Other names:
Entlebucher Mountain Dog, Entelbucher Cattle Dog, Entlebucher
The Entlebucher Mountain Dog is a herding dog closely related to the Appenzeller Sennenhund. Both of these types of dog have been and are still used by the Senn people of Switzerland who breed them for their agility, resilience and loyalty. The breed has a great many supporters around the world but the majority of Entlebuchers are still only seen in Switzerland.
Key facts about the Entlebuch Cattle Dog
Life expectancy :
Between 12 and 14 years
Temperament :
Playful, Calm, Intelligent
Size :
Medium
Type of coat :
Short, Hard
Price :
Between £800 and £1000
FCI Group
FCI Group
Group 2 - Pinscher and Schnauzer - Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs
Section
Section 3 : Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs
Physical characteristics of the Entlebuch Cattle Dog
Adult size
Female dog
Between 17 and 19 in
Male dog
Between 17 and 20 in
Weight
Female dog
Between 31 and 49 lb
Male dog
Between 31 and 49 lb
Coat colour
Basic colours most often seen of this dog are black, tan and white in a tricolour pattern.
Type of coat
Topcoat short, harsh and shiny; undercoat dense and wavy.
Eye colour
Dark brown to hazel.
Description
A square-shaped yet well-proportioned dog is the Entlebucher. Its ears are small and triangular set high on the dog’s powerful and robust skull. The muzzle is strong and powerful. The dog is covered in abundant tricolour fur.
Temperament
Affectionate
The Entlebucher is a self-assured, devoted and affectionate dog.
Playful
This dog is happy and playful and retains a puppy-like joie de vivre well into its juvenile years. It enjoys playtime and will seek attention.
Calm
A calm and self-assured dog; the Entlebucher does not get overly excited or agitated.
Intelligent
The Entlebucher is an extremely intelligent and has an incredibly strong desire to work. It is best occupied by new tasks and lessons centred on obedience.
Hunter
Entlebuchers are immensely territorial but are not generally bred to hunt and kill.
Fearful / wary of strangers
The Entlebucher can be shy around strangers and may take a while to become friends with new people.
Independent
This is a wilful dog that will test the boundaries of the household’s hierarchy whenever it can.
Behaviour of the Entlebuch Cattle Dog
Tolerates solitude
The Entlebucher tolerates a degree of solitude.
Easy to train / obedience
This is a dog that is very quick to learn. It is also wilful and stubborn and may play to its owner’s weaknesses.
Barking
The Entlebucher readily barks. It enjoys the sound of its own voice.
Tendency to run away
A well-trained Entlebucher will respond to your recall command without hesitation.
Destructive
If it is unhappy or stressed the Entlebucher will be destructive.
Greedy / Gluttony
This dog is known to be greedy and will eat anything it thinks is edible.
Guard dog
The Entlebucher is an exceptionally alert and territorial dog. It makes an excellent watchdog.
First dog
A Entlebucher’s willfulness may get the better of the first-time owner. Confidence and consistency of training is called for.
Lifestyle
Entlebuch Cattle Dog in a flat
The dog will not be happy to live in a flat or to only have access to a small confined garden.
Need for exercise / Sporty
The Entlebucher is far better suited to a rural existence.
It is always worthwhile to feed a Entlebucher a high-quality and specially formulated dog food rather than human food. The Entlebucher’s diet should consist of good amounts of protein and fat.
Health of the Entlebuch Cattle Dog
Life expectancy
The Entlebucher is not renowned for its healthy constitution. Years of inbreeding have caused congenital defects to become more often seen.
Strong / robust
The Entlebucher is strong, agile and adventurous.
Withstand heat
The Entlebucher is prone to heat stroke.
Withstand cold
The double coat of the Entlebucher keeps the dog warm in cold weather.
Tendency to put on weight
Weight gain is seen of any dog that is not exercised as regularly as it should be and is fed too much human or substandard food.
Although suspicious around strangers the Entlebucher is said to be exceptionally loyal and gentle with its family. Gentle persuasion and patience will ensure that its meetings with new people are not troublesome.
Origins and history
This dog is thought to be descended from a general Sennenhund breed brought to Switzerland by Roman armies in the first years of the first millennium. The dog as it is known today was first recorded in 1889 and it was often mistaken for the Appenzeller Sennenhund because of the similar appearance of the two dogs. The breed was almost extinguished during the First World War but is now gaining popularity around the world.
