The Entlebucher Sennenhund or Entlebuch Cattle Dog (FCI-Standard No. 47) is the smallest of the four breeds of Sennenhund first bred in Switzerland.
The name Sennenhund refers to people called Senn, herders in the Swiss Alps. Entlebuch is a region in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.
The breed is also known in English as the Entlebucher Mountain Dog, Entlebucher Cattle Dog or just Entlebucher.
The four breeds of Sennenhund, with the original breed name followed by the most popular English version of the breed name:
- Grosser Schweizer Sennenhund, Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
- Berner Sennenhund, Bernese Mountain Dog
- Appenzeller Sennenhund, Appenzeller
- Entlebucher Sennenhund, Entlebucher Mountain Dog
All four breeds have an attractive tricolour colouring and differ only in size, length of coat and temperament.
Breeders of all these four breeds in the Czech Republic are linked to the Swiss Mountain Dog Club.
Entlebuch cattle dog breed standard (Entlebucher Sennenhund)
FCI-Standard N°47 – shortened:
ORIGIN : Switzerland.
UTILIZATION : Driving-, watch-, guard-, and farm dog. Today also a versatile working and agreeable family dog.
FCI-CLASSIFICATION : Group 2 Pinscher and Schnauzer-Molossoid breeds-Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs. Section 3 Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs. Without working trial.
SHORT HISTORICAL SURVEY : The “Entlebucher” is the smallest of the four Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs. He originates from Entlebuch, a valley in the region of the Cantons Lucerne and Bern. The first description under the name “Entlibucherhund” dates from the year 1889, but 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 the dog show in Langenthal and presented to Prof.Dr.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 purebred. As the small number of entries into the SHSB (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 and companion dog was proved. Today, still on a modest scale, this attractive tricoloured dog has found his admirers and enjoys increased popularity as a family dog.
GENERAL APPEARANCE : Only just medium-sized, compactly built dog of slightly elongated shape. Tricolour like all the Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs, very agile and deft; alert, clever and friendly facial expression.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS :
• Ratio of height at withers to length of the body = 8 : 10.
• Ratio of length of muzzle to length of the skull = 9 : 10.
BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT : Lively, high-spirited, selfassured and fearless. Good-natured and devoted towards people familiar to him, slightly suspicious of strangers. Cannot be bribed as a watch dog. Cheerful and capable of learning.
HEAD : In harmonious proportion to the body, slightly wedgeshaped, clean. Head planes of muzzle and skull more or less parallel.
CRANIAL REGION : Skull : Rather flat, relatively broad, broadest between set-on of ears; slightly tapering towards muzzle. Occipital bone barely visible. Frontal furrow barely pronounced. Stop : Barely pronounced.
FACIAL REGION : Nose : Black, protruding slightly over front edge of lips. Muzzle : Strong, well chiselled, clearly set off from forehead and cheeks, tapering evenly but not pointed. Slightly shorter than distance from stop to occipital protuberance. Bridge of nose straight.
Jaws/Teeth : Strong, regular and complete scissor bite. Even bite tolerated.
Eyes : Rather small, roundish, dark brown to hazel. Expression lively, friendly, alert. Eyelids well fitting. Black pigmentation on rims.
Ears : Not too big. Set on high and relatively wide. Flaps pendulous, triangular, well rounded at tip. Firm, well developed ear-cartilage. In repose lying flat and close to head; when alert, slightly raised at set-on and turned forward.
NECK : Of medium length, strong and clean, merging smoothly with the body.
BODY : Strong, slightly elongated.
Back : Straight, firm, broad, relatively long.
Loins : Strong, supple, not too short.
Croup : Sloping slightly, relatively long.
Chest : Broad, deep, reaching to the elbows. Pronounced forechest. Ribs moderately rounded. Ribcage extended, roundish-oval in diameter.
Lower line and Belly : Slight tuck up.
TAIL :
• Natural tail set on in continuation of the gently sloping croup.
• Congenital bobtail. Natural long tail and bobtail equally acceptable.
LIMBS FOREQUARTERS :
General appearance : Strongly muscled but not too heavy. Forelegs placed neither too wide nor too close together; forelegs short, sturdy, straight, parallel and placed well under the body.
Shoulders : Muscular, shoulder blade long, slanting and well attached to the body.
Upper arm : Length equal or slightly shorter than shoulder blade. Angle to shoulder blade about 110-120 degrees.
Elbows: Well attached to the body.
Forearm : Relatively short, straight, well boned, clean.
Pastern : Seen from the front in straight continuation of the forearm; seen from the side very slightly angulated. Relatively short.
HINDQUARTERS :
General appearance : Well muscled. Seen from behind hind legs not too close together, straight and parallel.
Upper thigh : Fairly long. Forming a rather wide angle with the lower thigh at the stifle joint. Thighs broad and strong.
Lower thigh : Approximately equal length to upper thigh, clean. Hock joint : Strong, set relatively low, well angulated.
Hock : Fairly short, sturdy, vertical and parallel in position. Dewclaws must be removed, except in those countries where the removal is prohibited by law.
FEET : Roundish, with tight, well arched toes, pointing straight forward. Nails short and strong. Pads coarse and robust.
GAIT / MOVEMENT : Ground covering, free, easy movement with strong drive from rear. Seen from front or rear, legs track in a straight line.
COAT HAIR : Double coat (Stockhaar). Topcoat short, close fitting, harsh and shiny. Undercoat dense. Slightly wavy hair on withers and/or back tolerated, but not desirable.
COLOUR AND MARKINGS : Typically tricolour. Basic colour black with “yellow- to reddish-brown” tan markings which should be as symmetric as possible. The tan markings are placed above the eyes, on cheeks, on muzzle and throat, on either side of chest and on all four legs. On the legs the tan markings are situated between the black and the white. Undercoat dark grey to brownish.
White markings :
• Distinct small with blaze which runs without interruption from top of the head over the bridge of nose and can wholly or partially cover the muzzle.
• White from chin over throat without interruption to chest.
• White on all four feet.
• On a long tail white tip desirable. Undesirable but tolerated : small white patch on nape of neck (not more than half the size of a palm).
HEIGHT : Height at withers :
Dogs 44-50 cm, tolerance up to 52 cm.
Bitches 42-48 cm, tolerance up to 50 cm.
FAULTS :
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.
