Entlebucher mountain dog

Entlebucher mountain dog is a medium-sized, short-haired dog with a nice, three-colored coat. The smallest of four Swiss shepherd dog breeds. A dog with very good predispositions to watch alert, distrustful of strangers, intelligent. It is full of energy, so it needs a lot of movement and activity.

Nature

Entlebucher is the smallest of the four Swiss mountain dogs and cattle (the other is a large Swiss dog, Bernese mountain dog, and Appenzeller). All four breeds have a characteristic three-colored coat.

Entlebucher is a friendly and kind dog. He likes the company of people and other dogs. He is loyal to his human family and is strongly attached to his guardian. He is happy to learn. However, it is not recommended to novice owners, because they may have problems with his strong guarding instinct.

Entlebucher mountain dog. Skills

These dogs were to guard and herd cattle and guard the house and the bypass. To this day, they are excellent as a guard, although first of all, they are companion dogs. You can also do dog sports with them.

Training and education

As a typical herding dog, Entlebucher willingly works with people. Despite his readiness to work, he is not hyperactive and if he is provided with longer walks, he will adapt well to living in an apartment.

He is distrustful by nature, so he requires careful socialization at an early age. When buying a puppy, pay special attention to the psyche of parents, or at least the mother. Unfortunately, cowardly Entlebucher does occur, but it is sometimes difficult to know to what extent it is a matter of a faulty psyche and to what extent insufficient socialization.

Entlebucher with the right mind at the first contact can bark to a stranger and keep a distance, but if he behaves calmly and the owner shows the dog that everything is fine, the quadruped will quickly make friendly contacts with the guest.

Who is this race for?

This breed can be recommended to anyone who would like to have a busy dog, but not tormenting with its activity. He is perfect as a family companion, especially since he is gentle with children he knows.

Dog sports enthusiasts will also be pleased with the Entlebucher. He doesn’t need any special motivation, working with you is pure joy for him. He is not prone to vagrancy and poaching, so you can easily take him on trips outside.

Entlebucher mountain dog. Advantages and disadvantages

Disadvantages

• requires careful socialization
• needs a lot of movement and activity
• there are fearful individuals

Advantages

• a good companion for active families
• susceptible to training
• you can play sports with him
• uncomplicated in care
• healthy and resilient

Health

Although it is basically a healthy breed, sometimes there is hip dysplasia and genetic eye diseases (among others, PRA test is available) – therefore it is worth testing dogs for breeding in this respect.

Feeding

Entlebucher has no special requirements in this respect. It can be fed with ready-made food of good quality as well as with food prepared at home.

Care

Entlebucher care is easy. The dog molts twice a year, then it requires more frequent brushing to get rid of dead hair.

History

Swiss shepherd dogs of various sizes were rural, hard-working dogs that were supposed to guard and cattle herds and guard the house and the farm. One theory is that these dogs are from molasses that arrived in what is now Switzerland, along with Roman legions, rushing cattle – a living meat supply for soldiers. Perhaps, however, they simply have the blood of indigenous dogs that have lived in this area for centuries.

The smallest of the four breeds come from the Entlebuch valley, from the cantons of Lucerne and Bern. The first description of the dog called “Entlibucherhund” dates from 1889, but for many years Entlebucher and appenzeller were not distinguished. For the inhabitants, they were simply small or medium-sized rural dogs, used for similar tasks. They did not exist as a race in today’s understanding of the word.

In 1913, four copies of “entlebuchers” were shown at the exhibition in Lagenthal. Then Albert Heim, a great lover of Swiss mountain and cattle dogs, got to know them for the first time. The dogs were entered into the Swiss Pedigree Book as the fourth of the native breeds. However, Dr. Bernhard Kobler deserved the most for this breed. On his initiative, breeding began in the purity of the breed, and in 1928 a breed club was created.

It can be seen at first glance that the Entlebucher is a “natural” dog. It has not been changed too much or “spoiled” by breeding focused on appearance only. In its construction, a kinship with molasses is visible, somewhat reminiscent of a miniature of a Rottweiler – his close cousin. For his height, he is quite massive and muscular. On the other hand, as a herding dog, he had to be very agile. It probably also has the blood of shepherds – it can be proved by the fact that some dogs are born with a naturally shortened tail.

Template

Entlebucher – group II FCI, section 3, reference number 47

• Country of origin:  Switzerland
• Character:  energetic, confident, friendly towards friends, slightly distrustful to strangers; faithful, vigilant, incorruptible watchman; cheerful, happy to learn
• Size:  ideal height: dogs: 44-50 cm (tolerance up to 52 cm), bitches: 42-48 cm (tolerance up to 50 cm)
• Weight: not specified in the standard, approx. 20-30 kg
• Coat:  short, two-layer; hard, adherent and shiny coat; dense undercoat
• Color:  tricolor (black with tan and white markings)
• Lifespan:  11-15 years
• Vulnerability to training:  very high
• Activity:  needs a lot of movement and activity
• Resistance/susceptibility to diseases:  very resistant
• Possibility to buy a puppy:  no problem

Interesting facts

Entlebucher is the only Swiss shepherd dog with a short tail gene. It has been proven that this is the same mutation as in many shepherd breeds, which testifies to the probable relationship of this breed with shepherds.

The mutation that causes the tail to shorten is dominant, that is, one parent must have this trait in order for it to be passed on to children. However, it is not possible to breed only short-tailed dogs, because all dogs with shortened tails are heterozygous – they have one gene for a short tail and one gene “normal”.

The tail can be shortened from complete absence, through all intermediate lengths, to almost full.