The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is held to be an oldest Swiss breed, the beginnings of which are not clear at all, and various theories exist about this subject. One of them, peddled inter alia by Keller, Kamer and von Hagen, betoken origin of the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog with Saint Bernard dog from Molos – a large bandog – dog which accompanied to Roman legions during their invasion on Alps in 1st century BC.
  The other theory says, that around 1100 year BC Phoenicians arrived with a huge dog race to settlements in Spain, from where they migrated to the West and influenced on shaping of Spain bandog (an ancestor of stock) which inhabited the Pyrenees.
  Some Swiss cynology doctors and breed experts, for example Hans Räber, emphasize the fact that Switzerland, as a transitive country, is a fatherland of inhabitants embodying the type of terminal folk, which cannot be attributed to any of old European tribes. According to this scheme, shepherd dogs accompanying to human tribes were born as a result of crossover – village dogs and dogs of numerous invaders and folks , which traversed this country. From about 1515 year – the end of [miśnieńskie] expeditions to Napoleon expeditions, Swiss glens were isolated from influence of worldwide historical changes, what had a bearing on population of local dogs. Applying of primitive farm selection, affinity breedings and giving puppies to the neighbours and family, established specified local brands.

Frans the Younger Pourbus Portrait of Claude de Lorrain	Karel Dujardin Woman Milking a Red Cow	Cornelis Dusart Village Feast
		WEB GALLERY OF ART

HISTORY OF BREEDING IN EUROPE

  Early forbears SWISSY were used by farmers , breeders of cattle and dealers in the central Europe . First of all selection of farming was based on dogs abilities to perform define function , like for example drawing trucks with load or guarding . In consequense group of growing dogs according to the function took the name of dogs into cattle – Viehhunde.
  In XVIII and XIX century very universal in all Europe was big butcher dog ( Canis familiaris laniarus ) that characterize hard hair and similar franchise . Mostly was it brown , yellow or black with white and brown dogs spots.
  In XIX century dogs were very popular in the central Europe as assistance for farmers, butchers, milkman and these dogs benefit them nickname “horse for poor people”. Swiss peasants and dealers from small villages use them to everything. Breeds from small, farmers zones are very universal because in the past to keep well they had to perform different functions. They were not only to carry and guard. They were not only the assistans for work. They were friends, too. These patient and mild animals were also looking after children. In that period most of them were large, muscular dogs with coloured markings, although by then the black colour with white and red elements was prevalent. According to Heim and Schertrnlieb that dogs became popular in the whole Swiss Upland especially from 1860s to 1870s. On the turn of the 19th century their numbers dramatically dropped. It's not quite clear why that happened. Thirty years it's not long enough for almost complete extinction of breed. According to Heim, dogs which have been keeping by Swiss farmers about 1900 year were in majority mongrels. The decrease in numbers was caused by several factors. Firstly it was due to the increasing availability of mechanized transport as an alternative to the traditional use of the Swissy as a draft dog. Secondly most of countrymen - the then owners of these dogs weren't the professional fanciers and they didn't attach importance to the purity of blood, but they only expected the dogs to work properly. Besides, about year 1840 began the large affluence of German, English and other dogs to Switzerland. Mostly they were German Sheepdogs, Rottweilers Sznaucers, but some of them were sheepdogs from Balkans, Hungary and also English Terriers. To Switzerland had flowed also a lot of different mongrels and people started to cross them with old, local breeds, seemingly to infuse the blood. Mongrels and cures were in majority.

Bernese Mountain Dog	Great Swiss Mountain Dog
Appenzeller	Entlebucher

Because of these reasons in a short period Appenzellers, Entlebuchers, Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs and Bernese Mountain Dog remained in a small quantity in a far-away dales. It's also important, that the second half of the 19th century is a period of a great popularity of St. Bernard. Heterozygous in respect of colour, tri-coloured dogs left the place for ginger/white which could be fancied more directly in respect of colour. Often the dog because of colour became St. Bernard from one day to the next and many of them were bought by English-men on the Berns market. Ginger/white variety of country-dog had to be popular in the past, because up today exists the saying "they are not even ginger/yellow dogs". Albert Heim - a canine researcher and distinguished expert on the Swiss Sheepdog breeds, has seen many large, Swiss dogs, which by their type were like breed, but had a different colour. Because of the domination of black colour over yellow or ginger it was rather easy to fancy tri-coloured breed having only one male. Why didn't it happen? But Heim in spite of every obstacle took part in creating productive technics of breeding and proved with Schertenleib, that when you cross country-dogs with butcher's dogs you can obtain each breeds.

	Photos from "Natural History Museum of Bern"

THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALBERT HEIM AND FRANZ SCHERTENLIEB IN DEVELOPMENT OF THE BREED AND BEGINNINGS OF BREEDING

