Origin: Switzerland

Utilization:Originally watch and draught dog; present day aIso companion, guard and family dog.

FCI Classification-Group 2: Pinscher and Schnauzer type, Molossian type, Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs

Section 3: Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs

A tricolor, sturdy heavy boned and well muscled dog. In spite of his size and weight, he shows perseverance and mobility.

Body length to height at withers = 1O: 9

Depth of chest to height at withers = 1: 2

Length of skull to length of muzzle = 1: 1

Width of skull to width of muzzle = 2: 1

Confident, alert, watchful and fearless in everyday situations. Good natured and devoted towards those familiar to him. Self assured with strangers. Medium temperament.

Strong in relation to the body, but not heavy. Dogs stronger in head than bitches.

Flat and broad. The frontal furrow which begins at the stop gradually fades out towards the top. Stop: shallow

Nose: always black. Nasal bridge straight, without furrow

Muzzle: strong, longer than its depth. Must not be pointed seen either from above or in profile

Lips: barely defined, close fitting. Color black

Teeth: complete, strong and regular scissor bite, The absence of just one (1) premolar (PM1 or PM2) is tolerated. Absence of molars M3 not considered

Eyes: almond shaped, medium size, neither deep set nor protruding. Hazel to chestnut brown, with alert friendly expression. Lids close fitting

Ears: medium size, triangular and set on fairly high. In repose hanging flat and close to cheeks, but raised forward when attentive. Well covered with hair, both inside and out

Neck: strong, muscular, rather thick set. No dewlap

Back: moderately long, strong and straight

Loins: broad and well muscled

Rump: long and broad. Falling away in a gentle slope

Chest: strong, broad, reaching to the elbows. Chest shaped like a roundish oval (seen in cross section); ribs neither flat nor barrel-shaped. Forechest well developed, noticeably broad

Belly: Belly and Hanks barely tucked up

Fairly heavy, reaching to the hocks, pendulous in repose. When alert and in movement, carried higher and slightly curved upwards, but never curled or tilted over the back

General: standing not too broad, straight and parallel seen from the front

Shoulders: long, strong, well laid back, close fitting to the body and well muscled, forming a not too obtuse angle with the upper arm

Forearm: heavy-boned and straight

General: straight, parallel and not too closse when seen from the back. Hocks and feet turn neither in nor out. Dewclaws must be removed.

Thighs: Broad, strong and well muscled

Hocks: Strong and well angulated.

Feet: strong, pointing straight ahead, tight, with well arched toes and strong nails.

free, striding, even movements in all gaits. Far reaching free forward movement with good drive from hindquarters. When trotting, limbs move in a straight line when seen from front or back.

Texture of coat: Double coat consisting of thick medium length outer coat and dense undercoat. The latter as dark gray or black as possible. Short outer coat permissible if there is undercoat.

Main color black with reddish-brown markings. The reddish-brown color is situated between the black and the white clean markings. The reddish-brown color is situated between the black and white markings on the cheeks, above the eyes, on the inside of the ears, on both sides of the fore chest, on all four legs and underneath the tail. The white markings are on the head (blaze) and muzzle, running along unbroken from the throat to the chest, also on feet and tip of tail. Between the blaze and the reddish-brown markings above the eyes, a band of black should remain. A white patch on the neck or a white collar round the neck are tolerated.

Height at withers:

Dogs: 65 - 72 cm

Bitches: 60 - 68 cm

Any deviation from the above points must be regarded as faults whose assessment should be in direct relation to the degree of deviation.

• strong deviation from body proportion and size
• faults in construction
• lack of correct gender characteristics
• too fine or too coarse bone
• Insufficient muscle
• too fine or heavy a head
• pendant lips (flews)
• ears set on too high, too low or too far back
• pincer bite. Over - or undershot mouth
• absence of more than one PM1 or one PM2
• entropion, ectropion
• light eyes
• sway back
• badly carried tail
• bad angulation in front- or hindquarters
• splayed toes
• visible yellow brownish or light gray undercoat 
• Mismarkings:

• blaze too wide
• white marking on muzzle which (clearly) reaches considerably further than the corners of the mouth
• white pasterns, or hocks (="boots") reaching further than the pastern joints or hock joints
• noticeably asymmetrical markings
• colors and markings not clean

• other than tricolor coat
• main color other than black
• wall eye
• short coat with missing undercoat
• serious faults in temperament (excessive aggression or nervousness)