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Designation: Working
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General Appearance
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. |
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Size, Proportion and Substance
Height at the highest point of 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. |
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Head
Expression is animated and gentle. The eyes are almond shape
and brown, dark brown preferred, medium sized, neither deep
set nor protruding. Blue eye or eyes is a disqualification.
Eyelids are close fitting and eye rims 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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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 and tawny. Total absense of undercoat is undesirable and
should be penalized. |
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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
typcially 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 of
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. |
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Gait
Good reach in front, powerful drive in rear. Movement with
a level back. |
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Temperament
Bold, faithful, willing worker. Alert and vigilant. Shyness
or aggressiveness shall be severely penalized. |
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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. |
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Disqualification
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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Approved: April 8, 2003
Effective: May 29, 003 |
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