Entlebucher Mountain Dog vs Dalmador - Breed Comparison

The Dalmador is a cross-breed – a mix between a Dalmation and a Labrador, and because it is a a fairly new breed you won’t find much information about the dog’s origins.

We do know that the Labrador originated in Canada and that the Dalmation comes from Croatia. Both these dog breeds have their own interesting histories. The Dalmador is a hybrid dog and isn’t a member of the American Kennel Club.

They started coming about from the 1980s when mixing one pure-breed dog with another became popular.

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.

The Dalmador is a cross breed dog which comes from crossing the Labrador Retriever with a Dalmatian. The result is a muscular, well proportioned body.He has floppy ears and a long tail.

He is medium to large sized dog and can stand up to 58cm in height and weigh between 25 and 32kg. No two dogs look the same and some dogs gravitate more towards the one breed while others toward the other.

Most Dalmadors have the spotted coat, although the coat could have very visible spots or maybe just a few dots on the fur. Then again there are some Dalmadors where the coat is more of a solid color in brown or black or cream with some white patches. The double coat is short and dense and he is quite a heavy shedder.

Temperament:

The Dalmador is a gentle, friendly dog, making him a great family pet. You can’t really say exactly what temperament your Dalmador will have as he could inherit either the Dalmatian’s more aloof nature or he could inherit the friendly character of the Labrador.

He is quite likely to be even-tempered and is amicable with other pets in the home. He is alert too and this makes him a good watchdog. Because the Dalmador is the hybrid of two active, alert, intelligent breeds you can expect a dog which for some will be quite a handful. It is why training and socialization can be excellent for the Dalmador as it will calm him down, turning him into an obedient dog who comes and sits when told.

If you’re looking for an energetic, active and highly social dog, the Dalmador will suit an active family that can join in with all his high jinks.

tion

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 wonderful Dalmador is such a easy-going, cheerful dog full of surprises really, as you never know which dominant traits he will inherit from either of the two dogs involved in his making.

Friendly and social, he loves his human family and is totally loyal and loving toward them. Even tempered and faithful, if you’re looking for a wonderful 4-legged friend and companion, the Dalmador promises to make you a splendid pet.

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 Dalmador is a hybrid dog and they don’t experience the same health issues that the pure bred dog contends with. The Dalmador has a life expectancy of 10 to 14 years and he can reach this age if you give him all the doggy care he deserves as a 4-legged member of your family.

Apart from a common dog ailment – hip dysplasia, bloat and obesity are also common problems for your dog.

Bloat is a serious health condition that can actually be fatal because its a twisted stomach where trapped gas puts pressure on the diaphragm.

You will notice the swollen stomach of your pet. Larger breeds are more prone to suffer from bloat because of being deep-chested. Also known as gastric dilatation-volvulus, a vet will need to intervene with this ailment as it can be life-threatening.

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 Dalmador is a medium to large dog so you want to be feeding him one or two bowls of food a day. You want to be giving your Dalmador top-quality food to ensure good health. The lower quality foods are inclined to have ingredients in them that aren’t good for your pet.

Always try to include some home-made food into your pet’s diet such as cooked brown rice, cooked chicken and vegetables. You can mix this into some of his dry kibble. It is important to include some raw meat into his diet from time to time as well.

Clean water must be constantly available. Without good quality food and water, you jeopardize the health of your pet.

He isn’t going to require much maintenance so a good brush twice a week will rid him of loose hairs and keep his coat shiny and glossy.

Other things to check regularly are his ears and to brush his teeth 2 or 3 times a week. Don’t neglect giving him a good amount of exercise too.

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.