But Wait! That's not a Flat-Coated Retriever

Why a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog in addition to our Flat-Coated Retrievers? Because I (Mike) decided I'd like a dog of “my own”, and that I'd like a “big ol’ farm dog” type of dog. Swissies certainly fit that description, since males run in the 115 to 140 lb range.

[For the flat-coat people out there: No, Julie is not changing breeds! Flat-coats will always be in our home. The addition of a Swissy is Mike's choice.]

Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs (FCI standard, English translation), aka “Swissy” in the US, is a large, immensely strong working dog with a striking tri-color coat. While there is no “Lesser” Swiss Mountain Dog, the Bernese Mountain Dog, the Appenzeller Sennenhund, and the Entlebucher Mountain Dog are the other three related Swiss mountain breeds. A nice comparison picture, in the order above, is in the Wikipedia article on Swiss mountain dogs (auf Deutsch: Sennenhund). Note that in Europe, a “Swissydog” is actually a hybrid of the mountain breeds, not slang for a Greater Swiss as it is in the United States.

My first, and so far only, Swissy is Rüdi, an Oregon-bred goofball who is everything I could have hoped for given my desire for a “big ol’ farm dog”. At any given time, he might be

Rüdi the Regal — when sitting on his bed surveying his domain
Rüdi the Recalcitrant — when getting ready for obedience exercises
Rüdi the Reluctant — when it's time to put his pack on for a hike
Rüdi the Repulsive (or Repugnant) — when he passes gas
Rüdi the Rascal — when he steals treats off the dresser
Rüdi the Rowdy — when he is wrestling with Gabe, our flat-coat puppy
Rüdi the Ridiculous — when he lays on his back with his paws in the air
Rüdi the Resonant — when he does his “ba-roo!” in anticipation of dinner

Yep — just what I wanted!

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