Entlebucher Mountain Dog

The Entlebucher Mountain Dog is the smallest of the four Swiss Mountain dog breeds, and whilst they are considered a medium dog due to their height, they are in reality a robust and fairly large breed on slightly short legs.

Bred to drive cattle down from mountain pastures, fulfil a general farm dog role and pull milk carts, the Entlebucher is an adaptable and versatile working breed.

The true origins of the Entlebucher and indeed the other three Swiss Mountain Dog breeds, are unclear. It is likely given that all four breeds are robust, fairly heavily built dogs with large heads and strong chests, that they have some mastiff ancestry. As working dogs were, until relatively recently, bred according to working ability rather than appearance alone, it is possible other useful herding, driving and farm dogs were used to create these breeds.

The Entlebucher Mountain Dog has certainly been around a long time, possibly before the Roman Empire. By the late 1800’s, all the Swiss herding mountain dogs were becoming rare. A Professor Albert Heim set out to save them, and the smaller Entlebucher, as a more economic to keep and feed was the least in danger of dying out. First recognised in Switzerland as a breed in their own right in 1913, they were still limited to Switzerland and Germany. Imported to Canada in the 1980’s and then into the US, they have finally made it onto the UK Kennel Clubs Import Register and will hopefully be full members of the Working Group in due course.

The Entlebucher requires an owner who lives rurally and is either home all day or working in an environment that can include their dog. You’ll need to be fit and active to keep up with them all day but won’t need any particular grooming skills as the Entlebucher’s short coat is easy to care for. Ideally you’ll have an interest in cattle dog work or similar sports, and have some experience with working pastoral breeds.  

Two hours of walking, around interesting and varied routes, with the opportunity to run off lead, play games, fetch or round up toys, will keep the Entlebucher satisfied and pleasant to live with. More will always be welcome, but its probably more important to keep this clever breed’s mind active and occupied with puzzles and training.

This is a bigger dog than their height will suggest, so keep in mind that they will need beds, harnesses, travel crates and more, sized for large breeds rather than medium types. Otherwise, the Entlebucher will fit in most homes, as long as they have a large and well fenced garden. Better suited to the semi-rural or truly rural home, this is truly a country-dog and not a city-slicker!

Your dog's diet needs to have the right balance of all the main nutrient groups including a constant supply of fresh water. It's important to conduct regular body condition scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape and remember to feed them at least twice daily and in accordance with the feeding guidelines of their particular food.

Check over your dog’s body, particularly paws, eyes and ears, daily after walks but apart from these daily checks, the Entlebucher only needs a full brush through once a week (or if they get muddy). The Entlebucher sheds twice a year and will need more brushing during these times.

A quick learner, the Entlebucher will work best for those who take the time to develop a strong relationship, based on trust and reward. This is a breed well suited to a variety of dog activities such as Sheep-ball, Man-Trailing, Hoopers, Agility, Flyball and more. Definitely a breed for the canine sports hobbyist. Pay attention to early socialisation with livestock and household pets, and children – as a resilient herding breed, their tendency will always be to gather other living beings into groups and keep those groups together. Teaching a good recall is vital to allow the Entlebucher the off-lead time they will require. 

For families who want to take part in dog related sports, the Entlebucher can be a great companion. Better with older children, as puppies the Entlebucher is a heavy and bouncy dog, and despite their low height they are surprisingly solid. Families with very young children may find this breed requires a higher time commitment than they can achieve.

While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.