Entlebucher Mountain Dog: Your Complete Guide

The Entlebucher mountain dog is a medium-sized herding dog breed that belongs to the Sennenhund dog family. The breed carries the typical features of the other Swiss mountain dogs, but being the smallest and the most agile gives the Entlebucher mountain dog unique characteristics..

Although a working dog breed, Entlebuchers mostly live life as companions in today’s world. They are lively, energetic dogs with an affectionate side. Yet, there are certain things to keep in mind to determine if the Entlebucher mountain dog is an ideal dog breed for you.

Our article will cover everything about Entlebucher mountain dogs, from their temperament to care needs. Read on to know if this dog breed is a good choice for you and your family.

Quick Look at the Entlebucher Mountain Dog

Below is a quick glance at this special breed in terms of their physical characteristics, lifespan, temperament, and grooming needs.

What Is the History of Entlebucher Mountain Dogs?

The Entlebucher mountain dog comes from the Swiss Alps, along with three other types of herding and livestock guardian dogs from this region. These are the Bernese mountain dog, Appenzeller Sennenhund, and the greater Swiss mountain dog.

The Entlebucher mountain dog has many similarities with these distinct dog breeds, and distinguishing them can be a challenge without looking at their size. The Entlebucher mountain dog, in fact, wasn’t considered a distinct dog breed in the 1800s.

The Entlebucher mountain dog only received recognition a year after the Swiss Kennel Club was formed in 1907. At this time, the breed standards were established. In the coming years, the breed’s population took a heavy toll due to World War I. The number of Entlebucher mountain dogs that fit the breed standards was as little as 16 in 1927.

The efforts of Swiss breeders restored their numbers, and Entlebuchers were exported to the United States around this time. Although an excellent herding dog, the breed didn’t gain much popularity until the 1990s. The National Entlebucher Mountain Dog Association (NEMDA) was established in 1998, and the AKC recognized the breed in 2010.

What Do Entlebucher Mountain Dogs Look Like?

The Entlebucher mountain dog has a robust, muscular frame that enables the breed to navigate through the rugged terrain of the Swiss Alps. These dogs appear like the other Swiss mountain dogs with their tricolor coat, featuring black, white, and tan.

The coat of the Entlebucher mountain dog is predominantly black with white markings on the tail tip, chest, toes, and parts of the head – around the muzzle. The tan markings are typically situated between the black and white.

What Size Is an Entlebucher Mountain Dog?

The Entlebucher mountain dog is a medium-sized dog breed. Males typically stand 17 to 21 inches tall and weigh between 50 and 65 pounds. Females, on the other hand, are slightly shorter at 16 to 20 inches and weigh 40 to 55 pounds.

Although a minor difference, male Entlebucher mountain dogs tend to have a more robust, muscular build than females. Males may also have thicker coats and larger heads with wider necks.

What Is an Entlebucher Mountain Dog’s Coat Type and Length?

Entlebucher mountain dogs have a straight, short coat with a dense undercoat. The coat is very sturdy, allowing Entlebuchers to withstand all kinds of weather conditions in the Swiss Alps.

This dog breed demands very little in terms of grooming, requiring brushing only once or twice a week. With their dense undercoat, they shed moderately year-round, but it gets more intense in spring and fall. During these periods, Entlebucher mountain dogs require more frequent brushing to keep shedding under control.

What Is an Entlebucher Mountain Dog’s Temperament?

The Entlebucher mountain dog has origins in herding and protecting livestock. Naturally, they are devoted to their families and are affectionate towards everyone they know, including other animals. However, Entlebuchers may be standoffish with strangers until they receive assurance they mean no harm to their family.

Entlebuchers are working dogs that require lots of daily exercise. They are high-energy but typically aren’t as playful as one might expect. Entlebucher mountain dogs love to observe and take their time to look around for anything out of the ordinary to alert their owners.

Below, you’ll learn more about their temperament, including family life and intelligence.

Are Entlebucher Mountain Dogs Good With Kids?

The Entlebucher mountain dog typically gets along well with kids. They make great companions, particularly for active children. However, Entlebucher mountain dogs may get too excited during play sessions. This may cause them to display uncontrollable behavior and even jump on kids.

Since these can cause injuries in children, supervision is essential. It’s also important to teach an Entlebucher mountain dog who displays rambunctious behavior during play to be calm when asked. Due to these, Entlebuchers are more suitable for families with older children.

Are Entlebucher Mountain Dogs Good With Other Animals?

The Entlebucher mountain dog is a social breed that gets along with any dog in the family. With early socialization, they tend to be friendly towards other dogs. Their affectionate nature and love for their family also make them get along well with cats if properly introduced.

However, Entlebucher mountain dogs don’t do as well in homes with small prey animals. These dogs have a strong prey drive, which may cause trouble. This should also be something to note when going for walks and hikes in nature, as they may go off their way to chase anything moving.

Are Entlebucher Mountain Dogs Aggressive?

Entlebuchers have some aggression from their origins as herding and livestock guardian dogs. They are territorial and protective of their own, including people and possessions. While these are excellent qualities to have in a watchdog or a protection dog, they may be difficult to manage for first-time dog owners.

Early socialization is important for Entlebucher mountain dogs to ensure they become outgoing dogs. Most dog breeds need to be around new dogs frequently to become well-socialized. With Entlebuchers, they should meet new people as much as new dogs due to their tendency to distrust strangers.

Do Entlebucher Mountain Dogs Bark?

The Entlebucher mountain dog isn’t particularly a vocal dog breed. They don’t use their voice often to communicate or to get what they want. When these dogs bark, there’s usually a good reason for it, such as a predator approaching or someone knocking on the door.

Even though Entlebuchers are generally quiet dogs, they are prone to separation anxiety. If left alone for excessive amounts of time, they may bark, howl, or engage in destructive behavior. Minimizing separation anxiety is important to ensure it doesn’t lead to behavioral issues.

Are Entlebucher Mountain Dogs Affectionate?

Entlebucher mountain dogs are affectionate dogs that bond strongly with their family. They aren’t shy to show affection with kisses, nuzzles, and jumping on your lap. A part of the reason Entlebuchers suffer from separation anxiety is due to their affectionate nature.

However, don’t expect an Entlebucher mountain dog to be a sweetheart around everyone. They take their time to trust people and won’t have the same approach towards guests.

Are Entlebucher Mountain Dogs Intelligent?

Entlebuchers are highly intelligent dogs with the independent spirit of other herding and livestock guardians. The Swiss would take their livestock and Entlebucher mountain dogs high up in the pastures in the summer, where these dogs would independently do their job without relying on human direction.

The intelligence of the Entlebucher mountain dogs, coupled with their agile physique, made them reliable companions for Swiss herders. It’s good to know these dogs are intelligent and can understand what you want from them, but this doesn’t always mean easy trainability.

Their intelligence makes Entlebuchers want to see the point. While herding and livestock guarding make them happy with their drive to work and please their owners, training may not give them the same motivation – more on the breed’s trainability below.

Are Entlebucher Mountain Dogs Energetic?

Entlebuchers are high-energy dogs. They are great athletes capable of keeping up with the most enduring people and dogs. Entlebucher mountain dogs crave as much physical activity as possible to stay happy and healthy. When underexercised, these dogs are inclined to engage in unwanted acts.

The best human partner for an Entlebucher is someone who lives an active life or has a job to keep them occupied. Long daily walks and playtime at the dog park can keep Entlebuchers fit, but these dogs also require mental stimulation. Scent work and agility training are some of the best ways to provide Entlebuchers with what they need.

Are Entlebucher Mountain Dogs Easy to Train?

An Entlebucher mountain dog can either be one of the easiest dogs to train or quite a stubborn pup that acts like they know best. This primarily depends on the trainer’s approach.

Entlebuchers need encouragement and positive reinforcement to boost their willingness to listen to their owners. They can be trained easily, but these dogs must see the point. The best way to do this is by rewarding them with high-value treats and lots of praise to keep them engaged in training.

With these, Entlebuchers can be trained for pretty much anything and advance well beyond basic obedience training. One last thing to note about their trainability is its relation to exercise needs. If an Entlebucher doesn’t get enough exercise, training will be more challenging to train as they first need an outlet for excess energy.

Are Entlebucher Mountain Dogs Good Watchdogs?

Entlebuchers have a tendency to bark when a stranger comes to the door, which will help anyone inside know if someone’s close to the premises who shouldn’t be. These dogs aren’t usually keen on strangers, so they may bark at someone who gets too close which could scare them away.

This temperament combined with their stature and build makes Entlebucher mountain dogs formidable watchdogs.

