Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Chinese Shar Pei - Breed Comparison

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Chinese Shar Pei - Breed ComparisonGreater Swiss Mountain Dog is originated from Switzerland but Chinese Shar Pei is originated from China. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog may grow 16 cm / 7 inches higher than Chinese Shar Pei. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog may weigh 45 kg / 100 pounds more than Chinese Shar Pei. Both Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and Chinese Shar Pei has almost same life span. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog may have more litter size than Chinese Shar Pei. Both Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and Chinese Shar Pei requires Moderate maintenance.

History

greater swiss mountain dog - historyHailing from Switzerland, and one of its oldest dog breeds, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog has a dubious history in that there are a number of theories as to its origin. He is closely related to the Bernese Mountain Dog, Saint Bernard and Rottweiler.

Of all the theories, the one that says he is descended from large, mastiff-like dogs is a popular one. He used to be a herding- and guard dog, but also was used to pull carts of farm produce.

It was in the 1900s that the dog’s numbers started dwindling. In 1908, canine researcher, Albert Heim recognized the dogs as being large members of the Sennenhund type, a family of four breeds that includes the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog.

He wanted to see the dogs recognized as a separate breed and the Swiss Kennel Club listed the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog in 1909.

In 1968 they were brought to the United States and a club for them was formed. The dog was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1995 with the dog being recognized as a member of the Working group.

chinese shar pei - historyThe Chinese Shar-Pei is originally from Canton, China. The Shar-Pei has a blue-black tongue and many deep wrinkles. They have more wrinkles as a puppy than the adult dogs do. They are one of the rarest breeds in the world and are considered a basal breed – meaning their existence predates modern canines. Most canines are related to the gray wolf through genetic admixture. However, there are breeds like the Siberian Husky, the Greenland Dog, Finnish Spitz and the Shar Pei are all related to the Taymyr Wolk of North Asia through admixture. The Shar Pei is found throughout the centuries in Chinese artwork, especially found during the Han Dynasty, and are considered one of the most ancient of breeds on earth today. In this period, they were fighting dogs then became beloved pets. Today the Tibetans still use them as fighting dogs.

Following the Communist Revolution, the Char Pei was almost extinct until Margo Law saved the breed. During this time, they smuggled around 200 dogs into the United States. All the dogs in the United States today come from those 200 dogs. They were accepted in 1992 into the AKC. The dogs served as trackers, hunters, ratters, guard dogs and herders.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Non sporting dog
Origin:
Switzerland
China
Height Male:
65 - 72 cm
25 - 29 inches
46 - 56 cm
18 - 23 inches
Height Female:
60 - 70 cm
23 - 28 inches
43 - 53 cm
16 - 21 inches
Weight Male:
60 - 70 kg
132 - 155 pounds
18 - 25 kg
39 - 56 pounds
Weight Female:
55 - 70 kg
121 - 155 pounds
16 - 24 kg
35 - 53 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
10 - 11 Years
Litter Size:
5 - 10
4 - 6
Size:
Large dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
GSMD, Swissy, Sennenhund
Shar-Pei, char pei
Colors Available:
Black, white and rust
cream, red, blue, black silver sables, black bronze sables, isabelle (silver shading on a dilute-colored dog), cream dilute, flower (white with either blue or black patche , apricot dilute, lilac, chocolate, five-point red, sables, chocolate dilute, black, red fawn, brown
Coat:
Short and straight to medium length, coarse and wavy
Horse-coat, Brush-coat and Bear-coat
Shedding:
Moderate, Seasonal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Courageous, Independent, Intelligent, Loyal, Responsive, Stubborn
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

greater swiss mountain dog puppy - descriptionSwissies, as they are often referred to as, are large, robust dogs, standing at 65–72cm and weighing anything between 50 – 70kg, with the females being slightly smaller and weighing a little less.

He has big, rounded paws, medium length floppy ears, a broad chest and a long tail. This is a heavy-boned dog, strong while still being agile.

His dense, double coat is black, white and tan or rust, with black on top of the dog's back, ears, tail and legs. There are two rust dots above each eye. The coat can be short and straight to medium length, coarse and wavy. The dog sheds throughout the year with a major shedding a couple of times a year.

Temperament:

The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a sociable canine, thriving on being part of a loving human family. While he used to be a working farm dog, today he is essentially a family pet, though he loves to still be busy.

He is generally friendly with strangers, but just like with all other dog breeds, he will need to be trained and socialized to turn him into an even-tempered, obedient dog, capable of getting on well with children and pets in the the home.

chinese shar pei puppy - descriptionThe Chines Sar Pei has what if known as a Horse-coat which is prickly, harsh, and rough to the touch on one direction and rough to touch on the other. Western Shar Peis can be Horse, Bearcoat and Brush. The Brush is longer and smoother while the Bear coat is rare and in-between the two. The Bearcoat is not accepted by the AKC while the other two types of coats are.

The Shar Pei should have a hippo shaped head, a black-purple tongue, black mouth, deep set almond shaped dark eyes, small ears and red coats. His profile is square, and his muzzle is full and wide. Most Shar Peis only have facial and neck wrinkles left as adults.

Characteristics

greater swiss mountain dog dog - characteristicsThe Swissy is an easy going dog and adapts easily into his human family’s lifestyle. He is big, but agile dog known for his gentle temperament.

While he loves the outdoors, he is a social dog and loves nothing more than coming indoors and being close to his human family.

