The Furry Critter Network

Entlebucher Breed Description

Back to Canine Breed Menu

Breed Organization

The National Entlebucher Mountain Dog Association

Native Country
Switzerland

Other Names
Entlebuch Mountain Dog, Entlebucher Sennehund, Entlebuch Cattle Dog

Life Expectancy
Approximately 11-15 Years

Litter Size
Average 3-6 Puppies

Breed Group
AKC-Herding

General Description

The female Entlebucher Sennenhund is a square; the male is a longer, less square, sturdy, medium-sized dog. It has small, triangular ears and rather small brown eyes. The head is well proportioned to the body, with a strong flat skull. The long jaw is well formed and powerful. The feet are compact, supporting its muscular body. The smooth coat is close and smooth with symmetrical markings of black, tan, and white. This tricolor coat has white on its toes, tail-tip, and the chest and blaze where the fur is soft and fluffy; the tan always lies between the black and the white. It has muscular, broad hips. The hocks are naturally well angled. The tail is sometimes docked, a practice which is now prohibited by law in many countries, or it may have a natural bobtail.

Breed Standard

Head: Well proportioned. Flat forehead. Slight stop. Powerful jaws.
Ears: Set on high, not overly large, hanging flat against the head. Tip of ear well rounded.
Eyes: Fairly small. Brown color. Lively expression.
Body: Slightly longer than tall. Short, compact neck. Broad, deep chest. Strong, straight back.
Tail: Docked at birth.
Hair: Short, thick, hard, shiny, lying close to the skin.
Coat: Black with markings ranging from yellow to rust above the eyes, on the cheeks, and on all four legs. Symmetrical markings on the head (flare), neck, forechest, and feet. Yellow to rust markings must always appear between the black and white.
Size: 19-20 inches
Weight: 45-65 lb

History

This small Swiss mountain dog is closely related to the Appenzeller. He is named after the region where he originated, Entlebuch in the canton of Lucerne. Bred to guard and drive cattle, the Entelbucher was very popular in the past. The breed almost disappeared, but then began a comeback in 1913.

Behavior

This robust, agile, stable dog is an excellent guard, both of cattle and its owner’s property. The friendly Entelbucher makes also an excellent pet. The breed is used to transport milk and cheese. Naturally good tempered, the Entelbucher is easy to train.

This breed needs exercise and room to run. Regular brushing is required.

Function

Cattle Drover, Guard Dog, Pet.

Health

Inbreeding due to the small foundation stock numbers has led to Entlebuchers suffering from congenital defects, the most common of which is hip dysplasia. Hemolytic anemia also is known to occur. Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is also present in the breed. The National Entlebucher Mountain Dog Association (NEMDA), in collaboration with other organizations, is working to eliminate these issues from the breed through responsible breeding, genetic testing, and fact dissemination.

Back to Canine Breed Menu

Featured Rescues

"Don't Shop ... Please Adopt"

ASPCA

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®) was the first humane society to be established in North America and is, today, one of the largest in the world.

Our organization was founded on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment at the hands of humans and must be protected under the law. Headquartered in New York City, the ASPCA maintains a strong local presence, and with programs that extend our anti-cruelty mission across the country, we are recognized as a national animal welfare organization. We are a privately funded 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, and are proud to boast more than 2 million supporters across the country.

The ASPCA’s mission, as stated by founder Henry Bergh in 1866, is “to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States.”

Petfinder

If you can’t find the pet you’re looking for on Petfinder, don’t give up. Some shelters maintain waiting lists for specific breeds, so don’t be afraid to ask! There are also breed-specific rescues for just about every breed, and most of them post their pets on Petfinder. (Petfinder can even e-mail you when a pet that fits your criteria is posted — just click “Save this Search” at the top of your search results page.)

Rescue Me

Jeff Gold, Founder, Rescue Me! Animal Rescue Network

Jeff Gold lives in Watkinsville, Georgia on the same property as Rescue Me's Animal Rehabilitation Center, with 18 rescue animals. Shown with him in the photo to the left are Maggie, Izzie and Cortez. In 2003, after learning there was nobody doing boxer rescue work in Georgia, Gold founded Boxertown, an organization which helped find homes for over 500 boxers during its first two years. Based upon this success, Gold came up with the vision for Rescue Me! ― a network which helps all breeds of dogs, cats and other animals find good homes, anywhere in the world. RescueShelter.com is also a free service of Rescue Me! and provides the world's largest and most up-to-date directory of animal rescue organizations for all breeds of dogs, cats and other animals, including a comprehensive directory of wildlife rehabilitators in over 150 countries.

Top

Home » Contact » Service Terms » Privacy

Site Map

thanks for browsing!

Birds/Avian

Cats/Feline

Guinea Pigs/Cavy

Dogs/Canine

Dogs/Canine/Hybrid

Horses/Equine