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Entlebucher Mountain Dog Breed Info: Pics, Traits & Facts

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By Nicole Cosgrove

Entlebucher Mountain Dog

Height: 19 – 20 inches
Weight: 57 – 66 pounds
Lifespan: 12 – 15 years
Colors: Brown, black and white
Suitable for: Large homes with a big yard
Temperament: Independent, intelligent, loyal, agile

The Entlebucher Mountain Dog is the smallest of the Swiss mountain dogs, and many owners refer to it as the Laughing Dog of the Swiss Alps. Breeders created it to herd cattle, and it has plenty of energy. It has short legs and a muscular body with small triangle ears hanging down to the head’s side. It has a flat head, little brown eyes, and a short, smooth coat with a characteristic pattern that will cause the dog to have a white nose, chest, and feet. Its body is black with brown trimming on the legs, eyes, and face.

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Entlebucher Mountain Dog Puppies

Entlebucher Mountain Dog puppy
Photo Credit: Liliya Kulianionak, Shutterstock
Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability

When you’re looking for an Entebucher Mountain dog, make sure you’re dealing with a reputable and ethical breeder. Better breeders will charge more because they run more tests, and their experience will help ensure a healthy puppy. Location can also affect prices, with west coast breeders usually charging more than those on the east coast. Finding this crossbreed at a dog shelter might not be an easy task, but you can try asking for a similar dog mix that resembles the Entebucher Mountain dog.

After you bring an Entlebucher Mountain Dog home, be ready to have a loyal dog by your side. You’ll have to think of choosing the right food, vaccinations, toys, and treats for your new pet. Make sure you select the right food, vet, and training schedule for your dog to be properly fed and well-socialized around other pets and people.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Entlebucher Mountain Dog

1. There’s more than one way to say Entlebucher.

There are two acceptable ways to say Entlebucher. The most popular way is to pronounce It Ent’-lee-boo-ker, and the second is to say Entel-boo-ker.


2. The Entlebucher Mountain Dog is the smallest Swiss Mountain Dogs.

In total, four breeds make up the Swiss mountain dogs, of which the Entlebucher mountain dog is the smallest. The other breeds in this category include the Appenzeller Sennenhund, Burmese mountain dog, and the Greater Swiss Mountain dog.


3. The Entlebucher Mountain Dog is a great watchdog.

The Entlebucher Mountain Dog has undying loyalty to its owner and is wary of strangers and territorial, so it makes a great watchdog.

Entlebucher Mountain Dog
Photo Credit: Vivienstock,Shutterstock

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Entlebucher Mountain Dog Temperament & Intelligence 🧠

The Entlebucher Mountain Dog is protective and confidant. It’s a little slow to become friends but is intensely loyal to those part of its inner circle. It’s intelligent enough to learn tricks and enjoys games of fetch and rough play. It prefers to have a job to do and is capable of working independently.

Are Entlebucher Mountain Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

Yes, the Entlebucher Mountain Dog is a great family pet. It’s loyal and wary of strangers, so it makes a great watchdog. It has plenty of energy and likes to play games, making for a great partner to play ball or frisbee. It also likes to take long walks and might require them from being too rowdy at night when you are trying to sleep. Its wild nature can make it dangerous to have around toddlers and small children as it can knock them over and hurt them.

Do Entlebucher Mountain Dogs Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽

Yes, the Entlebucher Mountain Dog gets along surprisingly well with other dogs and will even cohabitate well with cats, especially if you socialize them early. It will chase smaller animals like rabbits and hamsters; however, it may be dangerous to put them together.

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Things to Know When Owning an Entlebucher Mountain Dog:

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Your Entlebucher Mountain Dog will need high-quality dog food with plenty of protein to provide your pet with the energy it needs to stay active. We recommend choosing dry dog food because the crunchy kibble helps to keep the dog’s teeth clean while providing a balanced meal.

Look for foods with real meat like chicken or turkey listed before processed foods like meat byproducts on the ingredients list. Food that contains real fruits and vegetables is superior to those that don’t. We recommend looking for a brand that fortifies the food with omega fats, which will help reduce inflammation and boost the immune system. Probiotics will help balance your pet’s digestive system by adding helpful bacteria to your pet’s gut. Many brands contain probiotics among the ingredients, and we recommend choosing one that does.

