It is thought that the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog originates from dogs left behind in Switzerland by the Romans, and it may have some Molosser breeds in its ancestry. These dogs, crossed with local Swiss herding dogs, produced a distinct type of dog that the Swiss classified into four breeds, differentiated by size and coat. One of these, the Bernese Mountain Dog, has long been favoured in the UK. Now the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is also gaining some popularity, and it is easy to see the similarity between the two breeds.

The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog has the same distinctive coat colour and patterning; black with red/gold and white markings. However, his coat is short and requires less grooming. He is a large, handsome dog, standing up to 72 centimetres (28.5 inches) high, with a calm and steady disposition and an eagerness to learn. His temperament makes him a popular family pet but he needs plenty of exercise and thrives on activities to engage his intelligence.

Devoted to his owners, he can be a very good guard dog, a role that he often filled on farms in his native land, where he was also used to pull the milk carts and to herd cattle. (He was first recognised by the Swiss Kennel Club in 1910 as the Grosse Schweizer Sennenhund, which can be loosely translated as ‘alpine herdsman’.)