Cornerstone Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs (GSMD) is a small in-home kennel located in Southern California.  Rita Rimler & Pamela Cosner are Cornerstone's founders.  We are dedicated to producing working dogs that are sound in mind and body.

 

The GSMD is a large, powerful dog that traditionally worked as an all-purpose farm dog, pulling loaded carts, working livestock, and protecting the farmstead.  They are great family dogs but their size, intelligence and energy mean they may not be right for every home.

 

Cornerstone carefully screens all of our dogs for relevant, detectable diseases and we thoroughly research pedigrees before matching breeding dogs.  Despite careful screening and planning no system is perfect and occasionally health issues can occur.  The GSMD faces some serious health problems including epilepsy, bloat and joint disease.  We encourage anyone interested in the breed to research the health problems that may present themselves and to learn more about the screening and breeding practices that help reduce these risks.

 

Cornerstone is totally committed to this wonderful breed and strives to create dogs with strong breed type, working temperaments, health and longetivity.  Our  Swissys are an integral part of the family and they are involved in many working activities.  Our puppies are raised in a home environment and are heavily socialized.  Puppies will be selectively placed in appropriate and loving homes.  We will carefully review potential new owners and work to match them with the puppy whose temperament best suits their lifestyle and personalities. 

 

We welcome any questions.  Feel free to ask us about our breed, their health issues, our dogs and upcoming litters.  Visitors are always welcome by appointment.

 

Rita and Pamela met when Rita brought Griff to Pamela for training in 1997.  They became friends and in 2002 joined forces when Griff's first litter was born.  Sonic, Griff's daughter, was their first jointly owned dog.

Rita

Rita became involved in Swissys in 1996 when she acquired Griff (see Our Boys for more info on Griff).  Rita is an active member on the board of the Southwest Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club and a member of Cascade GSMD club, and the national breed club.  Other Swissy activities that are currently keeping her busy are, conformation, competition obedience, herding, and carting.

Pamela

Pamela has been working with dogs professionally since 1986.  George and Mary Ann Alston started her career at Fieldstone Kennels in Maryland.  After graduating from College in 1990 she became a full time dog trainer at Hollywood Dog Training School and moved on to create her own training business, Sundog Obedience, in 1997.  Pamela is currently a member of the Southwest GSMD club, the Cascade GSMD club, and the national breed club.  She is also actively involved with competition obedience, conformation, herding, and carting.