Entlebucher Mountain Dog vs Dogo Sardesco - Breed Comparison

The Entlebucher Mountain Dog is the smallest of the Swiss Mountain Dogs, but he is still a powerful dog used to herd cattle. The four breeds are the Bernese Mountain Dog, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, the Appenzeller Mountain Dog and the Entlebucher. It was though that these dogs came to Switzerland with the Romans over 2 centuries ago. The Entlebucher was put to work guarding and herding sheep, pulling carts and flocking cattle. Toward the end of the 19th century the breed was on the edge of extinction because many were breeding them with German Shepherds. So, Franz Schertenleib, in 1889 brought all the existing Entlebuchers together and bred them. He is credited with keeping the breed alive.

It is believed that the breed comes originally from a valley in the District of Cantons Lucerne and Berne, called Entlebuch. They were considered the same breed as the Appenzell Cattle Dog until 1913 when they were classified as a Mountain Dog – the fourth breed of Mountain Dog. The AKC did not recognize the breed until 2011.

This is an ancient working dog breed which hails from the Italian island of Sardinia. When you do research, you find that no one is sure as to this dogs exact origin, and there are a number of theories as to how the dog developed.

Regardless of how the Dogo Sardesco came about, it is a valued companion of farmers in Sardinia, being appreciated for its protective nature.

The dog is a kind of Molosser or Mastiff dog. In the past the dog has been used as a working and hunting dog, and today he is a popular dog in mainland Italy. He is also known as Sardinian Mastiff, Sardinian Molosser and Dogo Sardo.

The Dogo Sardesco isn’t recognized today by international kennel clubs, and breeders on the island of Sardinia have done nothing to form a breed club for the dog.

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The Entlebucher Mountain Dog is a muscular, compact, and medium sized dog. Their heads are square, and the skull is flat. He has dark eyes that are alert and expressive in a friendly way. Their ears are triangular and hang on the side of his head. With compact feet, a muscular body and well angled hocks, he is a good looking dog and ready for his jobs.

His coat is striking, and it is familiar in its closeness to the other Mountain Dogs coats. Yet he has some distinctive differences that tell you this is not a Bernese or a Swiss, it is an Entlebucher.

The dog Sardesco is a medium to large sized dog generally measuring 56 to 68 cm at the withers and weighing roughly 30 to 45 kg.

Because the dog isn’t bred to specific standards, it varies in appearance, but it is a powerful looking dog, being lean and athletic. The dog’s tail is traditionally docked, but with tail docking being frowned upon, the tail is left long and the dog loses its distinctive look.

The head of the dog is large and the ears are also traditionally cropped to be very short. Left naturally, the ears fold down closely to the sides of the head.The eyes are small and amber colored. The coat is short and smooth, but thick, and while it comes in many colors, the more regular color is red, brown, black, grey or brindle.

Temperament:

The Dogo Sardesco becomes a loyal family pet, more so when he has been trained and socialized. Although he is a devoted and affectionate dog, forming particularly strong bonds with his human family, he isn’t recommended for homes where there are young children.

He also doesn’t take too kindly to other pets in the home. This is because they are a strong-willed, dominant breed and might therefore not be a good choice for first-time dog owners.

Because Sardinian breeders have focused on developing an aggressive dog, he has become a dog suspicious of- and aloof with strangers. He is stubborn and self-willed, and to make him more obedient and amicable, he will require training and socialization. He is an alert, intelligent dog and this makes him an excellent watch dog.

The Sardinian Mastiff is an active dog too and won’t do well in a home where the people aren’t interested in exercise. He is the kind of dog that will need to be taken with you on walks, and he will love to spend time running alongside you when you go running or cycling.

He won’t adapt too well to life in the city, particularly when there is just a tiny garden.

The Entle is a happy, clever dog that needs a job. They are intelligent and physical. They love people and throw themselves at you when they see you. They are loving and loyal but again he has to have a job.

He makes a great watchdog, therapy dog or companion for your children. He only barks when he has to but is wary of strangers and he is territorial.

The Dogo Sardesco has always performed his role as a working dog well, and this is a reliable watch dog as well as the dog takes his job of guarding his human family seriously.

With his aggressive temperament, he has appeared on the list of banned breeds, and this is why he isn’t an ideal choice for homes where there are small children, as some small children haven’t been taught how to treat a dog with respect.

However, when properly trained and socialized he becomes an excellent companion dog. He has an intimidating look about him, but when he is with his human family, another side comes out and he is affectionate, loving and protective.

The Entlebucher is prone to:

Hip Dysplasia

Common to large dogs. Can cause lameness and arthritis.

Hemolytic Anemia

The immune system destroys its own blood cells.

PRA – Progressive Retinal Atrophy

This is inherited and causes degeneration of the retina. There is new medication for this.

The Dogo Sardesco is a relatively healthy breed who is unlikely to suffer with ailments common to dogs, but nonetheless there are some diseases or conditions that you might want to be aware of with your dog.

Skeletal and visual problems can occur in this breed. Both hip- and elbow dysplasia are common orthopedic disorders in dogs and they can cause a lot of pain and discomfort and even cause lifelong disability.

Genes and environmental factors play a part in your dog developing this disease.If he has been diagnosed as having hip or elbow dysplasia, get your dog to the vet as there are treatments which can at least make your pet a lot more comfortable.

Remember that feeding your puppy Dogo Sardesco too much food which is particularly high in calories can mean him growing too fast, and this can contribute to this hip dysplasia problem.

Feeding

The Entlebucher Mountain Dog is a large working dog. He needs good solid food, but he doesn’t need to be overfed. Give him about 2-3 cups per day fed in 2-3 meals. Be careful of Bloat in the large dog.

Health issues

The Entlebucher Mountain Dog is prone to these issues as well as those mentioned earlier.

1. Entlebucher Urinary Syndrome
2. The Ureter is misplaced.
3. Luxating Patellas
4. Movable kneecaps
5. Exercise and games

Entlebucher Mountain Dogs love to play, to work and to exercise. They are great with people who want to walk them every day, run with them, ride bikes or hike. They can play for hours or work for hours. They need a lot of activity every day and excel at tracking, obedience, herding and agility.

Dog owners who don’t like the idea of spending too much money on grooming will appreciate that the Dogo Sardesco is a very low maintenance breed, and that a good brushing twice a week will keep the dog’s coat shiny and healthy.

As with all other dogs, he will need to have his teeth brushed to remove plaque build up. Not only does plaque lead to dental disease, but bad teeth can lead to other health issues too.

Nail clipping will also be necessary if your pet doesn’t wear the nails down naturally from getting to run on a hard surface from time to time.