Entlebucher Mountain Dog

The Perfect Owner & Home

“They prefer to be with their master, and love to be active and on-the-go. They’re not for a couch potato owner,” advises Brent Richard, Publicity and Promotion Chair for NEMDA (National Entlebucher Mountain Dog Association). “They need a nice fenced-in yard, but they’re not a breed that you can just leave out in the back yard.”

Entles are good with kids so long as they’re trained to be around small children. “In fact,” says Richard, “you might find them with a small group of kids, just herding them up.”

Lisa Peterson, AKC Director of Communications, urges potential dog owners to research the breeds before taking a dog home. “Each person has their own activity level, needs and desires, so you have to do your homework to make sure that the breed you’re picking fits your lifestyle.”

Appearance & Grooming

Size: 16 - 21 inches tall at the shoulder

Weight: 45-70 pounds

Who is the Entlebucher’s doppelganger? A Rottweiler-Beagle mix.

Well-muscled and compact, Entles possess a smooth, short, tri-colorcoat with tan always between the black and white.  A natural or docked tail is acceptable.

Entles don’t really require a lot of grooming. They blow their under coats in the spring and shed lightly throughout the year. “We call them wash and wear or drip dry,” says Richard. “They’re a little sensitive around the feet, but get them into the nail-clipping routine and they’re easy keepers.”

Wendy Weinand, Petco’s National Grooming Operations Specialist, estimates the cost for grooming the Entlebucher Mountain Dog to be approximately $35, which includes a bath, nails, and ear cleaning. Add $10 for a larger-sized Entle.

Personality, Temperament, & Exercise Needs

Puppy Exercise and Playtime Needs: **** 

Adult Exercise and Playtime Needs: ****

Who would the Entle be at a party?  Welcoming committee, saying hello to everyone with an “Entle greeting bark.”

Hopelessly devoted to its master, this determined and dependable breed likes to work hard and play hard. The Entle was bred to work, so daily exercise is essential. They thrive when they have a job.

“They need a half hour or an hour a day exercise throughout their lives," says Richard. "They’re very active dogs. You need to burn some of that energy off of them, otherwise they’ll drive you nuts and get in trouble.”

Socialization & Training Needs

Training Difficulty: **

Housetraining Difficulty: **

“Entlebuchers are very social and love being around people and other dogs,” says Richard.  “They’re easy to train, generally agreeable, and have a great work ethic once they get it going.”

However, because they’re intelligent and can be protective of their owners,consistent training and socialization are required while they’re puppies. Remember, owning a smart puppy can be a double-edged sword.

Health Concerns

Life Expectancy: 11-13 years

“Hypothyroidism is the number one endocrine disorder in any dog, and it can manifest in a number of ways, i.e. your dog might be a little anemic, have high cholesterol, poor hair re-growth, coat issues, or skin infections,” says Ann E. Hohenhaus, DVM, Animal Medical Center.  “So you want to be on the lookout for that.”

Every breed has a Web site with a health section that talks about the concerns in the breed and what the club is doing to help address them. There are also tests that can help assure prospective owners that they’re getting a healthy dog.  

Hohenhaus urges potential owners to ask questions:

How many generations back has this dog been OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) or PennHIP (University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program) certified?  If there have been several, then you know there’s a history of good hips. There’s also CERF (Canine Eye Registry Foundation) for inherited eye abnormalities. 

Ask breeders if they participate in the breed club and how they’re contributing (not dollar-wise necessarily) to advancing the breed’s health concerns. If they’re proactive, then you’ve got a breeder who really cares.

“The Entlebucher is a very uncommon breed,” adds Hohenhaus. “I don’t think we have a good handle on what their issues might be.”

However, PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) and EUS (Entlebucher Urinary Syndrome), a renal/urinary system disease, have been identified in the dog.

Dr. Hohenhaus also suggests keeping an eye on the three things often found in large breed dogs:

• Hip dysplasia
• Bloat
• Bone cancer (average weight seen is 35 kilos or 77 pounds)

If your Entlebucher Mountain Dog has spent the day playing in the field, it should be checked thoroughly for ticks and fleas.

All dogs should have an annual exam, but owners may want to seek out a specialist if they know their dog is prone to a particular disease. There may be preventative procedures to conduct early on in the dog’s life.

The Entlebucher Mountain Dog was bred to herd dairy cows in mountain pastures, where his square, sturdy frame came in handy, as did his incredible speed and high intelligence.

Today those traits make the Entlebucher Mountain Dog
an active and loyal family dog, if a little weary of strangers. Early socialization with people of all ages and dogs of many different breeds is the way to go with this breed.

A Mountain Dog in the Family

Special attention should be paid to the Entlebucher Mountain Dog if there are kids in your family. He is a natural at roughhousing, so he should be taught gentle play. Parents should also be prepared to have your kids herded into one room or one part of the yard on a regular basis (which could come in handy)!

Known for hurling themselves at livestock, Entlebucher Moutain Dogs should get at least one hour of vigorous exercise each day. They thrive with a job to do so if this is the breed for you, enrolling in a herding, agility, obedience or tracking group would make your mountain dog very happy.

Caring for a Mountain Dog

Average height for an Entlebucher Mountain Dog
is 19-20 inches and weight is 45-65 lbs. His smooth coat generally has symmetrical markings of black and tan with white on his toes, tail-tip and chest.

As for the health of the breed, hip dysplasia—a
genetic instability of the hip joints—is a concern. There is no cure for hip dysplasia, but treatments such as medication, weight control, acupuncture and surgery could all ease the pain for your mountain dog.

A Mountain Dog of Your Own

The American Kennel Club and the National Entlebucher Mountain Dog Association provide plenty of information on finding a responsible breeder or even a rescue of this beautiful breed!