Choosing a Responsible Breeder

Responsible breeders perform recommended health testing on their breeding dogs before planning a litter. For Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs, these evaluations typically include hips, elbows, shoulders, and annual eye examinations. Some breeders may also screen for heart, thyroid, and patella health.

Health testing helps reduce the risk of inherited diseases, but no breeder can guarantee that a puppy will never develop a health condition.

Expect a responsible breeder to ask questions about your family, lifestyle, work schedule, previous dog experience, and future plans.

Their goal isn't to judge you, it's to ensure each puppy is placed in a home where it will thrive for the rest of its life.

 Puppies should be raised in a clean, safe environment where they receive daily interaction with people and are exposed to normal household sights and sounds.

During their first weeks of life, puppies begin learning confidence through positive experiences with handling, new environments, and age-appropriate socialization.

 Before going home, puppies should receive appropriate veterinary care and age-appropriate vaccinations and deworming.

New owners should receive:

• AKC Registration paperwork 
• OFA information
• Veterinary records 
• Microchip information 
• A written sales contract 
• A pedigree 
• Feeding and care instructions

 A responsible breeder remains available long after your puppy goes home.

Whether you have questions about training, nutrition, health, behavior, or simply want to share updates, your breeder should be someone you feel comfortable contacting throughout your dog's life..

 Responsible breeders stand behind every puppy they produce.

If circumstances ever prevent you from keeping your Swissy, your breeder should require that the dog be returned to them or assist in finding an appropriate new home. Responsible breeders never want one of their dogs to end up in a shelter or rescue