Entlebucher Mountain Dog

The Entlebucher is the smallest and quickest of the four Swiss mountain dogs — a tricolour cattle drover from the Entlebuch valley.

History

The four Sennenhunde worked Swiss alpine farms, and the Entlebucher was the drover: fast enough to move cattle up and down mountain pasture, small enough to keep out from under their feet. It was distinguished from the Appenzeller only in 1913, and after the First World War there were reportedly seventeen left; the breed was rebuilt from those.

Temperament

The breed is known for being energetic, confident and vocal, devoted to its family, reserved with strangers and forever busy. It is a working dog first.

Care and training

It needs a great deal of exercise and a genuine job; an under-employed Entlebucher herds the household. The short dense coat sheds and needs little. Training must be firm and interesting.

Health

Known tendencies include hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy and an inherited kidney condition documented in the breed. These are known patterns for the breed and a matter for a breeder and a vet; the measured facts are in the panel.