Sanshu vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison

Hailing from Switzerland, and one of its oldest dog breeds, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog has a dubious history in that there are a number of theories as to its origin. He is closely related to the Bernese Mountain Dog, Saint Bernard and Rottweiler.

Of all the theories, the one that says he is descended from large, mastiff-like dogs is a popular one. He used to be a herding- and guard dog, but also was used to pull carts of farm produce.

It was in the 1900s that the dog’s numbers started dwindling. In 1908, canine researcher, Albert Heim recognized the dogs as being large members of the Sennenhund type, a family of four breeds that includes the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog.

He wanted to see the dogs recognized as a separate breed and the Swiss Kennel Club listed the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog in 1909.

In 1968 they were brought to the United States and a club for them was formed. The dog was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1995 with the dog being recognized as a member of the Working group.

The Sanshu was developed in Japan a century ago – in 1912 in fact.

It is a cross between the Chinese Chow Chow and the ancient Japanese Aichi. People who know these dogs say they bear a resemblance to other Inu breeds, but it has a straight tail and not the usual curved one that you'd expect.

The breed is rare and they aren’t recognized by any breed organization.

Swissies, as they are often referred to as, are large, robust dogs, standing at 65–72cm and weighing anything between 50 – 70kg, with the females being slightly smaller and weighing a little less.

He has big, rounded paws, medium length floppy ears, a broad chest and a long tail. This is a heavy-boned dog, strong while still being agile.

His dense, double coat is black, white and tan or rust, with black on top of the dog's back, ears, tail and legs. There are two rust dots above each eye. The coat can be short and straight to medium length, coarse and wavy. The dog sheds throughout the year with a major shedding a couple of times a year.

Temperament:

The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a sociable canine, thriving on being part of a loving human family. While he used to be a working farm dog, today he is essentially a family pet, though he loves to still be busy.

He is generally friendly with strangers, but just like with all other dog breeds, he will need to be trained and socialized to turn him into an even-tempered, obedient dog, capable of getting on well with children and pets in the the home.

The Sanshu is a medium sized dog standing at between 50 to 55cm in height and weighing in the region of 20 to 25kg.

There is also a smaller variety. This dog has a wedge-shaped head with a tapering muzzle, dark almond-shaped eyes with small erect ears. The tail is long and is straight but it can bend over the dog’s back. The coat is short and coarse and can come in a number of shades such as tan, white, reddish, white and black.

Temperament:

The Sanshu is a dog that loves to please its owners. Even so, training and socialization should be given to this dog. He is an intelligent dog, and with training and socialization he becomes well balanced and able to respond to a few commands such as sit, come, stay and lie down.

These are loving, loyal dogs and bond closely with their human family. It is a true companion dog and makes an excellent guard dog too. He makes a great pet with children, if the children have been taught to be kind and gentle to animals and not climb all over them.

The Swissy is an easy going dog and adapts easily into his human family’s lifestyle. He is big, but agile dog known for his gentle temperament.

While he loves the outdoors, he is a social dog and loves nothing more than coming indoors and being close to his human family.

He loves his family and won’t do well if left outside for days without human companionship. Treat him well and you’ll be rewarded with a loyal, loving 4-legged family member.

Sanshu dogs are known for the exceptional companionship they offer. They are loving, loyal dogs, wanting to fit in peacefully with their human companions and eager to please.They are amicable dogs, willing to get on well with other dogs in the family too.

In exchange for such devotion, everyone who owns one of these dogs should be eager to ensure they provide well for their 4-legged family member.

The GSMD or Sennenhund, as his name is shortened to, is a fairly healthy dog breed, with very few health issues.

He has an average lifespan of 10 to 12 years, and although not likely, he can suffer from minor problems such as gastric torsion as well as female urinary incontinence. If your female dog is dribbling urine in her sleep, there are a number of reasons that can be causing it - bladder infections, a medical condition or a weakened bladder with spayed female dogs.

It is certainly time to get your pet to the vet who will recommend a urinalysis.

This dog from Japan is a fairly healthy breed, and you can encourage good health by ensuring he gets good food and adequate exercise.

Nonetheless, every dog can fall prey to some of the many dog illnesses there are, and some of these diseases can be skin allergies, hip dysplasia, bloat, digestive issues, cherry eye, cancer and obesity.

Eye Problems:

The condition of the eyes can give away some ideas of a dog’s health. Eye discharge can be a sign of an infection or an allergy. If your dog’s eyes aren’t clear and there is a constant discharge, talk to your vet and get to the root of it. Left untreated, there are some eye diseases that can lead to blindness.

Skin Allergies:

Just like humans get all kinds of skin problems, dogs also do. It can drive them crazy and you see them scratching and biting. Skin allergies are sometimes caused by insect bites or allergies to medication or food. You might see excessive itching, scratching, a nasty rash, watery eyes and chewing of the paws. Atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory skin disease and you will need to get your pet to the vet.

Dental Problems:

You need to check inside your pet’s mouth and make sure that a bad tooth isn’t causing your pet tremendous pain and infection. Sometimes missing teeth can also interfere with the way your pet eats.

Diet:

The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a robust dog and thrives on a diet of kibble to raw meat to some cooked home-made food such as chicken, brown rice and vegetables.

A serious issue with the GSMD is overfeeding, resulting in uncomfortable digestive problems and of course, obesity.

Exercise:

Your GSMD isn’t a dog that is going to require a lot of exercise like some of the other dog breeds there are, but still his working career of the past requires that he still be taken on daily walks, enjoys ball- and rope games and to go swimming.

Grooming:

Brush your dogs coat at least twice a week to remove loose hears. Other grooming aspects include cleaning the ears to avoid infection, clipping his nails and brushing his teeth at least twice a week.

If you’re not sure how to do all these things, there are useful accessories for dogs that allow you to do all this grooming on your own. Your vet can also show you how as these are all things that will require ongoing attention.

Brush the coat twice a week to rid the coat of loose hairs.

Check the ears and eyes for infection.

Feel for unusual lumps on your pet’s body.

Provide your pet with a warm, dry place to sleep.

Keep your pet’s vaccines up to date to eliminate killer canine diseases.

Have your pet spayed or neutered to avoid unwanted puppies.

Feed your pet well. A Sanshu dog will require the best dog food there is. If you give him commercially manufactured food make sure it is one of the better brands to avoid toxic ingredients.

To add some variety, feed him some home made food occasionally which can be added to his dry kibble twice a week. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are a healthy choice for your pet. Try and include some raw meat into the diet as this can help in fighting off horrible skin diseases. Ensure there is always a bowl of fresh, cool water for him.