  In 1908 breeder Franz Schertenlieb from Rothöhe near Burgdorf, bought in Schönentannen, as seemed to him, strong but short-haired three-year-old Bernese dog (Bernese Mountain Dog). He decided, that shows him judge at the nearest exhibition in Langenthal.
  Schertenlieb provided for in Rothöhe house with spa farm, he had tens species cock, he bred also pigs and cows, however he was fascinated in Swiss shepherd’s dogs. He had his own Bernese dogs which despite of their large sizes were very gentle and they didn’t threaten to any patiens.
  In 1908 September in Langenthal, jubilee dog show , held to commemorate the 25 th anniversary of the Schweizerische Kynologische Gesellschaft (Swiss Kennel Club or SKG), dog Schertenlieba on display it became as “short-haired Bernese Mountain Dog “ . Among the organizators and judges of the show was Albert Heim from Zurych, researcher and expert in the field of cynology especially Swiss breeds, who knew it as Swiss dog of large type and demanded for recognition of it as a separate breed. Thanks to his commitment the following year, the SKG listed the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog in the Swiss Stud Book.
  The dog which was show on exhibition in Langenthal it was “Bello”, having 67cm height at the withers, about strong figure and good colour (and symmetrical drawing of patches). Schertenlieb found him on road Schwarzenburg-Gumigel in Schönentannen. Bello, if he had been reported in the group of his breed (which hadn't been existed then), he would have been rewarded the 1st position from Heim on that dog-show, however, reported as a Bernese dog, he had to be satisfied with the 2nd place. This dog was born in 1905 and was recorded later in SHSB as “Bello von Scholossugut” under number (3965) and became his owner Jacob from Wohlen near Bema.
  After exhibition in Langenthal, Schertenlieb, in the environs Durrbach, he found dog about name “Barry” which exibit in Langhenthal in 1909 year. The dog gave the impression of being a bit clumsy, it was very strong, 65 cm high at the withers, it had a relatively short tail carried level with back, thickset legs with white speckles marked on its legs higher than (on) Bello's legs (and generally washed away drawing of meanings). The owner Barrego he became later Otto Imhofz Herzogenbuchsee- the owner of pub “the Zur Sonne” and the dog received the appropriate nickname ”Barry the von Herzogenbuchsee” and number SHSB (4520). Schertenlieb found bitch about name also ”Bellina”, which he gave back Johannowi Jaussi from Olten. “Nero”, born in November 1907, registered under the number3966, “Mars (Staub) von Schlossgut”, born in March 1908, registered under 4521, and a bitch “Flora von Schlossgut”, born in March 1908, bred by Schertenliebe.
  The first Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs registered in the SHSB were “Bello von Schlossgut” (3965) and “Nero von Schlossgut” (3966). However, because of the lack of typical bitches, we can assume that dog “Barry Herzogenbuchsee” was the real father of the breed. In the outcome of matting “Anni von Schlossgut” - bitch, which was not registered in SHSB, with “Flora von Schlossgut” came “Hektor von Born” (5640) and “Belline von Herzogenbuchsee” (5645). From that narrow line of few dogs developed the pure breed.

Bello von Schlossgut	Barry von Herzogenbuchsee
	Photos "Pedigree Dogs Encyclopedia" - Hans Räber
Nero (Maurer)

Till 1936, dogs were registered in SHSB without exact data about their pedigree. So, there was many puppies similiar to Bernese Mountain Dogs, Bernard Dogs or Leonberger Dogs. Only seven of twenty-one dogs which were owned by Swiss farmers or breeders are found in today's dog’s pedigree. At first, only dogs matched the breeding standards. The bitches were usually too small, weakly built, which in many cases,was the outcome of multiple crossings between Bernese and Appenzeller Mountain Dogs. The appearance of the first Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs was different from today's pattern. Their coat didn't have so intensive, black colour, undercoat was yellow, markings were not rusty but pale yellow. The skull was similiar to the one of Bernard, it was also broader than the present pattern, with marked suture .The drawing of markings wasn't as symmetrical as it is expected to be now.

	Photos from "Natural History Museum of Bern"

DEVELOPMENT IN 20 ^TH CENTURY IN EUROPE
AND IN THE U.S.A.

  In early twenties, the population of GSMD was rising very slowly and it is still a very rare breed,both in USA and in native Switzerland. Since 1933, about 50 dogs were registered to the SHSB each year. For the first time, the standard of the breed was published in February 1939 by FCI.
  During the II World War, that dogs were used by the Swiss Army and in 1945 their number increased to 350-400. The Army was using them to transport their supply, because it turned out, that they are better than horses in dealing with irregularity of area, they were more durable and friendly than other dogs.
  During the II World War, that dogs were used by the Swiss Army and in 1945 their number increased to 350-400. The Army was using them to transport their supply, because it turned out, that they are better than horses in dealing with irregularity of area, they were more durable and friendly than other dogs.

	Photos from "Natural History Museum of Bern"

HISTORY OF THE GREATER SWISS MOUNTAIN DOG IN POLAND

In Poland, the first dogs of this race appeared in the 60th of last century. The first female dog was imported by Mrs.Marta Gutowska from Switzerland. Her Swiss (Honda), adequately trained, served in Mountain Rescue. In the first polish breed, a bitch from Austria was located as well. The second breed initiated her daughter, which was bought by Mr. Piotr Lucerski from Wrocław. He moved than to Jelenia Góra where he was also connected with Mountain rescue team. He was leaving with his female dog to France, among other things, for rescue actions, and thanks to that contacts he could find for her right reproductor. As a result of this mating four pups were born. The next breed was established by The Złotowscyis from Bydgoszcz. They imported a female from Germany which copulated with Mr. Lucerski’s dog and than she has born seven pups. Dogs from that line have gone, among others, to Slovakia, and now their descendants have returned to Poland again. In the first polish breeds aside from very valuable dogs, dogs with defects (such as: too small body mass, too much white spots-so called the blue color) have appeared. However, the right breeding selection has contributed to proper development of the race in the next generations. Now, the longest working breed is “Refugium” belonging to Mrs. Barbara Wierzbicka from Warsaw. The first female has come here from Denmark in 1982, and today’s core of the breed are: the swiss male dog called Leonidas zum Ringo dem Grossen and female dog called Lava Refugium. The breed “Refugim” is specialist- turned only to one race. Today, in Poland, The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog could be bought only in few breeds.

Marta Gutowska with Jawa
Picture from "Czworonożni ratownicy"