Are Entlebucher Mountain Dogs Good Service Dogs?

Entlebucher mountain dogs are intelligent, physically capable, and hard-working dogs. However, these aren’t enough to say all Entlebuchers can become good service dogs.

Entlebuchers often have an independent spirit and are wary of strangers. Coupled with their high prey drive and territorial nature, they aren’t an easy breed for service dog trainers. Service animals must be social without being distracted by outside stimuli. These don’t sound like the Entlebucher mountain dog.

Nonetheless, Entlebuchers can serve their humans in other ways – and it’s not just herding and protecting livestock. The affectionate temperament of these dogs, with their fierce loyalty, make them excellent emotional support animals.

How to Care for an Entlebucher Mountain Dog?

Like every dog, Entlebuchers need attention from their owners to live a healthy, fulfilling life. They need regular vet visits, an appropriate diet, daily walks, socialization, and a daily routine during puppyhood.

When we get into the specifics of caring for an Entlebucher mountain dog, these dogs aren’t low-maintenance. They require lots of daily exercise and mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy. In a way, you can consider these the most important day-to-day needs of an Entlebucher. Below, you’ll learn more about their care needs.

Do You Need to Groom an Entlebucher Mountain Dog?

While Entlebuchers demand a lot of exercise and mental stimulation, they require minimal grooming. Brushing the coat a few times a week – a bit more frequently in spring and fall – is enough to keep it shining and in top condition. Entlebucher mountain dogs don’t require haircuts and need bathing only when dirty or smelly.

Do Entlebucher Mountain Dogs Shed?

The Entlebucher mountain dog has a dense undercoat that sheds moderately year-round. In spring and fall, shedding gets more intense, but nothing unmanageable with regular brushing using a deshedding tool.

Since Entlebuchers shed, they aren’t hypoallergenic. If you’re suffering from pet allergies, spending time around one can trigger allergic reactions.

What Health Problems Do Entlebucher Mountain Dogs Have?

The Entlebucher mountain dog is generally a healthy dog breed. Still, there are a few canine diseases the breed is prone to developing more than others. The following is a quick overview of these health issues.

• Entlebucher Urinary Syndrome: An underlying genetic abnormality that occurs when the ureter doesn’t connect with the urinary bladder in the normal location; Entlebucher urinary syndrome leads to urine leaking. Luckily, less than 5% of Entlebuchers in the US suffer from this syndrome.
• Eye Issues: The most common eye problem in Entlebuchers is cataracts – a condition that clouds the eye lens. Early treatment of this eye issue is critical as it can lead to visual impairment. Also, Entlebuchers are prone to progressive rational atrophy.
• Luxating Patella: This health problem occurs when the kneecap pops out or slides and causes dislocation. Entlebuchers that develop this experience pain and require using NSAID to ease the ache.
• Hip Dysplasia: A common health issue that affects many dog breeds, Entlebuchers of all ages may develop hip dysplasia.

Some of these health conditions, particularly the Entlebucher urinary syndrome, can affect life quality significantly. It’s critical to get an Entlebucher puppy from a reputable breeder that screens their dogs for these health conditions.

How Long Do Entlebucher Mountain Dogs Live?

A generally healthy dog breed, Entlebuchers live between 11 and 13 years. However, this is just a general guideline. Genetics, environment, diet, and even stress impact lifespan. Depending on these and other factors, there may be variability in how long an Entlebucher mountain dog lives.

What Should an Entlebucher Mountain Dog Eat?

Entlebucher mountain dogs should eat a diet appropriate for their age, weight, and activity levels. A high-quality dog food from a reputable brand is often enough to provide them with a healthy diet.

Alternatively, you can opt for a raw feeding or homemade diet. Before starting such diets, get your veterinarian’s approval to prevent nutrition problems.

Is an Entlebucher Mountain Dog the Right Dog for Me?

The Entlebucher mountain dog is a high-energy dog breed that requires lots of physical exercise and mental stimulation. They are incredibly affectionate and loyal dogs and thrive on human companionship.

These dogs are suitable for individuals and families living an active life with enough time and attention to give their dogs. If left alone for long periods, Entlebuchers are quick to develop separation anxiety, which can lead to various behavioral issues.

If you have a spacious backyard or live on a farm, an Entlebucher mountain dog will suit you perfectly. Unfortunately, the energy level and exercise needs of Entlebuchers don’t make them ideal for apartment living.