- Dog breeds
- Giant breed
- Working group
- Origin: Switzerland
The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, or Swissy, is a large, powerful draft and farm dog with a striking tricolor coat. The AKC breed standard sets males at 25½–28½ in and females at 23½–27 in, and Purina lists adults at 115–140 lb (males) and 85–110 lb (females). As a giant breed, the Swissy grows for a long time and usually reaches adult weight at around 18–24 months. This page includes a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog growth chart by age, a size calculator preset for the breed, and sourced guidance on lifespan, bloat, exercise and feeding.
How big do Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs get?
According to the AKC standard (height) and Purina (weight), adult male Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs weigh 115–140 lb (52.2–63.5 kg) and stand 25.5–28.5 in (65–72 cm) at the shoulder. Females are a little smaller at 85–110 lb (38.6–49.9 kg) and 23.5–27 in (60–69 cm). That makes the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog a Giant breed on our size scale.| Greater Swiss Mountain Dog | Weight | Height |
|---|
The AKC standard sets heights only and describes a heavy-boned, well-muscled dog; the weight ranges come from Purina.
Many healthy pets fall outside the show standard, especially from working or pet lines. Use body condition, not the scale alone, to judge a healthy weight.
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog growth chart: weight by age
| Age | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | 18 lb8.1 kg | 14 lb6.2 kg |
| 3 months | 34 lb15.4 kg | 26 lb11.8 kg |
| 4 months | 46 lb21.1 kg | 36 lb16.1 kg |
| 6 months | 65 lb29.4 kg | 50 lb22.5 kg |
| 9 months | 86 lb39.1 kg | 66 lb29.9 kg |
| 12 months | 102 lb46.1 kg | 78 lb35.3 kg |
| 18 months | 121 lb54.7 kg | 92 lb41.8 kg |
| Adult (18–24 months) | 128 lb57.8 kg | 98 lb44.2 kg |
When is a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog full grown?
Giant breeds like the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog reach their adult weight at about 18–24 months. Most of the growth happens early: by 6 months a typical male is around 65 lb and a female around 50 lb, after which weight gain slows down as the dog fills out.How we calculate this: each figure is the midpoint of the breed’s adult weight range multiplied by the share of adult weight a giant-size puppy typically reaches at that age (WALTHAM growth standards, Salt et al., 2017). It is the same model used by our Dog Size Calculator.
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog puppy size calculator
Enter your puppy’s current age and weight to estimate how big your Greater Swiss Mountain Dog will be as an adult. The calculator is preset for the breed.Dog Size Calculator
Predict how big your puppy will get — estimated adult weight from its current age and weight.
Best from ~8 weeks on; very young pups are less predictable.
Weigh on a flat scale, ideally before a meal.
Not sure? Use the size of the parents, or the larger parent for a mixed breed.
Males often finish a little heavier than females.
| Age milestone | Projected weight |
|---|
Dog breed weight chart (lb & kg) by size
| Size | Adult weight | Full-grown | Example breeds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toy | 2–12 lb / 1–5.5 kg | ~8–10 mo | Chihuahua, Maltese, Toy Poodle, Pomeranian, Yorkie |
| Small | 12–25 lb / 5.5–11 kg | ~10–12 mo | Shih Tzu, French Bulldog, Mini Schnauzer, Mini Aussiedoodle |
| Medium | 25–50 lb / 11–23 kg | ~12–14 mo | Beagle, Border Collie, Cocker Spaniel, Std. Aussiedoodle* |
| Large | 50–100 lb / 23–45 kg | ~15–18 mo | Labrador, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Boxer |
| Giant | 100 lb+ / 45 kg+ | ~18–24 mo | Great Dane, Mastiff, St Bernard, Newfoundland |
*Standard Aussiedoodles span medium–large (≈40–70 lb / 18–32 kg); Mini Aussiedoodles are small (≈15–35 lb / 7–16 kg).
How it works: puppies of a given size reach a predictable share of their adult weight at each age. The tool divides your puppy's current weight by that share to estimate the adult figure, shown as a range.
Disclaimer: estimates for planning only — not veterinary advice. Growth varies with genetics, sex, nutrition and neuter status, especially for mixed and giant breeds. Keep records and consult your vet.
Sources: Salt et al., PLOS ONE 2017 (WALTHAM growth standards) · AKC — when puppies finish growing
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog temperament and personality
Swissies are confident, loyal and good-natured, devoted to their family and usually gentle with children. They are alert watchdogs and can be wary of strangers. They mature slowly and stay puppyish for a long time, so early training is important while they are still manageable. They enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking and carting.-
Energy level3/5
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Trainability3/5
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Good with children4/5
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Shedding3/5
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Barking3/5
Ratings are BarnCalc’s own 1–5 scale, based on the breed standard and the sources cited below. Individual dogs vary.
History and origin
The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is the largest and probably the oldest of the four Swiss mountain dog breeds. Swiss farmers used these dogs to pull carts, drive cattle and guard farms. By the late 1800s the breed had nearly disappeared as machines replaced draft dogs, but Swiss dog experts, including Professor Albert Heim, helped revive it in the early 1900s. The AKC recognized the breed in 1995.Greater Swiss Mountain Dog lifespan and health
Most Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs live 8–11 years. Want to know how old that is in human terms? Try our dog years calculator, or estimate an individual dog’s outlook with the dog life expectancy calculator.Health conditions documented in the breed
- Hip, elbow and shoulder problems
- Bloat and splenic torsion
- Eye disease
- Epilepsy
Health tests to ask a breeder for
The breed’s parent club recommends these screenings for breeding dogs (ask to see the results for both parents):- Hip evaluation
- Elbow evaluation
- Shoulder evaluation
- Eye exam by a board-certified ophthalmologist
This is general information, not veterinary advice. Talk to your vet about your own dog.
Exercise and grooming
| Exercise | 45–60 minutes of walks and play a day; carting or hiking |
| Grooming | Weekly brushing; more during sheds |
| Coat | Dense double coat: outer coat about 1–1½ in, with a thick undercoat |
| Low shedding | No – moderate, seasonal shedder |
| Apartment living | Not ideal |
How much should a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog eat?
A healthy, neutered adult Greater Swiss Mountain Dog weighing 85–140 lb needs roughly 1,730–2,520 kcal a day. With a typical dry food of about 375 kcal per cup, that is about 4.6–6.7 cups a day, split into two meals. Active or intact dogs need more, while older or less active dogs need less. Always check the feeding guide on your food’s label.Breeding and pregnancy
Like all dogs, a pregnant Greater Swiss Mountain Dog carries her puppies for about 63 days from ovulation. Most females come into heat about every 6–12 months.Is a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog right for you?
A great fit for
Families with space, owners who enjoy hiking or carting, and people who want a loyal, protective giant.Think twice if
Small homes, hot climates, or owners who cannot handle a strong, slow-maturing dog.Greater Swiss Mountain Dog FAQ
When is a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog full grown?
How big will my Greater Swiss Mountain Dog puppy get?
How much should a 6-month-old Greater Swiss Mountain Dog weigh?
How long do Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs live?
What is the difference between a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and a Bernese Mountain Dog?
Do Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs drool?
Similar breeds
More dog calculators
- Dog size calculatorHow big will my puppy get?
- Dog years calculatorDog age in human years
- Life expectancyLifespan by breed and size
- Gestation calculatorDue date and whelping window
- Heat cycle calculatorNext heat and fertile days
- Raw dog food calculatorDaily portions by weight
Sources
- AKC official breed standard
- FCI breed standard
- Chewy breed profile
- AKC: breed club recommended health tests
- Salt C. et al. (2017), growth standard charts for monitoring bodyweight in dogs of different sizes, PLOS ONE
Main photo: Swissy, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Reviewed by grupo barncalc.com on November 7, 2026. Estimates are for planning only and are not veterinary advice.