The Entlebucher Mountain Dog, also known as the Entlebucher Sennenhund or Entlebucher Cattle Dog, is the smallest of the Swiss mountain dogs. Originally used as a watchdog to Roman nobility, the Entlebucher became known as the "dog of the Alpine herdsman" in Switzerland and was used as a cattle herding dog.
He is quiet, easygoing, friendly, and enjoys the company of people and other dogs. He is exceptionally gentle around children, loyal, and extremely devoted to his family. He is a good watchdog, being suspicious of strangers, territorial and protective but not aggressive. He is exceptionally clean and requires little grooming. Overall, he makes a wonderful companion.
Being a herding dog, the Entlebucher is an active and high-energy breed and requires daily physical activity. He enjoys having a job to do and is well suited to participate in such activities as herding, agility, obedience, disc dog, and tracking to name a few.
The Entle's coat is dense and short and comes in tri-colour like all the Swiss mountain dogs. Primarily glossy black with a white blaze from the muzzle to the top of the head, white on all four feet as well as on the tip of the tail and a white cross on the chest. There is also a rust colour that lays between the black and white.
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Health Issues:
The Entlebucher is a strong and healthy breed, however, like all breeds of dogs, incidences of genetic disorders do exist.
Hip Dysplasia as well as eye diseases, including Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) and Cataracts have been seen in the breed. According to the NEMDA, due to the small gene pool, it is believed that at this time there are no lines which are clear of eye problems both in North America and in Europe.
If you are considering the adoption of a Entlebucher Mountain Dog puppy, or any breed, it is very important to be selective in choosing a responsible and reputable breeder. Ensure that the prospective puppy's parents have all health clearances. For the Entle, breeding stock should be x-rayed and certified clear of hip dysplasia prior to breeding. Eyes should also be certified annually by CERF to be free of inherited eye disease. (For more information on selecting a breeder, see the articles on the main Breed Listing and Breeders page.)
Health Resources:
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Breed Standards:
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Grooming:
- Grooming — This growing section of Canada's Guide to Dogs includes grooming information, tips and techniques as well as listings of Groomers from across Canada.
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Training Resources:
The Entlebucher Mountain Dog, though very trainable, is intelligent, strong-willed and an independent thinker. These characteristics may prove to be somewhat of a challenge to first time dog owners. It is strongly recommended that socialization and puppy training start as early as possible.
- Training — For information on training your Entle, see this growing section of Canada's Guide to Dogs for tips, articles, as well as listings of training centres across Canada.
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Additional Information:
- Clubs, Sports and Activities — This section of Canada's Guide to Dogs includes information on several sports and activities including agility, conformation, obedience, herding, and much more. In addition, listings of non-breed specific clubs from across Canada can be found here. (Note: For Breed specific Clubs, see the Breed Clubs section.)
- Working Dogs — The Working Dogs section covers such dog jobs as Guide Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Search and Rescue Dogs, Police K9s and much more. Also included here are listings of organizations from across Canada.
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