Herding and mountain dog Medium size 20-30 kg

Entlebucher Mountain Dog

A compact, driven Swiss herder for an active owner, but the joint-heavy build and need for a job make it demanding.

Compare
Find out how this breed matches your household

Quick overview

Medium
Size
20-30 kg, 42-52 cm
High
Activity
High; needs real daily exercise and a job
Low
Alone-time tolerance
Prefers company; struggles with long days alone
Easy
Trainability
Eager and quick to learn
Low
Coat care
Low upkeep; occasional brushing
Very good
Fit with kids
Good family dog with children
Good
Other pets
Usually fine with early socialization
Moderate
Health burden
Hip Dysplasia, eye disease

The Entlebucher Mountain Dog typically weighs 20-30 kg, stands 42-52 cm, and lives 11-13 years.

Consider this breed if…

you are active daily and want a sturdy dog for hiking, running or dog sport,
you want the smallest, most driven of the four Swiss mountain breeds,
someone is home much of the day - it is a velcro dog,
you can channel herding energy into training and structured work.

Do not consider this breed if…

the dog would be alone through full workdays,
you live in an apartment without a serious exercise plan,
barking bothers you - it is a vocal, watchful farm dog,
you cannot verify hip and eye screening in the litter's parents.

A typical day with a Entlebucher Mountain Dog

  1. 6:30 · Morning
    Brisk walk or run, 45 minutes
  2. 9:00 · Midmorning
    Follows you room to room, announces visitors
  3. 13:00 · Noon
    Rest, chew work
  4. 16:00 · Afternoon
    Training or agility, 20-30 minutes
  5. 18:30 · Evening
    Second outing, play with the family
  6. 22:00 · Night
    Sleeps where it can see the household

Temperament and training

Drive to work High
Attachment to family Very high
Trainability High
Watchfulness High
Vocality High
Herding instinct High
Common owner mistakes
Buying the cute tricolor look without planning for the herding drive · Skipping hip and eye screening questions with the breeder · Leaving a velcro farm dog alone all day and wondering about the barking

Family and environment

Kids Good
Devoted playmate; may herd and nudge running children.
Dogs Good
Generally sociable with early socialization.
Cats Conditional
Works when raised together; chasing needs redirecting.
Apartment Conditional
Possible with heavy daily exercise; barking is the catch.
House with a yard Suitable
A yard to patrol suits it; still needs real work.
City Manages
Adaptable with enough activity and socialization.
Countryside Ideal
A farm-bred dog happiest with space and a job.
Health data provided by RealVetCost
Overall health burden Moderate

Detailed health data - inheritance, prevalence, course, and typical treatment costs - lives in a separate expert database. This is general guidance, not veterinary advice - confirm any decision with your vet.

View the full health profile
Top health concerns
Hip Dysplasia A known concern in the breed; screen breeding stock
Progressive Retinal Atrophy Inherited retinal disease; DNA test available
Ectopic ureters Congenital urinary defect reported in the breed
Cataracts Lens clouding; regular eye exams help catch it

Similar breeds - by reason

Not visually similar - similar in what they mean for you.

The next Swiss breed up in size and sharpness
Appenzeller Sennenhund
A high-drive Swiss mountain dog that is smart and versatile but needs a job, space, and joints watched as it matures.
View profile →
The big short-coated Swiss option, calmer
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
A huge, steady Swiss draft dog that is gentle with family - the trade-off is size, drool, and a heavier load of joint and cancer risk.
View profile →
Similar compact cattle-driving intensity
Australian Cattle Dog
A tough, brilliant herder that will outwork almost anyone, but boredom and unspent energy quickly turn into nipping and mischief.
View profile →

Frequently asked questions

How much does an Entlebucher Mountain Dog cost in the US?
It is the rarest of the Swiss mountain breeds in the US, so expect a waitlist of months to a year. Puppies from health-tested parents typically run $1,500-$3,000. Over an 11-13 year life, budget roughly $16,000-$22,000+ for food and routine vet care, and orthopedic surgery, if hips go wrong, can add $3,000-$7,000 per procedure.
How is the Entlebucher different from the Bernese Mountain Dog?
Same Swiss tricolor family, very different dogs. The Entlebucher is the smallest of the four Sennenhund breeds - 20-30 kg, short-coated, energetic and pushy, bred to drive cattle. The Bernese is a giant, long-coated, mellower draft dog with a much shorter lifespan. Pick the Entlebucher for activity, the Bernese for calm bulk.
Are Entlebuchers good family dogs?
For active families, genuinely yes - loyal, playful and protective without being sharp. Two caveats: they may herd small running children with nudges and the occasional nip that needs redirecting, and they bond so tightly that a household gone all day produces a frustrated, barky dog.
Do Entlebucher Mountain Dogs bark a lot?
More than average. It is a farm watchdog bred to announce everything, and it will - visitors, delivery trucks, odd noises. Training can shape when the barking stops, not whether it starts. In a thin-walled apartment or a dense neighborhood, this is the trait most likely to cause trouble.