What kind of temperament does this breed have?
The Entlebucher is a Cattle (working or herding) dog, and has been bred to work hard for their masters. They love their families and quickly find their place as an important family member. They are happiest in an active household where they will get lots of exercise and attention. This is a dog that does not do well just left outside and alone. They definitely must be part of the family unit or you will run into behavioral problems with this breed. Since the Entlebucher is a herding dog they can be protective of their family (their herd). In order to prevent this, the family needs to socialize the puppy to other people and dogs, especially in their own home.

How much exercise do they need?
Entlebuchers are high-energy dogs. They need to be able to run and play in order for them to be happy and healthy. They love to have a job to do. Above all else they love to be with their family, especially playing ball, Frisbee™, doing agility, or just taking a nice long hike in the woods.

What kind of weather are they suited for?
Entlebuchers originated in Switzerland where the climate is cool. They prefer cool temperatures and in warmer climates or hot summers they need to be kept cool. We do not recommend these dogs for excessively humid climates. It is difficult to provide them with enough exercise if they are kept inside under air conditioning.

Are they protective and do they bark a lot?
Entlebuchers can be very protective of their family (their herd) especially if they have not been socialized to other dogs and people coming into their house. They are excellent watch-dogs but are not an overly barky dog. When an Entle does bark it is usually for a reason and it is a big bark for a medium size dog.

Are Entlebuchers good with other dogs and cats?
It is important to socialize any puppy with other dogs and cats. Entles are generally confident and enjoy being with other dogs. (They have even been seen playing and sleeping with cats.) One thing you must remember is that whatever is “family” belongs to the Entlebucher. An Entlebucher discriminates what is part of his family. Another strange cat, rabbit, rodent, etc. will be treated as fair game.

When is a good time to train a puppy and what kind of training do they need?
Since Entlebuchers are smart you should start puppy training right away, even before formal classes. You will be quite surprised at the vocabulary they can acquire. Puppy kindergarten (after their required shots) is good for socialization and Level 1 Obedience Training at around six months is good for doggie manners. Please remember these dogs are intelligent and are always testing their owners, so it is very important that the entire family use the same signals and words and be consistently firm when training.

Are they good with children?
Entlebuchers love children, and above all love to play with them. Some are very tolerant and gentle with toddlers, but most are too rambunctious and enthusiastic with small children when they are still in the puppy stage. They are very strong and often nip and play rough. They also “herd by hurling,” knocking small children off their feet and scaring them. The best combination of child and Entlebucher is when the child can throw a ball and can handle being jumped up on.

What kind of health problems do they have?
Entlebuchers generally have good overall health and are not prone to illness or disease. However, Entlebuchers have eye problems, both cataracts and PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy which is a late onset blindness), which are hereditary. Because of their limited gene pool, no free and clear lines exist in North America or Europe. The best breeders have a yearly eye CERF done prior to each breeding. They are also prone to Hip Dysplasia. To help minimize the potential for HD, every breeding dog should have a passing OFA rating or other passing hip conformation report. An OFA rating is given after 2 years of age.

What about feeding and grooming?
Entlebuchers have a reputation of being “easy keepers.” They have a short, dense, shiny double coat that requires very little grooming. They do shed and a regular once a week brush will definitely keep the shedding down to a minimum in the springtime as the weather warms. If you feed them a good lamb and rice or chicken and rice food, their coat will stay shiny and healthy. This breed can be prone to chubbiness (they love to eat), so match the feedings to activity level. These dogs also seem to enjoy fruits and vegetables, so this can also be added to their dry food. They also have dry mouth glands and do not usually drool.

Is the Entlebucher good for a person with allergies?
Although this breed does shed less than many other breeds, they still have fur and not human-hair like fur. They have a thick undercoat and a top coat which people can have an allergic reaction to. They are not like the Portuguese Water Dog, Poodle or Wheaton Terrier, which are known to be good in households where there are people with allergies. If you are concerned about the possibility of allergies, visit and play with an Entlebucher.