The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
.. “is a Draft and Drover breed and should structurally appear as such. It is a striking, tri-colored, large, powerful, confident dog of sturdy appearance. It is a heavy boned and well muscled dog which, in spite of its size and weight, is agile enough to perform the all-purpose farm duties of the mountainous regions of its origin.”
Size, Proportion, and Substance
Height at the highest point on the shoulder is ideally:
Dogs: 25.5 to 28.5 inches
Bitches: 23.5 to 27 inches
Body length to height is approximately a 10: 9 proportion, thus appearing slightly longer than tall. It is a heavy boned and well muscled dog of sturdy appearance.
Living with a Swissy
If properly trained and socialized from a young age, the Swissy can be a joyful addition to your home. The breed was originally developed to be an all around farm dog used to pull carts and drive cattle in Switzerland. Therefore, owners must anticipate these dogs will pull against resistance and possess a prey drive.
Swissies are dogs of moderate energy level and are most balanced when living with their people. As a sentinel breed, they will bark or alert to changes in their environment, however, they are not considered a guardian breed. The links listed to the left have more details regarding the Swissy temperament and whether they may be the right fit for the dynamic in your home.
Health Considerations
Generally speaking, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog has a life expectancy of about 8-10 years. While many Swissies live into their early teens, there is always the potential of an untimely loss. The health concerns that affect Swissies are experienced by all large breed dogs and can include:
Additional information on health concerns related to the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog can be found at the GSMDCA website here.
Health Clearances
Breeding dogs comes with its challenges, but an ethical breeder will make every effort to produce dogs that are healthy, structurally sound, and with predictable temperaments. This includes completing breed appropriate health clearances and DNA tests which can provide valuable information about the health and suitability of a dog to be used for breeding.
For the Swissy, these appropriate health tests can include evaluation of the dog’s hips (OFA/PennHip), elbows (OFA/PennHip), shoulders (OFA), eyes (CERF), as well as DNA testing for platelet disorders. These tests help responsible breeders make breeding decisions, but they do not guarantee that a puppy will not develop a hereditary condition.
Further Health References:
Puppy Information
Our mission at Springcroft Swissies is to produce, raise and preserve well balanced, healthy, and correct Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs that are trusted companions for future generations to cherish.
All puppies are raised in our home to desensitize them to the home environment and start their journey to being well socialized canine citizens. Puppies will be AKC registered and have lifetime microchip enrollment before leaving for their new homes. First immunization in the puppy series will be completed as well as appropriate deworming. Puppies will receive a structural and temperament evaluation prior to being matched and placed. All puppies are matched to homes best suited for the success of each individual puppy at the breeder’s discretion.
Puppies will be placed with either a limited or full AKC registration. Puppies with a full AKC registration will be co-owned with the breeder. All puppies are sold on a contract indicating that if the buyer is unable to keep or provide for the puppy, that the puppy is to be returned to its breeder regardless of situation or circumstance. No questions asked.
Puppies can be picked up at Springcroft Farm or other arrangements can be made. Puppies can also fly with their new owners in the cabin in an airline approved carrier, but will not be shipped in cargo. Local airports include Orlando International Airport (MCO), Tampa International Airport (TPA) and Jacksonville International Airport (JAX). Additional travel rates will apply to deliver a puppy to one of these airports.
If you are interested in a Springcroft Swissy, please complete our puppy application provided at the link below and return to us at springcroftgsmd@gmail.com
Puppy Application
Promise’s pregnancy as been confirmed and we are expecting puppies the first week of January 2024! If you would like to be considered for a puppy from this litter, please complete and return the puppy application above!
Casey
Promise
PREGNANCY CONFIRMED
PUPPIES DUE EARLY JANUARY 2024
MBISS GCHP Blue View’s Time To Start The Fire At Casserly FDC CGC TKN FITB BCAT NDD
OFA: Fair - Normal Elbows, Shoulders, & Eyes
CHIC 154041
Sire: GCHS Suma’s Starting the Fire FDC CGC
Dam: CH Blue View’s Fresh Air CGC, RN, NDD
GCH Cherished Nothing But The Truth
OFA: Good - Normal Elbows, Shoulders, & Eyes
CHIC 185650
Sire: Cherished Shepherd’s The Winter Tail CGC TKN RN NWPD
Dam: NBISS MBOSS GCHS CH Cherished I Never Met A Chocolate I Didn’t Like BN CGCA CGCU WWDS NDD PT
springcroftgsmd@gmail.com
springcroftswissies.com
To learn more about Casey, the stud to this litter,
click here.
Current Litter
Promise x Casey had 6 puppies on 1/2/23, 3 boys and 3 girls. Promise and puppies are doing well!
1/9/24 - Promise x Casey puppies are one week old today!
News
11/5/2023
Ailis earns her CD in obedience at the MADTA Obedience Trial in Ocala, FL. This title also qualifies her for her VGS title from the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club of America.
7/29/2023
Promise earns her GCH at the Greenville Kennel Club show in Greenvillle, SC.
12/4/2023
Promise confirmed pregnant, puppies expected 1/2024! Please see Puppy Information page for more details!
1/2/24
Promise x Casey puppies delivered, 3 boys & 3 girls! Please see Puppy Information page for more details!
“Promise”
GCH Cherished Nothing But The Truth
7/29/23 Promise at 2 yr old in Greenville, SC
Birthdate: January 27, 2021
AKC #: WS71777506
Sire: Cherished Shepherd The Winter’s Tail CGC TKN RN NWPD
Dam: NBISS MBOSS GCHS CH Cherished I Never Met a Chocolate I Didn’t Like BN CGCA CGCU WWDS NDD PT
Breeder: Kim Woollard
Height: 26.5 inches Weight: 104 lb
4/16/22 Promise at 14 months old in Perry, GA
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
8/14/21 - WB/BOW/BP in Tampa, FL
9/21/21 - BOS Futurity Puppy at GSMDCA National in Westfield, MA
12/17/21 - BOB AKC Puppy Stakes in Orlando, FL
4/14/22 - WB/BOW for 3pt major in Perry, GA
4/15/22 - WB for 3pt major in Perry, GA
4/16/22 - WB/BOW for 5pt major in Perry, GA
4/17/22 - WB/BOW/BP for 5pt major in Perry, GA (CH)
7/9/22 - BOS/BOBOH in Ocala, FL
7/10/22 - SB/BOBOH/OHG2 in Ocala, FL
10/8/22 - BOS in Augusta, GA
10/9/22 - BOS in Augusta, GA
2/18/23 - BOS in Lakeland, FL
2/19/23 - BOS/BOBOH in Lakeland, FL
2/25/23 - BOS/BOBOH/OHG4 in Tallahassee, FL
2/26/23 - BOS/BOBOH/OHG4 in Tallahassee, FL
3/10/23 - SB in Raleigh, NC
3/11/23 - SB in Raleigh, NC
4/8/23 - BOB/BOBOH in Elkton, FL
7/8/23 - BOB/BOBOH in Ocala, FL
7/9/23 - BOB/BOBOH in Ocala, FL
7/27/23 - SB in Greenville, SC
7/29/23 - BOB in Greenville, SC (GCH)
7/30/23 - SB in Greenville, SC
Promise is a delightfully fun girl! She is a social butterfly with a strong drive and an affinity for her plush toys. She’s also an affectionate girl who doesn’t want to be left out of the action!
Promise is the foundation bitch for Springcroft’s breeding program.
“Ailis”
Fireside’s Scandal At Helwater CD, CGCA, TKI, DD, WPD, WWDX, HWD, VGS
Ailis earning her Draft Dog title in 2021.
Birthdate: March 23, 2017
AKC #: WS56909802
Sire: MISS GCHS Fireside’s Pick Me Out A Winner CD, RN, AXP, MJP, MDD2, WWD, WPDX, BDD, VGS, TT, HWD
Dam: Aegis Wicked Big Nor’Easter
Breeder: Laura Bullock
Height: 27 inches Weight: 83lb
Ailis earning a leg of her WPD title in 2020.
Ailis earning a leg of her WWDX title and MWPP at Swissypalooza 2021.
“Though she be but little, she is fierce.”
-Shakespeare
Ailis is the OG Swissy at Springcroft. She has been a GSMDCA breed ambassador and is best known for her work ethic and sweet temperament. Ailis loves puppies and is the best “Auntie” a breeding program could hope for.
In Memoriam:
“Dee”
CH Matterhorn’s Queen Of Hearts RN, PT, NWPD, BN, NDD, DD, CD, VGS
12/27/11 - 11/11/20
AKC #: WS39589903
Sire: GCH Korona Rossii Yaroslav NWPD, WWD, RN, ROM, WPD, CD, VGS
Dam: CH Matterhorn’s High Wind Advisory
Breeder: Laurie Carmody
Dee was a lively, loving presence with a comical nature that endeared her to anyone she met. She was my stuffie-loving, popcorn-catching, ball fetching, ninja kisser with a wicked thunder paw.. and I miss her fiercely. She had a full and accomplished life before I met her and am grateful to have shared the last three years of her life with her.
About Us
Springcroft Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs is located on Springcroft Farm in Ocala, FL. Michelle Hinshaw is the owner and operator and got her start in Swissies in 2017 with her first GSMD, Ailis. Dee followed shortly after and Promise joined the farm in 2021. Prior to Swissies, Michelle owned and trained Bernese Mountain Dogs and Kerry Blue Terriers.
We are members of the following:
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club of America
Southbound Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club
Greater Ocala Dog Club
Marion-Alachua Dog Training Club
All rights reserved, Springcroft, LLC 2023
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