The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog was developed in the Swiss Alps,
Switzerland, descending from the Roman Mastiffs, brought to the
area more than 2000 years ago. The largest and oldest of the four
Sennenhund Breeds, which include the Bernese Mountain Dog,
Appenzell Cattle Dog and the Entlebuch Cattle Dog. All four of
these dogs have the same colors and markings but are different
sizes. Used as draft dogs, guarding and herding livestock and as a
farm sentinel. Their popularity as a draft dog led to the nickname,
"the poor man's horse." The Greater Swiss Mountain dog may have
contributed to the development of the St. Bernard. The breed almost
became extinct in the late 1900s as machines and other breeds
replaced them in their work. Dr. Albert Heim, who was an expert of
the Sennenhund breeds, rediscovered the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
in 1908 while he was judging a dog show, and began to encourage
breeders to take interest in them. His efforts resulted in the
re-establishment of the breed. The GSMD's were first imported to
the USA in 1967, but are still rare even in Switzerland. They were
first recognized by the AKC in 1995. The GSMD's talents are
tracking, watchdog, guarding, carting, and competitive
obedience.
