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Entlebucher Mountain Dog

loyal / smart / enthusiastic
Herding Group >>

Average sizes and life
expectancy of the breed.

Height

17-21 inches (male)
16-20 inches (female)

Weight

50-65 pounds (male)
40-65 pounds (female)

Life Expectancy

11-13 years

Breed Traits & Characteristics

Affectionate With Family
  • Independent Lovey-Dovey
    100% 100%
How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.
Good With Young Children
  • Not Recommended Good With Children
    60% 60%
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.
GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS
  • Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
    100% 100%
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

  • No Shedding Hair Everywhere
    60% 60%
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

  • Monthly Daily
    20% 20%
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

  • Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
    40% 40%
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

  • Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
    60% 60%
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

  • Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
    60% 60%
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

  • What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
    100% 100%
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

  • Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
    80% 80%
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

  • Self-Willed Eager to Please
    60% 60%
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

  • Couch Potato High Energy
    100% 100%
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

  • Only To Alert Very Vocal
    60% 60%
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

  • Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
    80% 80%
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

Affectionate With Family

  • Independent Lovey-Dovey
    100% 100%

How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.

Good With Young Children

  • Not Recommended Good With Children
    60% 60%
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.

GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS

  • Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
    100% 100%
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

  • No Shedding Hair Everywhere
    60% 60%
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

  • Monthly Daily
    20% 20%
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

  • Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
    40% 40%
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

  • Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
    60% 60%
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

  • Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
    60% 60%
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

  • What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
    100% 100%
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

  • Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
    80% 80%
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

  • Self-Willed Eager to Please
    60% 60%
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

  • Couch Potato High Energy
    100% 100%
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

  • Only To Alert Very Vocal
    60% 60%
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

  • Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
    80% 80%
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

About the Breed

The Entlebucher Mountain Dog, also known as the tricolor “Laughing Dog” of the Swiss Alps, is a tough and tenacious livestock mover. These vivacious, active workers and athletes are independent problem-solvers and happiest when they have a task to complete. Cattle dogs with long, powerful backs called Entlebucher Mountain Dogs (ENT-leh-boo-cur) stand between 16 and 21 inches tall at the shoulder. They have alert, pleasant faces, small, strong legs, and a stunning black, white, and tan coats. Entles are renowned for their dexterity, poise, and unbridled excitement. Entles are watchful guardians of their two- or four-legged “herds,” and when socialized appropriately, they are dependable and dependable playmates for older children.

To reach their greatest potential, energetic Entles need a lot of exercises, family time, and guidance. This powerful, self-assured, go-go herding dog may be intimidating to inexperienced owners. Entlebuchers are good dogs; they’re clever, zesty, and joyful, but they’re not for everyone.

 

What To Expect When Caring For a Entlebucher Mountain Dog

Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.

Health

The majority of Entlebuchers are healthy dogs, however, the breed is susceptible to a few diseases. Entlebucher urinary syndrome, a disorder in which the ureter is misplaced, is one problem that this breed is prone to. The breed has also been known to develop hip dysplasia, luxating patellas, and a few eye issues. Breeders who are responsible check for hereditary disorders and choose from healthy stock.
Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club:
  • Patella Evaluation
  • Hip Evaluation
  • PRA/PRCD
  • Ophthalmologist Evaluation

Grooming

Overall, the Entlebucher requires little maintenance. With their dense, short, lustrous double coat, they will require minimal maintenance beyond a damp towel wipe-down in between bathing. The breed sheds quite a bit, therefore to reduce shedding, you might wish to get a decent stripping comb or a thick bristle brush. Every month, nails should be cut to keep them short and tidy. Early dental treatment should be instituted, and routine maintenance should continue throughout your dog's life. Every week, ears should be examined. Ear infections, which are common in dogs with drop ears, can be prevented by clearing away wax and debris.

Exercise

The Entlebucher Mountain Dog has a lot of energy and is a swift and hardy dog. He will need to exercise for at least an hour each day to maintain his physical health. Maintaining the breed's vitality through exercise will make training and daily life with him much simpler because "a tired dog is a good dog." Entles are ideal companions for runners, hikers, bikers, and other extremely active persons since they like participating in activities with their owners.

Training

Entles are smart, versatile workers who are very rewarding to train. Training with a positive approach will almost always yield quick and successful results. Early socialization is extremely important with this breed. They are very intelligent, so any training routine should include fun and variety to keep them from getting bored. They love having a job to do and are excellent candidates for obedience, tracking, agility, herding and almost any other canine sport.

Nutrition

Choosing which commercial food to give to your dog is a personal choice best made using recommendations from your vet or breeder. You should consider only a high-quality dog food formulated to your dog's age and activity level. A working dog requires a different formula than a sedentary house pet, and a puppy requires different nutrition than a senior pet. This is a breed who loves to eat and thus can be prone to becoming overweight if you don't monitor his food intake closely. If you choose to give treats during training, do so in moderation. Treats can be an important aid in training, but giving too many can cause obesity in any breed.

History

Since cheese and milk chocolate are two of Switzerland’s top exports, dairy farming has long been essential to the country’s economy. Before the advent of industrial agriculture, Swiss cattlemen developed four kinds of Alpine mountain dogs famed for their stunning tricolor coats to move and defend their herds. The largest of these is the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, while the smallest and fastest is the Entlebucher Mountain Dog.
The Entlebucher, or “Entle” for short, gets its name from the river Entlebuch Valley, where the breed first appeared. The main duty of these cunning cattle dogs was to drive their charges up to high mountain pastures in the summer, watch over the herd during the grazing season, then move them back down into the valley for the winter. They were also used as all-purpose farm dogs and guard dogs.
The main characteristics of Entle are explained in this job description. Entles evolved extraordinary balance and agility as a result of being bred to move cattle up and down sloping fields. The rationale behind the long, low Entle physique is the same as that of a Pembroke Welsh Corgi: it makes it simpler to nibble at a cow’s heels and escape being kicked.
The moniker “der Lachen Hunden” (the Laughing Dog) refers to the breed’s enthusiasm for both work and life in general. The working Entle is so enthused that he might jump up and bash into a resistant cow to move it. A 60-pound dog’s ability to move a herd of 1,500-pound animals up the side of a mountain requires a similar can-do attitude.