Entlebucher Mountain Dog Did You Know?

• The Entlebucher Mountain Dog has been assigned the Herding Group designation.
• The Entlebucher Mountain Dog is also known as Entlebucher Sennenhund and Entlebucher Cattle Dog.
• The Entlebucher Mountain Dog has been recorded in the Foundation Stock Service since 2000.
• The Entlebucher Mountain Dog is the smallest of the four Swiss Mountain Dogs. The other three breeds are the Appenzeller Sennenhund, Bernese Mountain Dog and the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog.
• In Switzerland, Entlebuchers were used by Alpine herdsman to drive cattle.
• The breed originates from Entlebuch, a valley in the district of the Cantons Lucerne and Berne.
• The Entlebucher Mountain Dog is smooth-coated. Their tail can be naturally long (with white tip preferable), congenital bobtail or docked.
• In Switzerland: "Sennen" is The Shepherd or Alpine herdsman; "hund" is his dog. The word Sennenhund translated means: The Shepherd’s (or Herdsman’s) dog.
• There are 2 popular pronunciations for Entlebucher: Ent’-lee-boo-ker or Entel-boo-ker.
• The first description under the name "Entlebucherhund" dates from the year 1889.
• Before 1926, no difference was made between Appenzell and Entlebuch Cattle Dogs. After 1926- the 2 breeds were openly promoted as separate purebreds. In 1927 Entlebuchers were entered into the Swiss Canine Stud Book & the first standard was written.
• One of the greatest qualities of this breed is its unwavering devotion to its master. The breed is territorial and slightly suspicious of strangers, making it a competent watchdog.
• Entle’s (referred to for short) have an impressive bark and are surprisingly strong for their size! They have a keen sense of social hierarchy and require a high level of early socialization and training.
• Entle’s are an active, high energy & physical breed, with above average exercise requirements. Entlebuchers do best when they have a job.
• As of June 1, 2004 a Genetic Test for PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) in Entlebuchers, became available through OptiGen, LLC. By having their dogs tested, Breeders can choose breeding pairs without fear of producing offspring that will develop PRA (as long as one of the breeding pair tests normal).