mountain Dogs seem terrific. tell me more. 

dohertyswissy:
Ranger says thanks for all the complements and smooches!   :-*

Jamie - Unfortunately, there were no other dogs on the beach this time around.  However, he did make lots of friends, including a precious 2 year old boy who came right up and kissed all over his face!  I was a little shocked, but then his father explained that had a Newfie at home!  Then, it all made sense!  LOL!  As far as the water...he looked at us like we lost our mind!  I know he was thinking... "HELLO Mom and Dad!! I'm a Mountain Dog!"  He liked to stand at the edge, but the waves freaked him out!  LOL!!   :D

Peggy - I'd love to tell you more about my boy!  There are four different types of Swiss Mountain Dogs.  Ranger is the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and the other one that most are familiar with is the Bernese Mountain Dog.  The Swissy, which we call them for short, is the larger, short-haired brother of the Bernese.  Swissys were originally bred as draft dogs (cart pulling) and general purpose farm dogs in Switzerland.  They did some herding and protected the family.  They are a dry-mouthed breed, so no drooling!  They do have an undercoat which they "blow" twice a year in the summer and in the fall.  I'm sweeping up at least a poodle's worth of hair everyday right now!  LOL!  Shedding the rest of the year is minimal, from my experience.  They are GREAT family dogs and get very attached to their people.  It would break their heart to be exiled outside.  Ranger is great with kids as well.   Ranger doesn't bark a lot, but when he does something is definitely up.  Some Swissys can be protective, so it is very important to socialize them.  Ranger is a little shy of people he doesn't know, but once he realizes that we are okay with the person, he warms right up to them.  Also, our breeder is careful to breed for temperament, as well as all the normal health and conformation standards.  So, if you decide to talk to breeders, make sure that they are breeding for temperament as well.  All of our breeders dogs were very, very friendly ... but did announce our arrival the minute we got there!!!  As far as exercise requirements.. ..they are working dogs, so they do need some exercise, but the requirements aren't as high as some other breeds.  Ranger requires one good walk and tossing the ball around in the yard daily and he is fine.  He gets bursts of energy and then lazes around. 

Couple of things to note....Swissy s are VERY slow to get potty trained.  It can be frustrating.  Just when you think you are over the hump...ANOTHER accident.  Like a lot of working breeds, they do have a tendency to be stubborn, so training is crucial.

I'd suggest visiting the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club of America website: www.gsmdca.org.  The articles I would suggest reading are:  "Intro to the Swissy," "Breed History," "FAQ," and "Twenty-one Ways to Love your Swissy."  Some of the other articles in my opinion tend to be a little alarmist and kind of intimidated me at first.  However, once I met with our breeder and hung out with Swissys of all ages, I was hooked!  Also, some information I disagree with, as they have been opposite of my experience with Ranger.

Whew...that was a little long winded.  I just love talking about Ranger!! 

Ultimately, though, Swissys are faithful, loving companions and I consider myself VERY lucky to have Ranger as my companion. If you have any questions or want more information, just let me know!!  Swissys are GREAT dogs and I highly recommend them!

Oh - and if you want to find a breeder in your area, there is a breeder list on the GSMDCA website by state.

Heather :)

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