He loves his family and won’t do well if left outside for days without human companionship. Treat him well and you’ll be rewarded with a loyal, loving 4-legged family member.

chinese shar pei dog - characteristicsThe Shar Pei must be socialized early to other people, children and animals if he is to be friendly with them. He is loyal to his people and instinctively wary of strangers. He will be completed devoted to his people, but he is reserved and independent. They can be aggressive and territorial if not socialized. They are stubborn, loving and loyal. They are dominant, brave and playful. They are great watch dogs. Keep them busy because they tend to think a lot independently and if they don’t have a job they may create one.

Health Problems

greater swiss mountain dog puppies - health problemsThe GSMD or Sennenhund, as his name is shortened to, is a fairly healthy dog breed, with very few health issues.

He has an average lifespan of 10 to 12 years, and although not likely, he can suffer from minor problems such as gastric torsion as well as female urinary incontinence. If your female dog is dribbling urine in her sleep, there are a number of reasons that can be causing it - bladder infections, a medical condition or a weakened bladder with spayed female dogs.

It is certainly time to get your pet to the vet who will recommend a urinalysis.

chinese shar pei puppies - health problemsBecause of the rushed and inexperienced breeding programs in the United States due to the popularity of the breed, there are many health issues in the North American version of the Shar Pei. Their life expectancy is generally under ten years. They are prone to:

  • Familial Shar Pei Fever - congenital
  • Atopic Dermatitis – due to skin and coat conditions
  • Skin Infections – due to skin and coat conditions
  • Amyloidosis – Long term related to FSF
  • Entropion eye issues
  • Ear infections
  • Vitamin D deficiency hereditary

Caring The Pet

Diet:

greater swiss mountain dog dogs - caringThe Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a robust dog and thrives on a diet of kibble to raw meat to some cooked home-made food such as chicken, brown rice and vegetables.

A serious issue with the GSMD is overfeeding, resulting in uncomfortable digestive problems and of course, obesity.

Exercise:

Your GSMD isn’t a dog that is going to require a lot of exercise like some of the other dog breeds there are, but still his working career of the past requires that he still be taken on daily walks, enjoys ball- and rope games and to go swimming.

Grooming:

Brush your dogs coat at least twice a week to remove loose hears. Other grooming aspects include cleaning the ears to avoid infection, clipping his nails and brushing his teeth at least twice a week.

If you’re not sure how to do all these things, there are useful accessories for dogs that allow you to do all this grooming on your own. Your vet can also show you how as these are all things that will require ongoing attention.

Feeding

chinese shar pei dogs - caringFeed a good quality dry dog food but do not overfeed. You should feed twice a day about one cup per six pounds for puppies. Adults should have two cups a day.

Health issues

• Familial Shar Pei Fever – congenital and serious. This produces fevers that can last from 24 hours to three days. Swelling around the ankles is due to fluid retention.

  • Atopic Dermatitis – due to skin and coat conditions hereditary
  • Skin Infections – due to skin and coat conditions hereditary
  • Amyloidosis – Long term related to FSF and leads to renal failure.

• Entropion eye issues – eyelashes curl in and inflame the eye. Can cause blindness if not treated. Requires surgery.

  • Ear infections – yeast infections – clean them often.
  • Vitamin D deficiency hereditary – causes swollen hocks syndrome and fever.

Exercise and games

Both as a puppy and an adult this is a pretty active dog. He needs at the very least to be walked every day or have a back yard to play in. They are sensitive to heat so bring them in when its really hot and don’t walk them in the heat. They love to play, are athletic and competitive. Try agility, tracking, rally and obedience trials.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Samoyed vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  2. Presa Canario vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  3. Labrador Husky vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  4. Mackenzie River Husky vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  5. Pyredoodle vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  6. Lurcher vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  7. Maremma Sheepdog vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  8. Sarplaninac vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  9. Himalayan Mastiff vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  10. Mountain View Cur vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  11. Native American Indian Dog vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  12. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  13. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  14. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  15. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  16. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  17. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Alaskan Malamute - Breed Comparison
  18. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  19. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Great Pyrenees - Breed Comparison
  20. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Boerboel - Breed Comparison
  21. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  22. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Argentine Dogo - Breed Comparison
  23. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Giant Schnauzer - Breed Comparison
  24. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  25. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  26. Chow Chow vs Chinese Shar Pei - Breed Comparison
  27. Dalmatian vs Chinese Shar Pei - Breed Comparison
  28. Chinese Shar Pei vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  29. Chinese Shar Pei vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  30. Chinese Shar Pei vs Australian Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  31. Keeshond vs Chinese Shar Pei - Breed Comparison
  32. Mexican Hairless vs Chinese Shar Pei - Breed Comparison
  33. Tibetan Terrier vs Chinese Shar Pei - Breed Comparison
  34. Standard Poodle vs Chinese Shar Pei - Breed Comparison
  35. Norwegian Lundehund vs Chinese Shar Pei - Breed Comparison
  36. Pembroke Welsh Corgi vs Chinese Shar Pei - Breed Comparison
  37. Golden Doodle vs Chinese Shar Pei - Breed Comparison
  38. Pomsky vs Chinese Shar Pei - Breed Comparison
  39. Sakhalin Husky vs Chinese Shar Pei - Breed Comparison
  40. Other vs Chinese Shar Pei - Breed Comparison
  41. Chinese Shar Pei vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  42. Chinese Shar Pei vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  43. Chinese Shar Pei vs Australian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  44. Chinese Shar Pei vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  45. Chinese Shar Pei vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Chinese Shar Pei vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds