The Breed

Switzerland

Group 2 (dogs type Pinscher and Schnauzer – Molossian hounds and Swiss mountain dogs)

Height at withers ratio – trunk length = 9:10 More compact than long

Potent. Skull, seen from the front and in profile, not very rounded; Craniofacial depression (stop) is well marked without being too much prominent, slightly marked frontal sulcus. Black snout. Muzzle powerful, straight, of medium length. Lips slightly developed, well fitting, black.

Dark brown, almond shaped, with eyelids that close the shape of the eyeball well.

Vigorous, muscular, medium length.

Powerful and compact. Chest broad and well-descended to the elbows; well-developed chest; the transverse part of the rib cage is almost oval in shape. Back solid and straight. Loins broad and solid. Croup slightly rounded. Belly not retracted.

Short, round with closed and well-arched toes.

The movement covers a lot of ground, agile and regular at any speed; fast and wide-ranging stride with good rear end thrust; while trotting, seen both from the front and from behind, the limbs are carried forward parallel and vertical.

Deep black background, with some blurs (dark brown) on the cheeks, above the eyes, on all four limbs, in the perianal area and on the chest. White spots on the head, clearly defined, symmetrical, in the form of a list, and on the muzzle. Uninterrupted and moderately broad white area on neck and chest. Wanted: white feet; white tip of the tail. Unwanted: but tolerated: small white spot on the back of the head; white spot under the tail.

Any variation to the above requirements shall be considered a defect, which will have to be penalized according to its severity. Character flaws, fearful or aggressive dogs. Prognathism and enognathism. Lack of two or more P1 (premolars 1). Entropion, ectropion. Saddle back. Tail curled or docked. Light bone structure. Curly coat.

Cracked nose. Light blue eyes. Short or double coat and not tricoloured. Non-black underground coat

At the beginning watchdog, herding and pulling on farms in the canton of Bern, nowadays dog for multipurpose utility and mainly family dog.

Utility dog with a long coat, tricoloured, powerful, harmonious, well proportioned, with vigorous limbs whose size is above average.

Well balanced, careful, alert and fearless of the surrounding, it’s naturally good and faithful toward its family, self-confident and peaceful with strangers, the temperament is medium-docile.

Complete and strong, scissor bite.

Rather open, seen from front they are perpendicular and well parallel. Shoulders are long, powerful and oblique, forming a not too open angle with the arm, well attached and muscular. Metacarpus almost vertical. Solid.

Seen from behind, perpendicular and not too closed; hocks and feet neither splayed nor open. Clipping of dewclaws is mandatory. Thighs rather long and forming, seen from the side, a well-angled, broad, powerful and well-muscled joint. Hocks are well-angled and robust.

Well furred, with a maximum length up to the hocks, low posture when at rest and a little higher than the back when the dog is alert

Long, smooth or slightly wavy fur.

Males: 64-70 cm at the wither; ideal size 66-68 cm Females: 58-66 cm at the wither; ideal size 60-63 cm

Lack of white on the head. List is too large (between the white list and the red mark on the eyes there must be a well delimited black border). White on the muzzle which crosses the corner of the mouth towards the cheek. Big white spot on the back of the head. White collar. White furbelows (white that crosses metacarpal and metatarsal). Spots on the head, on the neck and chest which is very asymmetric.

Males must have two normal testicles, fully descended into the scrotum.