Entlebucher Mountain Dog
About the Entlebucher Mountain Dog
Temperament
Physical Characteristics
| Size Category | Medium (25-50 lbs) |
|---|---|
| Height | 16-21" |
| Weight | 45-65 lbs |
| Coat Type | Double |
| Coat Length | Short |
| Colors | |
| Hypoallergenic | No |
Care Requirements
Exercise Needs
High (60-90 min/day)
60 minutes per day recommended
Grooming
Moderate - Weekly
Mental Stimulation
★★★★★Needs plenty of mental challenges
Drooling
★★★★★Living Conditions
Cost of Ownership
| Purchase Price | $1,500-$3,000 |
|---|---|
| Annual Cost | $1,500/year |
Costs vary based on location, breeder, and individual needs. Annual costs include food, veterinary care, grooming, and supplies.
Health Considerations
Like all breeds, Entlebucher Mountain Dogs may be prone to certain health conditions:
Regular veterinary check-ups and proper care can help prevent or manage many health issues.
Best For
- Families with Children
- Active Owners
- Guard Dog
May Not Be Ideal For
- Apartment Living
- First-Time Owners
- Long Work Hours Away
Guides for your Entlebucher Mountain Dog
The story behind the Entlebucher Mountain Dog
The Entlebucher takes its name from the Entlebuch valley in the canton of Lucerne, Switzerland, and belongs to the group of four Swiss sennenhund breeds, all descended from Alpine farm dogs used to drive cattle, guard property, and pull small loads. The smaller cattle-driving type was long kept without formal distinction from the Appenzeller. Swiss cynologists working in the early twentieth century, notably Albert Heim, separated the four types and described them individually, with this one recorded as a distinct breed in the 1920s and a club established shortly afterwards. Numbers were small and stayed that way, and the breed was rebuilt from a limited base after the Second World War. The FCI recognises it, and American Kennel Club registration placed the dog in the Herding Group in 2011. It remains uncommon outside Switzerland.
Originally bred for: Cattle driving dog, Farm watchdog, Draft dog. You can trace how working roles shaped today’s breeds across our dog guides.
Feeding a Entlebucher Mountain Dog
A compact, muscular worker that should stay lean and hard, with food matched to a genuinely high activity level. These dogs will overeat given the opportunity, so measure rather than leave a bowl out. Two meals daily and unhurried puppy growth protect the joints.
Watch for: No breed-associated food intolerance is documented in this relatively small population, and robust farm ancestry generally means straightforward digestion. As with any breed maintained from a limited founder base, individual variation exists, so a veterinarian should guide investigation of ongoing skin or gut symptoms.
Mealtime extras: training treats worth keeping in your pocket. Everything else lives in our dog nutrition and feeding hub.
Living with a Entlebucher Mountain Dog
Day to day, the basics matter most: how much exercise your dog needs, how often to get out for a walk, and how much sleep is normal.
For play and enrichment, browse our favorite dog toys and interactive toys for rainy days.
Gear that fits the breed makes life easier: a well-sized dog bed, a properly sized crate.
Raising a puppy? Work through crate training and the teething timeline — or see how old your dog is in human years with our dog age calculator.