Plate 138 · Continental Europe
Entlebucher Mountain Dog
恩特雷布赫山地犬
“The smallest of the Swiss mountain dogs.”
- Origin
- Switzerland
- Entlebuch, canton of Lucerne
- Region of origin
- Named after the Entlebuch valley in the canton of Lucerne; the marker is the canton's reference point.
- The point marks the region the breed comes from, not an exact birthplace.
- Era
- In the Swiss stud book from 1913; club 1926
- Today
- Herding dog · Companion
Under editorial review — sources listed below.
History
01 · Origin
Entlebuch, canton of Lucerne
The smallest and quickest of the four Swiss mountain dogs, a tricolour cattle dog.
02 · Historical role
What it was bred for
Driving cattle up to Alpine pastures and back, and guarding the farm.
03 · Breed development
How it changed
In 1913 four bobtailed Entlebuchers were shown to Albert Heim and entered in the Swiss stud book, but after the First World War none could be found. A breed club was founded in 1926; 16 dogs were found in 1927 and the breed was rebuilt.
04 · Today
Herding dog · Companion
An energetic companion and herding dog.
Personality
- Loyal
- Smart
- Enthusiastic
- Agile
General breed tendencies, not guarantees — individual dogs vary with genetics, training and environment. Ratings: the AKC’s trait scores as its breed page gives them (the AKC’s 1–5 guidance for owners, not a measurement). Other profiles here use editorial ratings, a different source, so compare across them with care.
- Exercise
- High energy: at least an hour of exercise a day.
- Grooming
- Minimal, but sheds quite a bit.
- Training
- Smart and rewarding to train; socialize early and keep it varied.
Living with one
- Size
- Medium
- Lifespan
- 11–13 years
- Coat
- Short, hard, shiny double coat; tricolour black, white and tan
Field note
Its nickname means 'the laughing dog', earned by its love of work and of life.
Recognition & today
- AKC
- Herding Group
- Also recognized by
- FCI (as Entlebuch Cattle Dog, Group 2, standard 47)
- Popular in
- No reliable data
AKC: Herding Group, recognized 2011.
AKC registrations: ranked 178 among breeds in 2025.
Sources3 references
- Entlebucher Mountain Dog — breed information — American Kennel Club
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/entlebucher-mountain-dog/
Registry · accessed 2026-10-14 · Registry status, group, size, life expectancy and registration rank; history as the AKC tells it. Ratings: the AKC's own 1–5 owner-guidance trait scores as the page gives them (energy level, trainability, barking level, openness to strangers, good with other dogs), not measurements.
- Entlebucher Mountain Dog — Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entlebucher_Mountain_Dog
Encyclopedia · accessed 2026-10-14 · Entlebuch in Lucerne, the four Sennenhund breeds, Albert Heim (1913), the 1926 club and the 16 dogs of 1927.
- Entlebuch Cattle Dog — FCI breed nomenclature — Fédération Cynologique Internationale
https://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/ENTLEBUCH-CATTLE-DOG-47.html
Kennel club · accessed 2026-10-14 · Country of origin Switzerland; Group 2, section "Swiss Mountain- and Cattledogs"; accepted 1954.
Text is written by World Breeds from the references above; it does not reproduce registry descriptions. Location note: Named after the Entlebuch valley in the canton of Lucerne; the marker is the canton's reference point.
