Breeding suitability guide — Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
For breeders: which tests, which thresholds, which mating rules apply
1. Mandatory tests for parents
Schweizer Sennenhund-Verein für Deutschland e.V. (SSV) requires these tests for breeding approval — they must be on file for every breeding animal.
| Test / condition | Scoring scheme | Passing result | Inheritance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DNA-Identitätsnachweis | Blutprobe (DNA-Profil) | Premium SNP DNA profile (ISAG 2020) on file (alternatively ISAG 2006 until the end of 2026) | — | Schweizer Sennenhund-Verein für Deutschland e.V. (SSV) |
| Wesensbeurteilung | Verhaltenstest | Breeding approval test (Körung) passed successfully | — | Schweizer Sennenhund-Verein für Deutschland e.V. (SSV) |
| Eye conditions (ophthalmological eye exam) (ECVO) | Eye examination | clear | Complex | Schweizer Sennenhund-Verein für Deutschland e.V. (SSV) |
| Cataract (HC) | Eye examination | clear | Complex | Schweizer Sennenhund-Verein für Deutschland e.V. (SSV) |
| Elbow Dysplasia (ED) | X-ray | ED 0–1 | Polygenic | Schweizer Sennenhund-Verein für Deutschland e.V. (SSV) |
| Hip dysplasia (HD) | X-ray | breeding value ≤ 102 | Polygenic | Schweizer Sennenhund-Verein für Deutschland e.V. (SSV) |
| Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) | X-ray | clear | Complex | Schweizer Sennenhund-Verein für Deutschland e.V. (SSV) |
2. Mating rules
When one parent has a borderline result, the other parent must meet specific criteria.
Cataract (HC)
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
Schweizer Sennenhund-Verein für Deutschland e.V. (SSV)Elbow Dysplasia (ED)
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
Schweizer Sennenhund-Verein für Deutschland e.V. (SSV)Ectropion / Entropion
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
Chondrodysplasia, SLC13A1-related
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
3. Recommended additional tests
Sensible additions for line planning.
| Test / condition | Scoring scheme | Passing result | Inheritance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) | X-ray | — | Complex | Curated by HonestDog |
| Ectropion / Entropion | — | clear | Complex | — |
| Chondrodysplasia, SLC13A1-related | — | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | — |
| Epilepsy (IE) | Physical examination | — | Complex | Curated by HonestDog |
4. HonestDog verification
- Upload a legible certificate (PDF or photo) per test in the breeder dashboard
- Certificate must show date, examining vet, and FCI/VDH logo
- Certificates older than 36 months are flagged as stale
- We extract the results from each upload using AI and check them for consistency with the dog's profile — the profile tile then shows 'verified'