WHAT'S NEW?
GSMDCA Genetic Diversity Study:
Preliminary Results Released
Based on this report, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog breed has the lowest amount of genetic diversity of any breed yet tested with UC Davis, though breeders seem to be avoiding intentional inbreeding. Additionally, while some of the breeding pairs are producing relatively outbred puppies, a significant number of dogs are quite inbred, so care must be taken not to cause depletion of the existing diversity in the breed.
Foundation raises over $35,000 in its first year of operation
THANK YOU to all who have and continue to support the health of the GSMD! Since our founding Fall 2022 we raised over $35,000 to support current and future research. We continue to invest in relevant current research, while building resources to support important future work. Your support is invaluable! Thank you!!
AND note that your donations are eligible for tax deductions when made directly to the GSMDCA Health Foundation.
2025 Research Agenda announced...
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GSMD Genetic Diversity study continued
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Epilepsy - familial link preliminary evaluation via UC Davis genetic research
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Canine Health Foundation study support continues for the following:
Look for latest research and insights here...
coming soon ...
Join the Genetic Diversity Special study on Epilepsy
If you have an epilepsy affected dog stay tuned for an opportunity to participate in a study conducted by the University of California Davis, sponsored by the GSMDCA Health Foundation...
ABOUT US
The GSMDCA Health Foundation, Inc., was established in 2022 as a an arm of the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club of America, Inc. to continue the important work of the GSMDCA Health Committee. The Foundation is a501(c)3 educational and science-based organization formed to
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Protect the future of the Greater Swiss Mountain dog (GSMD) breed by pursuing studies, surveys, data gathering, and research related to the causes, prevention, and treatment of hereditary diseases and other health issues faced by the breed.
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Foster a community that tracks GSMD health across pedigrees, supports responsible breeding, educates owners and caretakers, and promotes a scientifically sound research agenda.
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Develop, maintain, and promote fundraising sources to support the work of the organization.
Our focus will be to ..
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Conduct outreach and education regarding GSMD health concerns, best practices in care, and research findings and advances.
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Support relevant research, such as through AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF)
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Maintain and manage the relationship with the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC)
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Provide comprehensive and accurate information tools to help breeders and owners promote GSMD health and breed preservation over future generations.
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Make recommendations to the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club of America, Inc regarding breed standards, breeder education and code of conduct, and other health-related information and guidance to support its membership.
Meet Our Board of Directors
The GSMDCA Health Foundation is lead by a team of volunteers devoted to Swissy health. We are owners and professionals with a diversity of skills and experience. As Foundation Board members we are committed to governing and overseeing the operation of the Foundation to assure sustainability and success in delivering on the purpose of the Foundation.
President
Lisa Simonsen
Lisa Simonsen has been a breeder, owner and handler of Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs under the “Painted Mtn” prefix for over 25 years, producing over 50 Champions. Over these many years she has also been an active volunteer serving the GSMDCA as President, Treasurer, Health Committee Chair and a member of numerous other Committees. In 2019 Lisa was awarded the GSMDCA’s Margaret Poole Lifetime Achievement Award to honor her long time service to the Club and the Breed.
On a local level she is a founding member and current President of the Cascade Greater
Swiss Mountain Dog Club and has served on the Board in one position or another since the
inception of the Club in 1998.
Lisa has been a long-time champion of GSMD health and understands the value of canine health research and education.
Lisa graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and still resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and several Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs.
Vice President
Martha Tubman, DVM
Martha has been an emergency and critical care veterinarian since 2004. She graduated with her DVM from Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine.
Treasurer
Kelly Nevin Lovley, PhD
Kelly has been a swissy owner for over 20 years. She is the owner of Prism Greater Swiss Mtn Dogs. She has been actively involved national club activities
having served on the GSMDCA board for 10 years in total including 4 year as president and as the long time awards chair for the GSMDCA.
In 2015, Kelly was awarded the Friend of the Swissy for her service to the club. Additionally, she is a GSMDA draft and weight pull judge.
Kelly has been on the board of the Swissy Club of New England (SCONE) since the founding of the club. She hosts yearly GSMDCA draft test and AKC all breed herding tests and trials for the club.
Kelly has a PhD in Microbiology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and worked as research faculty at UMASS for 20 years. She lives outside of the town of Amherst, with her husband, daughter, swissies and lots of farm animals.
Secretary
Anna Wallace
Anna is a Preservation Breeder who owns and operates Liberty Run Kennel & Pet Resort in the Oklahoma City area. She focuses on boarding, grooming and breeding for the AKC conformation ring. Her first purebred, AKC registered dog was a Bernese Mountain Dog named Sam who earned his CD obedience title in 1994 with three scores above 195 out of a possible 200 points. That lead to the addition of Walker, a Bernese Mountain Dog who became Anna's first AKC Champion. Anna been heavily involved in the sport ever since with Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs and
Entlebucher Mountain Dogs, having completed over 100 conformation titles and having had multiple dogs in Top 10 rankings over the years.
Anna has served in various board and committee positions in both the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club of America, the National Entlebucher Mountain Dog Association, the Heart of the Plains Kennel Club, and the Oklahoma City Kennel Club. Anna has earned her permit/provisional status as an AKC Conformation judge in multiple breeds, including Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs.
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Director
Annie Barnett
Annie Barnett’s involvement with the GSMD began over a decade ago. She has been
a member of the GSMDCA since 2013 and has been involved in many aspects of dog
sports. Locally, she has been a member of the Intermountain West Working Group
Club since 2016, and has served as Secretary and Director over the years. She has
served as a Director of the Cascade GSMD Club, as well as their Working Dog Chair.
She is currently a Director on the GSMDCA board, serving her second term. She has
been a member of the GSMDCA health committee since 2019. Her educational
background is in biochemistry.
Directors
Andrea Hansen
Pat Runde
