Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Briard - Breed Comparison

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Briard - Breed ComparisonGreater Swiss Mountain Dog is originated from Switzerland but Briard is originated from France. Both Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and Briard are having almost same height. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog may weigh 30 kg / 67 pounds more than Briard. Both Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and Briard has same life span. Both Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and Briard has same litter size. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog requires Moderate maintenance. But Briard requires High maintenance

History

greater swiss mountain dog - historyHailing 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.

briard - historyThrough myth and legend, the Briard is thought to be a very ancient dog. A French herding breed, a Briard type of dog appears in writings as early as the end of the 14th century. According to legends the Briard was owned by Napoleon, Charlemagne, Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson. As a cross between the Barbet and the Beauceron, the Briard came into popularity following its appearance in a Paris dog show in 1863. Bred originally to guard and herd sheep, these intelligent, independent dogs were often left on their own. Because they both guarded and herded, their size and structure as well as their personalities were different from other dogs that worked sheep. Those that herded only were fast, agile and smaller. Those that only guarded were heavier, bigger and stronger. The Briard was in-between these two types of breeds. He was well suited to any kind of farm work and guarded the crops from the sheep’s desire to eat them. They moved the sheep from one grazing area to another and then to their holding area at night. No humans had to assist the Briard in this work once they were trained.

During World War 1, the Briards were drafted into service as messengers, sentries and search dogs for lost or injured soldiers. In that time frame the breed served almost to the point of extinction. Breeding programs following the war brought them back. Today the Briard is a home companion, a police dog, as well as both military and civilian search and rescue dogs.

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.

briard puppy - descriptionThe Briard is a powerful, intelligent and independent working dog. They have a straight topline and their height is almost the same as their length. They have long, large, rectangular heads with wide muzzles. Their noses are also square and jet black while their side set, large eyes can be black-brown or black. Their ears have traditionally been cropped but with more countries outlawing it, they can now have natural ears set high on the head. They have a tail that is feathered and low-cut. The feet of a Briard are round, compact and large.

The Briard is a double coated breed with a long beard and mustache. Their hair completely covers the head and the eyes so that they are not seen. They have prominent eyebrows as well.

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.

briard dog - characteristicsAs mentioned previously the Briard is intelligent and independent. They are also loyal, rugged, protective and bond intensely with their humans. They are often aloof when it comes to strangers or even when new furniture is introduced into the household. They have to learn that anything new into the family environment is friendly and good. They are great with children and susceptible to separation anxiety because of their deep affection for their people. Socialization for puppies is a must. This will let them know that people and children, other dogs in general are not harmful to their families. They have great memories and once they learn something – right or wrong – it is almost impossible to change it. They were bred to be independent thinkers who acted on their own conclusions. This is still true of the breed today, making them appear to be stubborn.

They are great watchdogs, fearless and brave; willing to learn, eager to make you happy. They are basically gentle but that always runs up against their protective nature. A strong alpha leader is needed to handle this hard-working dog.

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.

briard puppies - health problemsBeing a large breed, the Briard shares many of the same health concerns as other large breeds. They have a few of their own as well. Typical issues for a Briard might include:

Hip and Elbow Dysplasia – bones don’t fit into joints.

Stationary Night Blindness – Congenital limited vision in the dark.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy/Degeneration –degeneration of the photoreceptors and retina.

Hypothyroidism – disorder of the thyroid.

Bloat (Gastric Torsion) – Stomach is distended and twists.

Cancer – Number 1 killer of all dogs.

Von Willebrand’s Disease – Blood clotting disorder.

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

briard dogs - caringIt is best to feed the Briard smaller meals 2-3 times a day to prevent bloat. Feed 3-4 cups total for the day of a dry dog food that is high quality and made for large breeds.

Health issues

Hip and Elbow Dysplasia – Can cause painful arthritis and lameness

Stationary Night Blindness – Congenital limited vision in the dark can vary from slight difficulty moving to complete inability to see in the dark.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy/Degeneration – Can lead to night blindness, limited or total blindness. Puppies with the disease can be blind before their first birthday.

Hypothyroidism – disorder of the thyroid.

Bloat (Gastric Torsion) – Stomach is distended and twists. Fatal if not treated quickly. Caused by eating a large meal quickly and either exercise immediately or drink a large amount of water right after eating.

Cancer – Number 1 killer of all dogs. Various types.

Von Willebrand’s Disease – Blood clotting disorder leads to excessive bleeding. There is no cure, but it is manageable.

Exercise and games

The Briard is a working dog and as such needs a job. They excel at agility, flyball, herding, obedience, confirmation and tracking. They need exercise and make excellent service dogs for people with disabilities and therapy dogs for those in emotional need.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Herding dogs
Origin:
Switzerland
France
Height Male:
65 - 72 cm
25 - 29 inches
61 - 69 cm
24 - 28 inches
Height Female:
60 - 70 cm
23 - 28 inches
58 - 65 cm
22 - 26 inches
Weight Male:
60 - 70 kg
132 - 155 pounds
30 - 40 kg
66 - 89 pounds
Weight Female:
55 - 70 kg
121 - 155 pounds
25 - 35 kg
55 - 78 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
5 - 10
8 - 10
Size:
Large dog
Large dog
Other Names:
GSMD, Swissy, Sennenhund
Berger de Brie Berger Briard
Colors Available:
Black, white and rust
Uniform black, fawn, grey or blue.
Coat:
Short and straight to medium length, coarse and wavy
Double, wavy, long, fine
Shedding:
Moderate, Seasonal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Affectionate, Courageous, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Protective, Stubborn, Sweet
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
High maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Samoyed vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  2. Presa Canario vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  3. Labrador Husky vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  4. Mackenzie River Husky vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  5. Pyredoodle vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  6. Lurcher vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  7. Maremma Sheepdog vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  8. Sarplaninac vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  9. Himalayan Mastiff vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  10. Mountain View Cur vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  11. Native American Indian Dog vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  12. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  13. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  14. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  15. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  16. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  17. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Alaskan Malamute - Breed Comparison
  18. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  19. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Great Pyrenees - Breed Comparison
  20. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Boerboel - Breed Comparison
  21. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  22. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Argentine Dogo - Breed Comparison
  23. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Giant Schnauzer - Breed Comparison
  24. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  25. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  26. Old English Sheepdog vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  27. Briard vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Briard vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  29. Briard vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  30. Briard vs Bouvier des Flandres - Breed Comparison
  31. Rough Collie vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  32. East German Shepherd vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  33. Saarlooswolfhond vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  34. Estrela Mountain Dog vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  35. Huntaway vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  36. Czechoslovakian Wolfdog vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  37. Perro de Pastor Mallorquin vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  38. South Russian Ovcharka vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  39. Mioritic Sheepdog vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  40. Samoyed vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  41. Labradoodle vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  42. Mixed vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  43. Dogue De Bordeaux vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  44. German Shorthaired Pointer vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  45. Great Pyrenees vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  46. Presa Canario vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  47. Labrador Husky vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  48. Perro de Presa Canario vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  49. Chesapeake Bay Retriever vs Briard - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds