Wolfdog vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison

Wolfdog vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dog - Breed ComparisonWolfdog is originated from Germany but Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is originated from Switzerland. Both Wolfdog and Greater Swiss Mountain Dog are having almost same height. Wolfdog may weigh 25 kg / 55 pounds lesser than Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. Both Wolfdog and Greater Swiss Mountain Dog has same life span. Both Wolfdog and Greater Swiss Mountain Dog has same litter size. Both Wolfdog and Greater Swiss Mountain Dog requires Moderate maintenance.

History

wolfdog - historyThe Wolfdog was brought about when domestic dogs were mated with a variety of wolves so as to produce a hybrid.

People who want to own these hybrids have to be careful because they find that the unpredictable behavior of their pets makes it difficult for them to care for them.

Then they want to get rid of it. Every year, heaps of these hybrids are abandoned due to humans interfering with nature.

The wolfdog has been bred with a number of dogs but we think about it more in terms of wolf and German shepherd.

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.

Description

wolfdog puppy - descriptionPeople mesmerized by the wolf long to bring some of that wildness home, and the wolfdog is supposed to do this.

Their looks differ a lot, even those that come from the same litter. You can’t have a predictable looking wolf dog because it could be any domestic dog bred with a wolf so they display a large variety of appearances.

Most Wolfdogs seem to have smaller heads than pure wolves. The ears seem to be bigger and more pointy.

A popular wolfdog mix is a German Shepherd mixed with the wolf. These dogs can be between 70 to 76cm in height and weigh between 40 and 45kg.

Their coat is thick and can be in colors of grey, cream, red, white, dark brown and black.

Temperament:

While the wolfdog can be trained to become quite a friendly kind of dog, it is not suitable for the first time dog owner. It can show bouts of aggressiveness around strangers and be highly protective of its family.

However, this can be helped with early socialization and training. It is illegal to own the wolfdog in some states. You don’t want to leave a wolfdog alone with your children even though the dog is capable of love and loyalty towards his human family.

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.

Characteristics

wolfdog dog - characteristicsWhen you add the genes of a wild animal to the pool, you get a crossbreed and when its an animal from the wild, its nature is unpredictable.

Many people don’t think about the consequences of what they do when they interfere with nature and the wolfdog gets put down when it behaves like a wild animal and attacks or bites out of defense.

Yes, they can be loyal, loving pets but always you will have the shadow of the dog or wolf’s unpredictable behavior.

There is a reason why these dogs are banned in a number of states. This dog-type-wolf breed is not recommended as a pet at all – take a look at animal shelters and the number of wolf dogs there and ask yourself why.

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.

Health Problems

These dogs are generally healthy and aren’t prone to genetic related issues.

wolfdog puppies - health problemsThey will also be susceptible to common dog ailments such as parasites and hip dysplasia.

Like any other dog, these Wolf dogs will also possibly develop tumors. He will also need to be vaccinated against harmful diseases and you will need to have a reliable local vet who is interested in your wolf dog.

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.

Caring The Pet

wolfdog dogs - caringIf you own a wolfdog the same care procedures would need to be followed as you would with a regular dog.

A wolfdog, however, can’t be vaccinated against rabies. It seems that the reason for this is that it is due to current legislation, and vaccine manufacturers don’t want to support wolf dogs as pets because they are considered to be dangerous.

Provide your wolfdog with highly nutritional, protein-based food. You don’t want to feed your wolfdog any of the low quality, traditional store-bought food high in carbs and artificial additives. Instead, look for a diet rich in proteins and be sure to give this dog some raw meat occasionally.

Groom the thick coat to ensure it stays shiny and healthy.

The dog is active and you will need to provide heaps of exercise for him, both mental and physical activities.

The wolfdog will require training but it will require dedication, though it can be done as the dog is very intelligent.

Even with training, the wolfdog isn’t suited to life in the city but should be kept in the countryside.

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.

Basic Information

Group:
Miscellaneous dogs
Working dog
Origin:
Germany
Switzerland
Height Male:
70 - 76 cm
27 - 30 inches
65 - 72 cm
25 - 29 inches
Height Female:
70 - 76 cm
27 - 30 inches
60 - 70 cm
23 - 28 inches
Weight Male:
40 - 45 kg
88 - 100 pounds
60 - 70 kg
132 - 155 pounds
Weight Female:
40 - 45 kg
88 - 100 pounds
55 - 70 kg
121 - 155 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 10
5 - 10
Size:
Large dog
Large dog
Other Names:
None
GSMD, Swissy, Sennenhund
Colors Available:
white, dark brown and black. , Grey, cream, red
Black, white and rust
Coat:
Medium length, thick
Short and straight to medium length, coarse and wavy
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate, Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social, Stubborn
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
No
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
Yes

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. Wolfdog vs Northern Inuit Dog - Breed Comparison
  27. Wolfdog vs Pugnaces Britanniae - Breed Comparison
  28. Wolfdog vs Sindh Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  29. Wolfdog vs Tamaskan - Breed Comparison
  30. Wolfdog vs Tosa - Breed Comparison
  31. Wolfdog vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  32. Wolfdog vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  33. Wolfdog vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  34. Wolfdog vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  35. Wolfdog vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  36. Wolfdog vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Wolfdog vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  38. Wolfdog vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  39. Wolfdog vs Samoyed - Breed Comparison
  40. Wolfdog vs Labradoodle - Breed Comparison
  41. Wolfdog vs Cane Corso - Breed Comparison
  42. Wolfdog vs Alaskan Malamute - Breed Comparison
  43. Wolfdog vs Mixed - Breed Comparison
  44. Wolfdog vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  45. Wolfdog vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  46. Wolfdog vs Dogue De Bordeaux - Breed Comparison
  47. Wolfdog vs German Shorthaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  48. Wolfdog vs Bloodhound - Breed Comparison
  49. Wolfdog vs Great Pyrenees - Breed Comparison
  50. Wolfdog vs American Staffordshire Terrier - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds