General Description

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(Entlebucher Sennehund, Entelbuch Mountain Dog, Entelbuch Cattle Dog, Entlebucher) The Entlebucher Sennenhund is a medium-sized dog with a heavily boned, muscular body and sturdy, square proportions. Their hocks have a naturally good angle and their hips are wide and brawny. Their skull is flat and features a strong, straight, well-developed muzzle. Their eyes are small and dark brown in color, and their medium-sized ears are triangular, high-set, and rounded at the tips. Their jaw is powerful, long, and well-formed. The Entlebucher Sennenhund has a smooth, harsh, close-fitting coat that is tri-colored. White markings exist on the toes, the chest, the blaze, and the tip of the tail. The tan markings always lie between the white and black. Tails of this breed are often docked.

Character

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The Entlebucher Sennenhund is very people-oriented. This breed loves to spend significant amounts of time with its family and friends. They are alert, friendly with children, and obedient. They are courageous and hard-working, and they make outstanding watch dogs.

General Health

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Some lines of the Entlebucher Sennenhund are susceptible to eye problems such as PRA. This breed typically lives for 11 to 15 years.

History

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The Entlebucher Sennenhund is the smallest of four varieties of Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs. While the exact origin of the Entlebucher Sennenhund is unknown, it is thought to be a descendant of the fighting and guarding mastiffs of the Roman legions. These dogs are named for their native region Entlebuch, a valley that is located within the district of the Cantons Lucerne and Berne. The Entlebucher Sennenhund is extremely popular in Switzerland but is rarely seen in other places. At one point, they were in danger of becoming extinct. A man by the name of Franz Schertenleib went on a dedicated search for dogs of the Entlebucher Sennenhund’s nature and was able to rescue the breed with the help of a Zurich show judge named Professor Albert Heim.

The Entlebucher Mountain Dog, also known as the Entlebucher Sennenhund or Entlebucher Cattle Dog, is the smallest of the four Swiss Mountain Dogs including the Appenzeller, the Bernese Mountain Dog, and the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. The Swiss Mountain dogs descended from the Molossus type dogs brought by the Romans as they passed through Helvetia over two thousand years ago. The smaller of the Swiss Mountain dogs, the Entlebucher and Appenzeller were used as cattle herding dogs bringing the dairy cows in from mountain pastures. The larger breeds were used as flock guardians and cart-pullers to transport milk and cheese to market. Originating from Entlebuch, a valley in the district of the Cantons Lucerne and Berne, the first description under the name Entlebucherhund dates from the year 1889. For a considerable time after that date, no difference was made between Appenzell and Entlebuch Cattle Dogs. In the year 1913, four examples of this small herding dog with congenital bobtail were exhibited at a dog show in Langentahal and introduced by Professor Albert Heim, the great patron of the Swiss Mountain and Cattle dog breeds. On account of the judges' reports, they were entered into the Swiss Canine Stud Book (SHSB as the fourth Mountain and Cattle dog breed). However, the first Standard was only completed in 1927. After August 28th, 1926, the date of the foundation of the Swiss Club of Entlebuch Cattle Dogs initiated by Dr. B. Kobler, this breed was promoted and continued as pure bred. As the small number of entries into the Swiss Stud Book shows, the breed developed only slowly. The Entlebuch Cattle Dog received renewed impetus when, apart from his hereditary qualities as a lively, tireless, driving dog, his outstanding suitability as a utility, as well as a companion, dog was proved. Today, still on a modest scale, this attractive tricolored dog has found admirer's and enjoys increased popularity as a family dog. Due to crossings with the German Shepherd and other newly imported purebreds, the Sennenhund were nearly lost by the early 1900s. The dedicated efforts of Professor Albert Heim and others, as well as careful monitoring by present day breed clubs in Switzerland and Germany, have managed to preserve the Entlebucher breed. The numbers are still relatively few and they are often mistaken for a mixed breed dog.

Maintenance

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The short-haired coat of the Entlebucher Sennenhund is easy to groom and care for. The coat should be brushed on a regular basis with a firm bristle brush. This breed is a moderate shedder.

Ideal Environment

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The Entlebucher Sennenhund is not suitable for life in a small household or apartment. They are not recommended for hot or humid climates.

Entlebucher Sennenhund Q&AAsk a Question

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  Entlebucher Marking, spots on skin of chest?

  Hello, We adopted a puppy from the pound a few years ago, and we've always been curious about what breed(s) she may be. We knew she looked like the swiss mt dog, but not that large. Then the other day, my daughter stumbled...

  Asked by Anonymous - 0 answers

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