Working Group

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a giant dog in the Working Group. Adult weight is 115–140 lb (male), 85–110 lb (female), height is 25.5–28.5 in (male), 23.7–27 in (female), and the listed lifespan is 8–11 years. AKC describes the temperament as Faithful, Family-oriented, Dependable.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog dog
Photo: Canarian · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Lifespan8–11 years
Weight115–140 lb (male), 85–110 lb (female)
SizeGiantGroupWorking Group

Height

25.5–28.5 in (male), 23.7–27 in (female)

Energy

4 / 5

Shedding

3 / 5

Grooming

2 / 5

Trainability

4 / 5

Good with kids

5 / 5

The breed record

Across 36 single-size giant breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 9.5 years is about 0.7 years shorter than the 10.2-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 112.5 lb is about 3.5 lb lighter than the 116 lb average for those giant breeds.

The listed origin is Switzerland. The coat is described as smooth, short. The AKC energy score is 4 out of 5, 0.3 points above the group average of 3.7 for the Working Group. Shedding scores 3 out of 5. Grooming scores 2 out of 5, so home brushing covers most weeks. Trainability scores 4 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 5 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 3 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 71 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in up to 24 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): larger breeds require up to 24 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Hip Evaluation, Elbow Evaluation, Ophthalmologist Evaluation, and Shoulder Evaluation. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

Frequently asked

Questions from the breed record

The verified adult weight for a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is 115–140 lb (male), 85–110 lb (female).

Sources

More Working Group breeds

All Working Group breeds

More giant breeds

All giant dog breeds

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