The
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a Draft and Drover breed
and should structurally appear as such. It is a striking,
tri-colored, large, powerful, confident dog of sturdy
appearance. It is a heavy boned and well muscled dog
which, in spite of its size and weight, is agile enough
to perform the all-purpose farm duties of the mountainous
regions of its origin.
Size,
Proportion, and Substance
Height
at the highest point on the shoulder is ideally:
• Dogs: 25.5 to 28.5 inches
• Bitches: 23.5 to 27 inches
Body
length to height is approximately a 10 to 9 proportion,
thus appearing slightly longer than tall. It is a heavy
boned and well muscled dog of sturdy appearance.
Head
Expression
is animated and gentle. The eyes are almond shaped
and brown, dark brown preferred, medium sized, neither
deep set nor protruding. Blue eye or eyes is a disqualification.
Eyelids are close fitting and eyerims are black. The
ears are medium sized, set high, triangular in shape,
gently rounded at the tip, and hang close to the head
when in repose. When alert, the ears are brought forward
and raised at the base. The top of the ear is level
with the top of the skull. The skull is 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. The muzzle is large,
blunt and straight, not pointed 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.
Neck,
Topline, and Body
The
neck is of moderate length, strong, muscular and clean.
The topline is level from the withers to the croup.
The chest is deep and broad with a slight protruding
breastbone. The ribs are well-sprung. Depth of chest
is approximately one half the total height of the
dog at the withers. Body is full with slight tuck
up. The loins are broad and strong. The croup is long,
broad and smoothly rounded to the tail insertion.
The tail is thick from root to tip, tapering slightly
at the tip, reaching to the hocks, and carried down
in repose. When alert and in movement, the tail may
be carried higher and slightly curved upwards, but
should not curl, or tilt over the back. The bones
of the tail should feel straight.
Forequarters
The
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, but are
not weak. Feet are round and compact with well arched
toes, and turn neither in nor out. The dewclaws may
or may not be present.
Hindquarters
The
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, and turn neither in nor out. Dewclaws
should be removed.
Coat
Topcoat
is dense, approximately 1-1/4 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. Color of undercoat ranges from the preferred
dark gray to light gray to tawny. Total absence of undercoat
is undesirable and should be penalized.
Color
The
topcoat is black. The markings are rich rust and white.
Symmetry of markings is desired. On the head, rust typically
appears over each eye, on each cheek and on the underside
of the ears. On the body, rust appears on both sides
of the forechest, on all four legs and underneath the
tail. White markings appear typically on the head (blaze)
and muzzle. The blaze may vary in length and width.
It may be a very thin stripe or wider band. The blaze
may extend just barely to the stop or may extend over
the top of the skull and may meet with white patch or
collar on the neck. Typically, white appears on the
chest , running unbroken from the throat to the chest,
as well as on all four feet and on the tip of the tail.
White patches or collar on the neck is acceptable. Any
color other than the "Black, Red and White"
tri-colored dog described above, such as "Blue/Charcoal,
Red and White" or "Red and White" is
considered a disqualification. When evaluating the Greater
Swiss Mountain Dog, markings and other cosmetic factors
should be considered of lesser importance than other
aspects of type which directly affect working ability.
Gait
Good
reach in front, powerful drive in rear. Movement with
a level back.
Temperament
Bold, faithful,
willing worker. Alert and vigilant. Shyness or aggressiveness
shall be severely penalized
Summary
The
foregoing is the description of the ideal Greater Swiss
Mountain Dog. Defects of both structure and temperament
are to be judged more severely than mere lack of elegance
because they reduce the animal's capacity to work. Any
fault that detracts from the above described working dog
should be penalized to the extent of the deviation.
Disqualifications
Any
color other than the "Black, Red and White"
tri-colored dog described above, such as "Blue/Charcoal,
Red and White" or "Red and White".
Blue eye or eyes.
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