MyDogBreeds
Cockalier is originated from United States but Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is originated from Switzerland. Cockalier may grow 34 cm / 13 inches shorter than Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. Cockalier may weigh 58 kg / 127 pounds lesser than Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. Cockalier may live 3 years more than Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. Cockalier may have less litter size than Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. Both Cockalier and Greater Swiss Mountain Dog requires Moderate maintenance.
Known also as the Cockalier Spaniel, the Cockalier is a sweet crossbreed – a mix between the Cocker Spaniel and the Cavalier King Charles spaniel.
Both of these spaniels do have some differences. The Cockalier is a designer breed that hails from the USA. Because he is a hybrid breed the Cockalier isn’t recognized by the American Kennel Club, but as a hybrid, it is recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC).
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 Cockalier is a medium-sized dog standing at between 30 and 38cm in height and weighing roughly between 5 and 12kg.
The coat of the Cockalier is silky and wavy. The coat is medium length and can be in colors such as golden, red, black or maybe white and brown.
The ears are fairly long and floppy, the eyes brown and expressive and the tail docked. If left, the tail is long and feathery.
The Cockalier is lively, gentle, intelligent and friendly with his human family, though he can be a little bit aloof with strangers.
He bonds very strongly with his family. They’re robust and are playful with children. They’re active dogs too and love nothing more than a hectic ball game. They don’t know when to stop and can become utterly exhausted if you don’t stop the game.
Have him trained and socialized and then he becomes even more amicable and he’s smart enough to learn basic commands without any trouble.
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.
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 Cockalier is such a clever dog and he wants to please. He just loves his human owners, protecting them against strangers. He doesn’t take too kindly to strangers, preferring to devote all his love and loyalty to those he knows.
He just craves attention and wants to be in your vicinity all the time. He is also good with children and will get on well with other pets in the home.
Once you’ve had a Cockalier in your life, you’ll want to reconsider having one of them again as they make awesome pets and companions.
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 Cockalier is a healthy dog breed and can reach between 12 and 15 years of age. Look out for common canine health issues such as hearing loss and ear infection and vision issues.
Cockaliers that have an ear infection will shake their head and scratch their ears. The inside of the ears may be red and there may be an unpleasant smell coming from the ears. Your pet will need to see the vet.
This is a common disease with King Charles Spaniels where the mitral valve wears out and leaks and is associated with a heart murmur.
The earliest sign of a leaking mitral valve is normally a heart murmur, but it doesn’t mean heart failure is imminent, but congestive heart failure will eventuallt occur. Your dog will tire when walking, be lethargic and also have a cough. It will definitely be time to see the vet.
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.
When you choose one of the commercially manufactured dog foods there are, you want to avoid those more inferior ones that have ingredients in them that can cause your dog to get sick.
Look for the high-quality ones and choose the foods that have natural, wholesome ingredients in them. The vet can always help you with your decision to select a food that will of benefit to your pet.
Try to give your pet some good homemade food too such as some raw meat occasionally as well as boiled chicken, vegetables and brown rice. Fresh, cool water should be constantly available.
The Cockalier is going to require some brushing because he sheds quite a bit. Some dog owners prefer to get the Cockalier professionally trimmed. During grooming, check your pet over for any unusual lumps.
Your Cockalier will also need to have his nails trimmed, and because of the long ears, you will need to look inside the ears to ensure there is no redness and signs of infection.
Some dog owners don’t have the time or they don’t want to probe inside their pet’s ears and then a doggy-grooming-parlor can be a good idea as they do all this for you.
The Cockalier is an energetic dog, requiring a lot of exercise and games. These dogs love water games and will love you spraying him with water from the garden hose. Failing that, he’ll jump right into the swimming pool with you. Ball games are just up his street, and he will remind you every day that it’s time for his walk.
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.
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.
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.