Entlebucher Mountain Dog, Entle, puppy, puppies, Swiss, Sennenhund, Switzerland, cattle herd, alps, lively, high energy, medium size, beautiful symmetrical markings, black, white and tan, tri-color, health, genetics, bloodlines, lifespan, disease, Bergen Alberta Canada, Cottonwood, Arizona, USA, Saint Ferriol, Aude, France, Eugene Oregon, USA, show, AKC, CKC, Superstition, Saguaro, Evelyn Kenny, BCOE, NEMDA, Qualified breeder, conscientious, honest
Entlebucher Mountain Dog, Entle, puppy, breeder, medium sized, family dog, friendly, the SMILING dog, easy to train, Entlebucher Sennenhund, Swiss Mountain Dog, Alberta, Bergen, ranch, breeder, medium sized, cattle dog, drover, herder, velcro dog, therapy, assistance, companion, agility, nose work, obedience, healthy, conscientious, ethical, intact, titres, deposit, Cottonwood, Arizona, raw food, enthusiastic, loyal, genetic diversity, AKC, CKC, conformation, performance, dog show, cute, cuddly, playful, Good Dog, AviDog, purposefully bred, purebred, well socialized, NEMDA, BCOE, tri-color, clean, , puppies available, active
Breeding for health, temperament and breed survival
T T
Bar T T Ranch Entlebuchers
Genetic Diversity
for survival of the breed
The challenge
The approach
Coefficient of Inbreeding (COI) is a calculation which shows the relatedness of a pair of dogs. NEMDA strongly advises choosing mates with COI below 6.25% and encourages COI less than 5.0% if at all possible.
​
Calculating the COI is tricky and requires excellent historical pedigrees. NEMDA provides both the pedigrees and the calculation to aspiring breeders.
​
An easy way to start is to find dogs that have no common names on their 5 generation pedigree. These dogs are likely still related, but it will be several generations back and it will result in a lower COI.
​
The NEMDA pedigree database is available online, free to the public. You can generate up to 7 generations of pedigree for any dog listed. If your dog is not listed, send their pedigree in and it will be included in the database.
This database is the best Entlebucher pedigree dataset in the world. Your additions will only make it more complete.
​
​
The Bar TT Plan
At Bar TT Entlebuchers, we are passionate about genetic diversity to preserve the breed. We acquired our female from France to ensure new bloodlines would be introduced to the North American gene pool.
​
Our proposed mating of Nelson Hercules v Eagleheart to Nakita Josephine de Jude la Cathare has a very low COI5 of 0.37%.
​
We will choose future mates for our dogs, keeping COI low.
​
We will encourage our puppy families to consider a one time breeding if their dog passes the health criteria and temperament testing. We will assist them with mate selection, breeding, whelping and raising of these pups in order to preserve DNA for future Entlebuchers.
Entlebuchers grew from very small numbers after the wars in Europe. They continue to be rare and often live long distances from each other.
​
The original genetic material (DNA) of the Entlebucher included maybe 25 individual dogs, unrelated to each other. Over time, not that many were bred, so now, the dogs that remain have fewer unique ancestors, perhaps fewer than 7 individuals.
​
How can we help the Entlebucher survive as a breed? More quality breedings need to occur, matings of healthy, temperamentally sound, unrelated dogs that preserve unique genetic material and pass it along to future generations.
​
Without careful selection and breeding, the Entlebucher is increasingly at risk for the development of pervasive genetic disease. As the number of unique ancestors shrinks, all of the dogs begin to have the same genetic make up, including good features (standard markings, herding ability) and disastrous ones (weak hips, shorter lives, cancer and blindness).