Testimonials

Zeus "In July of 2009, I lost my Bernese Mountain Dog, Max, to cancer. He was only 8 years old. He was undoubtedly the best dog I have ever had and I’ve had dogs all my life. I had known about the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog but never had one. In researching them I discovered they had many of the characteristics that I loved about the Bernese but the Swissy had not genetic health issues. I managed to find a breeder in Maryland and visited them on a trip I was making in Sept. My wife and I both thought what we saw was wonderful and a Swissy was certainly what I wanted. On returning home I discovered Swiss Peaks Kennel and Heidi Frei on the internet. I was in touch with Heidi within the week and the rest, as they say is history.

We visited Heidi and saw her adult breeding Swissies. The beautiful dogs and the puppies were “so cute” (my wife’s enthusiastic response). In Mid October we picked up Zeus, our new puppy.

I took him to my Vet who checked him out and he told me I had “perfect puppy.” He has confirmed that assessment in the visits we have had since that first one in October.

I have a special fondness for the large breeds and the Greater Swiss is certainly that. Over the following months, Zeus started growing into his name. I’ve never had a dog that grew so fast, so visibly. You’d turn around often and say, “Wow, he’s bigger!” At 10 months, Zeus is already as big as my Bernese Mountain dog was – and it took Max 3 years to reach that size.

Zeus has those qualities I loved most about the Bernese. He’s gentle, loyal, and very affectionate. At 100 lbs, that affection, coupled with the exuberance of a puppy, offers a unique challenge. He has been to puppy school and finished at the head of his class. He is bright, and picks up on commands quickly. Having said that, I do have to remind myself regularly, “He’s still a puppy.” I’m not used to having a 100 lb puppy. He does have a mind of his own and his affection and enthusiasm often overrides his training. So I can’t relax and tell myself it’s all taken care of. The training has to be constantly reinforced.

And he is a talker. I’ve never had a dog that ‘talks’ as much as he does. He knows what ‘No!” means, but he has to comment on it none the less. When he greets us at the door, it’s vocal as well as everything else. He is so funny.

As a parent, I know how kids can get into things, do things they know they shouldn’t but just seem to have to do it any way. Puppies are no different – except, at 100 lbs., what this ‘kid’ can get into goes up proportionately.

All that said, Zeus is such a joy. The way he greets us after we’ve been out for a bit is simply wonderful.

If you like the large breeds, you should check out the Swissies. Among the breeders I’ve met over the years, I would say Heidi is among the best. She cares about who her puppies go to and she keeps in touch. She provided a great deal of information prior to our picking up Zeus, as well as a package of information the day we took Zeus home. She even gave us a puppy blanket and some puppy toys for Zeus. That is something I haven’t seen in a breeder before. Her personal involvement in her breeding dogs and her puppies was wonderful to see.

I can say without any hesitation I could not have asked for more in my, now, 100 lb. puppy, or in his breeder."

~ Jack Cox, Hamilton, Ontario

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