Hygenhund vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison

Hygenhund vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dog - Breed ComparisonGreater Swiss Mountain Dog is originated from Switzerland but Hygenhund is originated from Norway. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog may grow 11 cm / 5 inches higher than Hygenhund. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog may weigh 45 kg / 100 pounds more than Hygenhund. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog may live 3 years less than Hygenhund. Both Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and Hygenhund has almost same litter size. Both Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and Hygenhund requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Hound dog
undefined
Switzerland
Norway
Height Male:
65 - 72 cm
25 - 29 inches
48 - 61 cm
18 - 25 inches
Height Female:
60 - 70 cm
23 - 28 inches
45 - 58 cm
17 - 23 inches
Weight Male:
60 - 70 kg
132 - 155 pounds
20 - 25 kg
44 - 56 pounds
Weight Female:
55 - 70 kg
121 - 155 pounds
15 - 20 kg
33 - 45 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
10 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
5 - 10
6 - 8
Size:
Large
Medium
Other Names:
GSMD, Swissy, Sennenhund
Hygen Hound, Hygen Dog
Colors Available:
Black, white and rust
sometimes combined with white markings. , chestnut (with or without black shading) and black with bright chestnut colors, yellow and red
Coat:
Short and straight to medium length, coarse and wavy
thick, shiny
Shedding:
Moderate, Seasonal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Alert, Energetic, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Playful, Protective
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

greater swiss mountain dogHailing 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.

hygenhundThe Hygenhund is a hound from Norway that was developed in the early 1800’s by the Norwegian breeder Hygen. It was developed for hunting small game such as fox, rabbit, hare or racoon. It is known for its endurance and ability to survive travel across vast artic land without fatigue. It was developed by crossing several Norwegian hounds with ones from England and Germany. This includes basset hounds, holsteiner hounds, beagles, Bloodhounds, Scandinavian hounds and English Pointers. The resulting Hygehound is a scent hound whose popularity fell in the 20th century. Most of the remaining dogs today are located in Norway. The Norwegian Kennel Club and the UKC have both recognized the breed yet its numbers remain low. Even at that the breed today remains a great hunting dog but it is also a great companion or family dog.

Description

greater swiss mountain dog puppy - descriptionSwissies, 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.

Description

hygenhund puppy - descriptionThe Hygenhund has a solid rectangular and compact body with muscular and compact legs and paws. Their heads are shaped like a triangle with dark eyes and a broad skull. The muzzle and neck are long and the topline is even. They carry their tail high, but they do not curl it over their back. They are a medium sized dog with short hair. They have an overabundance of energy and get bored easily. They can come in black with chestnut or white markings, yellow and red, chestnut without or with black markings.

Characteristics

greater swiss mountain dog dog - characteristicsThe 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.

hygenhund dog - characteristics1. Children friendliness – The Hygenhund is very friendly to children and love to play with them.

Special talents

Stamina, intelligence and ability to endure cold climates.

Adaptability

Very adaptable in some ways – enduring cold climates for instance. However, they need a large yard or area to run in. They are not as adaptable in an apartment.

Learning ability

The Hygenhund is very intelligent and a quick learner. They love learning new things.

Health Problems

greater swiss mountain dog puppies - health problemsThe 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.

The Hygenhund is prone to a variety of health problems including:

  • Kidney Stones/Chronic Kidney Infections
  • Food Allergies
  • Arthritis – can cause lameness
  • Bloat – can be fatal if not treated
  • Von Willebrands Disease
  • Anesthesia sensitivity
  • Hip Dysplasia – can result in lameness or arthritis

Caring The Pet

Diet:

greater swiss mountain dog dogs - caringThe 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.

Feeding the puppy

hygenhund dogs - caringSince the Hygenhund is such a high energy working dog feed a high quality food. Feed 3-4 times a day for a total of 2.3 cups.

Feeding the adult

Again this is a high energy dog. Feed a high protein good quality dog food twice a day for a total of 3-4 cups.

Points for Good Health

Good speed and stamina. Good in cold climates.

Games and Exercises

The Hygenhund needs plenty of exercise to dissipate all its working energy. They will excel at field trials, lure coursing, fly ball, tracking, and agility.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Hygenhund vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Hygenhund vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Hygenhund vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Hygenhund vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Hygenhund vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Hygenhund vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Hygenhund vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Hygenhund vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Hygenhund vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Hygenhund vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Hygenhund vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Hygenhund vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Hygenhund vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Hygenhund vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Hygenhund vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Hygenhund vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Hygenhund vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Hygenhund vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Hygenhund vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Hygenhund vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Hygenhund vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Hygenhund vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Hygenhund vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Hygenhund vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Hygenhund vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison