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Greater Swiss Mountain Dog History
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Though its recognition as a distinct breed was quite recent, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog’s origins are ancient, and can be traced back to those of the Mastiff and Molossus war dog used by the Romans. The largest and oldest of Switzerland’s four Sennenhunde breeds, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog was introduced to the Alps by the Romans roughly 2000 years ago. There, these dogs served as herders, guardians and draft animals for hundreds of years; the breed also likely played a hand in the development of the Saint Bernard and Rottweiler.
By the late 19th century the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog was believed by many to have become extinct. But in 1908 these fears were laid to rest when Zurich dog expert Professor Albert Heim spotted a Swissy at a dog show. The dog’s owner thought he had a Bernese Mountain Dog, and was rather pleased to learn from Professor Heim that it was in fact an exceedingly rare Swiss Mountain Dog. With Heim’s help other specimens of the breed were located in the Alps, and renewed breeding of the dogs began; the Swiss Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1910. The breed’s progress was slowed by World War II, and the dog did not make it to the United States until the 1960s. The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club of America was formed in 1968, and the breed was admitted into the American Kennel Club Miscellaneous Class in 1985; full recognition as a member of the Working Group came in 1995.
