In common with many breeds, the Entlebucher can suffer from Hip Dysplasia. In general, in later life, many animals have hip problems and the factors which affect this are four-fold. In testing breeding dogs, nothing can be done about problems caused by injury, over-exercise or inappropriate exercise at a young age, or diet. However, the element of hip problems which is genetic is something which can be reduced with good breeding.
Across the world, good breeders will have their breeding dogs x-rayed for hip dysplasia. This is normally done when the dog is around fifteen months of age. Before this, development of the joints is still taking place and it is therefore too early to identify issues. Testing at around fifteen months helps to ensure that the element that is recorded is less likely to be through injury or other problems.
The opinions on which dogs should then breed do vary, as does the scoring system in place in different parts of the world. In the UK each hip is scored on a points system, with the different parts of the hip joint being given a score separately for each of the left and right hip. A score of zero would be perfect in each hip. A score of 106 would be the very worst it could be, with a maximum of 53 for each hip.
The main FCI European grading matches to the UK scoring as follows:
A-1 – a total score of no more than 4 with a maximum of 3 on an individual hip.
A-2 – a score of 5 to 10 in total with no more than 6 on either hip.
B-1 – a score of 11 to 18 in total.
B-2 – a score of 19 to 25 in total.
C – a score of 26 to 35 in total.
D – a score of 36 to 50 in total.
E – a score of 51 – 106 in total.
Breeding from a dog whose hips are graded D or E would not be acceptable under the regulations of most countries. At the time of writing, no Entlebucher scored in the UK Club has received any worse than a B2 rating.