Exercise 🐕

Your Entlebucher Mountain Dog is an extremely active dog that requires plenty of exercises to stay healthy. You will need to put aside at least 45 minutes per day to walk your dog and help them expel their excess energy. Games of fetch or frisbee will also work, as will some rough play and wrestling. Not being active with your pet can lead to weight gain, which can lead to many illnesses, and more immediately, it can cause your pet to stay up late getting into mischief when you are trying to sleep.

Training 🦮

Training your Entlebucher Mountain Dog can be difficult for some owners because this breed tends to be a little more stubborn than other breeds. However, patience, consistency, and a supply of treats can result in a well-trained pet. Holding your training sessions at the same time each night can help your dog get into a routine. Positive reinforcement in the form of praise, pets, and treats can help keep your pet interested and focused. You should never let your pet see you frustrated or angry.

If you have no experience training dogs, we recommend enrolling your pet in a puppy school. These schools will train your dog, but they also train you to know what to do with any future dogs.

Grooming ✂️

The Entlebucher Mountain Dog has short hair that is easy to maintain. Unfortunately, this breed sheds, but you can reduce the hair on your clothes and furniture by brushing your pet once or twice a week with a fine-tooth comb or brush. You will also need to trim its nails occasionally if you hear them clicking on the floor. One of the most important parts of grooming is keeping the teeth clean. Your pet will require frequent tooth brushing with a pet-safe toothpaste as often as possible, especially if you are not feeding them dry dog food.

Health and Conditions ❤️

While the Entlebucher Mountain Dog is a healthy breed, they are prone to a few health conditions you should consider.

Minor Conditions
  • Cataracts

Cataracts is another condition that affects the eyes of your pet. Dogs with cataracts will experience an increasingly cloudy lens of one or both of their eyes. Fortunately, dogs can usually see fairly well until the cataracts are in their advanced stages. In some cases, cataracts can cause inflammation, which can be painful and require anti-inflammatory medication. A high-quality diet with plenty of antioxidants and omega fats can help slow the disease’s onset and progression.

Serious Conditions
  • Hip Dysplasia

Hip Dysplasia is a condition that affects the hip bones. It usually occurs in larger dogs but can affect any breed. It progresses more rapidly in more active breeds like the Entlebucher Mountain Dog. Dogs with this condition have a joint where the bones don’t fit together correctly and don’t move smoothly. Since the joint is malformed, it wears down quickly and can affect your pet’s ability to bear weight. It can lead to lameness and will decrease the quality of life for your pet. Glucosamine supplements can help reduce the progression of the disease. Weight loss and anti-inflammatory medication can also help.

  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy

Progressive retinal atrophy is another condition that affects the Entlebucher Mountain Dog. This condition affects the rods and cones in your dog, which controls your dog’s ability to see light. As the disease progresses further, your dog will have difficulty seeing in low light conditions and may begin to bump into objects at night. Progressive retinal atrophy can also lead to blindness if the disease progresses far enough. Unfortunately, there is no cure at this time, so prevention is the best bet. Breeders won’t use dogs with this condition for breeding.

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Male vs. Female

The male Entlebucher tends to be a bit larger in height and weight than the female counterpart, but there is no other difference between the two sexes in terms of behavior or temperament.

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Final Thoughts: Entlebucher Mountain Dog

The Entlebucher Mountain Dog makes a great family pet for people with a big home and plenty of yard space. Its high activity level makes it a great companion for energetic children and adults who have time to spend a lot of time with them playing. Its extreme loyalty and territorial nature make for a great watchdog that will be suspicious of strangers. It’s low maintenance and gets along well with other pets.

We hope you have enjoyed our look into this rarely seen breed in America and learned some interesting facts. If we have convinced you to give this dog a try in your home, please share this guide to the Entlebucher Mountain Dog on Facebook and Twitter.

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Featured Image Credit: CC0, pxhere

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