Entlebucher Mountain Dog facts for kids
Entlebucher Sennenhund
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| Other names | Entelbuch Mountain Dog Entelbucher Cattle Dog Entlebucher Bouvier de l'Entlebuch |
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| Origin | Switzerland | |||||||
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| Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) | ||||||||
The Entlebucher Sennenhund or Entlebucher Mountain Dog is a medium-sized herding dog. It is the smallest of four special dog breeds from the Swiss Alps. These dogs are called Sennenhunds because they helped Senns, who were herders in the mountains. The Entlebucher comes from a beautiful area called Entlebuch in Switzerland.
The breed is also known by names like Entelbuch Mountain Dog and Entelbucher Cattle Dog.
Contents
A Look at Their Past
The Entlebucher is the smallest of four types of Swiss mountain dogs. The other three are the Appenzeller Sennenhund, the Bernese Mountain Dog, and the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. For a long time, these dogs were not seen as separate breeds. They were just mountain dogs that helped herders.
In 1908, the Swiss Kennel Club started to organize and classify these different types of dogs. A few years later, in 1913, four Entlebucher Sennenhunds with short tails were shown to Albert Heim. He was a big supporter of these mountain dog breeds, which were becoming quite rare. The Entlebucher breed was then officially added to the Swiss Kennel Club's records.
However, World War I made it hard to find these dogs. After the war, it seemed like they had almost disappeared. The first club dedicated to the breed was created in 1926. By 1927, 16 dogs of this type were found, and the breed slowly began to recover. While they were originally used for guarding and herding animals, today Entlebuchers are mostly loved as active family pets.
The Four Swiss Mountain Dogs
Here are the four types of Sennenhunds, with their original names and common English names:
- Grosser Schweizer Sennenhund, also known as the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
- Berner Sennenhund, also known as the Bernese Mountain Dog
- Appenzeller Sennenhund, or Appenzeller Mountain Dog
- Entlebucher Sennenhund, or Entlebucher Mountain Dog
These dogs share many traits with other livestock guardian dogs from all over the world. They are known for being protective and helpful.
What Do They Look Like?
The Entlebucher Sennenhund is a strong, medium-sized dog. Female Entlebuchers often look more "square" in shape, while males can be a bit longer. They have small, triangular ears and pretty brown eyes. Their head fits well with their body, and they have a strong, flat skull. Their jaw is powerful.
Their paws are compact, supporting a muscular body. The coat is smooth and short, with a beautiful pattern of black, tan, and white. This is called a tricolor coat. You'll see white on their toes, the tip of their tail, and on their chest and forehead. The tan color always appears between the black and white parts. They have strong, broad hips and well-angled back legs.
Sometimes, their tails were shortened, but this practice is now against the law in many countries. Some Entlebuchers are also born with a naturally short tail, called a bobtail. These dogs usually stand about 19 to 20 inches (48–50 cm) tall at the withers (the highest point of their shoulders). They typically weigh between 45 and 65 pounds (20–30 kg).
Their Personality and Training
Entlebuchers are active and smart dogs. Like all energetic working breeds, they need to meet many different dogs and people when they are young. This helps them grow into well-behaved adults. They also need regular exercise and training to be happy and healthy.
The breed is known for being "good-natured and loyal to people they know well." They might be a little shy or watchful around strangers. Every dog is unique, so their exact personality can vary.
How Dog Clubs Recognize Them
Dog clubs around the world help keep track of dog breeds and set standards for them. The Entlebucher Sennenhund is recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI). This is a big international dog organization that uses the breed standard from Switzerland, where the dog comes from.
Other national dog clubs also recognize the Entlebucher. For example, The Kennel Club in the UK and the Canadian Kennel Club include them in their Working Group of dogs. In the United States, the United States Kennel Club (US) places them in the Herding Group.
The breed was officially accepted into the American Kennel Club (AKC) records on December 1, 2010. They became able to compete in the AKC's herding dog group starting January 1, 2011.
Keeping Entlebuchers Healthy
Because the Entlebucher breed started from a small number of dogs, some health problems can be more common. This is sometimes called "inbreeding" when dogs from a small family group are bred together. One common issue is hip dysplasia, which affects their hip joints.
Other health concerns include Hemolytic anemia, a blood condition, and Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), which affects their eyes. Groups like the National Entlebucher Mountain Dog Association (NEMDA) are working hard to make the breed healthier. They do this by encouraging responsible breeding, using genetic testing to find problems, and sharing information with dog owners.
See Also
- Dogs portal
- List of dog breeds
- Preservation breeding
