Renascence Bulldogge vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison

Hailing 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.

The Renascence Bulldogge, sometimes referred to as the Gargoyle – or Guardian bulldogs, came about by crossing the American Bulldogs with Bullmastiffs, Bandogges, English Bulldogs and Hermes Bulldogges.

The idea was to re-create the working British Bulldogge breed of the 1800's. The Renascence Bulldogge is bred to a standard and is a rare dog. The idea was to bring about a dog like the English Bulldog but with less health problems.

There is a Renascence Bulldogge Kennel Club in existence.

Swissies, 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.

The Renascence Bulldogge is a well proportioned, muscular, medium sized dog with a large head and strong neck.

He can weigh between 27 to 41 kilograms and stand at between 43 and 56cm. A dock tailed is the preferred look, giving the dog a nice compact, distinguished look, but these days the tail is left to grow long. The coat is short and smooth and the colors are fawn, white and black. The eyes of the dog are low and wide, the muzzle broad and the ears are high set and semi-erect, semi-floppy. The back legs are muscular and heavy, quite a bit longer than the front legs.

Temperament:

Protective and territorial, the Renascence Bulldogge happens to also be a friendly, social, playful dog wih his human family. He tends to be a bit reserved and wary around strangers.

This powerful Molosser is also easy to train, and with training and socialization he becomes a pleasure to have around – obedient and well mannered.

The 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.

The Renascence Bulldogge is a rare dog and they are now being bred more often by people who love the English Bulldog but who don't want so many health problems.

The Renaissance Bulldog is a lot more healthier and more robust than the English Bulldog. The best part is that he has the English Bulldog's characteristic look. Bring him into your home and you’ll have an entertaining, social, playful, loving pet and companion.

The 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.

Your Renascence Bulldogge can live to be anything from 10 to 15 years of age with good care.

Heat Stroke:

Heat stroke is a concern with the Renascence Bulldogge, and even with his daily walk, you will have to keep an eye on him You must never ever leave him alone in a hot car. These dogs have breathing problems as it is and overheating can kill him.Suffering from heatstroke is regarded as an emergency situation.

Bloat:

Any dog can suffer with bloat, not only the Renascence Bulldog. If your dog’s stomach is bloated, he will have a hard, swollen stomach, he will be restless and trying to vomit. This is also a life threatening condition.

Eczema:

Also referred to as canine atopic dermatitis, the Renascence Bulldog sometimes has to contend with this non-parasitic infection. Your poor dog will have dry, itchy skin and he can become frantic with this. You will need to get him to the vet.

Other things to look out for with your Bulldogge are hip dysplasia, cancer and eye infections.

Diet:

The 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.

Your Renascence Bulldogge is a special, loving pet, but keeping him healthy can be a bit of a challenge.

Exercise:

A walk every day will be a good form of exercise for this dog.

General Care:

Your pet is one of these dogs that has quite a few layers around the face.You will need to wipe between these folds with a damp,warm cloth or with a natural,gentle anti-fungal wipe.

His skin can become irritated with the layers of skin and you don’t want such a cute pet to battle with a itchy rash on his skin.

Diet:

Your Renascence Bulldogge is going to need the very best food you can give him. The commercially manufactured foods are nice and convenient and the best ones are well balanced.

It’s nice to be able to give your Bulldogge some delicious home-made food, bearing in mind that dogs like simplicity and consistency.

Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and sweet potatoes, spinach and carrots all chopped up and added to your dog’s dry kibble twice a week will delight him. It will ensure he is healthy ad happy. A little bit of raw meat can also do wonders for his health. Never leave him without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.