Beyond health screening, you can recognise a good breeding set-up by how the dogs live and how you are advised. The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog seeks a close bond with its people and guards its territory with determination, but without aggression. That is why the puppies must grow up in the house and garden as part of the family, getting to know everyday noises and different people early on.
A good breeder will also give you thorough information about breed-specific care after the puppy moves in. They will give you a precise feeding plan that supports slow, steady growth – growing too fast through overfeeding does serious harm to young joints. They will also advise you on joint-friendly exercise during the first year of life and on strict rest periods after meals to reduce the risk of gastric torsion. For a puppy from a breeder like this, budget for a purchase price of between 2,500 and 4,000 euros.
6 specific questions to ask the breeder at your first visit
Use the face-to-face conversation on site to gauge the breeder’s expertise and transparency. Ask the breeder these specific questions:
- What official X-ray results for HD, ED and OCD are available for the dam and the stud dog?
- When was the parent dogs’ last eye examination by a veterinary specialist, and has there been any sign of ectropion or entropion in the line?
- Have there been any cases of nervous system disorders or gastric torsion in the pedigrees of the two parent dogs?
- What is the status of the parent dogs with regard to SLC13A1-associated chondrodysplasia?
- What food are the puppies currently being given to slow down overly rapid growth in height?
- How do the parent dogs behave day to day in terms of guarding behaviour towards visitors?
