Jaylah

         Jaylah

The small population of Entlebuchers in the United States presents unique challenges for Entle lovers and especially breeders. Compatible matches with diversity preservation require skillfully managed genetics for the breed to thrive. Fortunately there are many conscientious breeders making positive and even tough decisions about health and pedigree pairings that should impact an even brighter future. One of the many strategies being utilized is finding and encouraging owners willing to keep intact and import pups with diverse, healthy bloodlines that can be integrated into our North American population.

After much research, Patrick and I were excited and lucky to welcome this lovely female to our family! We took the calculated risk with optimism about her unique genetic lines, friendly temperament, and performance potential! An added bonus that melted my heart immediately was her natural bob tail! I have a special love for bob tails; it is one of the strong defining characteristics that was a hallmark of the Entlebucher when the breed was established, plus our first Entle (my heartdog Bayla) was a natural bob!

The only way to produce puppies with bob tails is by one of the parents physically havings a natural bob tail yet that is not a predictor of how many in the litter will have bobtails. Jaylah came from a litter of 7 and only 3 had natural bobs (2 boys and Jaylah). Initially we pursued finding a natural bob tail but after a couple years had all but given up on the idea. Most Entles with short tails in the United States are docked mainly because it is still legal here. The majority of the world has banned the practice of tail docking (& ear cropping) which has made natural bob tails gain in desirability as a breeding option if available.

I came across the breeding announcement of an attractive European pairing. I could not believe my eyes... when I inquired and saw pictures of the litter, fate immediately drew me to a beautiful female known as Antea, with a natural bob tail!

Baby Antea z Rodevachu   (callname: Jaylah)

*There is some misinformation and a lot is still unknown about the bob tail gene. It has been studied very little in many breeds with only one peer reviewed paper available for Entlebucher Mountain Dogs. Breed specific research showed the bob tail gene as autosomal dominant and also suggested but did not conclusively prove, incomplete dominance inheritance. With renewed desirability and attention, hopefully more can be learned through scientific research and methodical study. Alll individual genes are part of a greater genetic package with gene sequences and traits interconnected or combined in a synergy. The goal is to preserve more genetic material.

We were sincerely interested but needed Antea to be of potential breeding quality and test PRA clear (Data was a carrier). Waiting the 6 weeks, when their club would allow the PRA test to be performed, was tough. We told ourselves not to fall in love with the photos, videos and updates the breeders sent. We tried not to get our hopes too high and remain realistic. Pat and I agreed that if she tested as a carrier, it was not meant to be. The magical day came when I awoke to a text, "I think you'll be happy, check your email for her clear results". That moment was surreal, it felt like a dream. Pat immediately said, "it's meant to be, let's get our baby".

The timing wasn't ideal for a new puppy but life has taught me: you can plan the plan, but don't try to plan the outcome. We were driving to Florida for the AKC Agility Invitationals in a few weeks. We planned for a puppy spring 2017, not December 2016. How ironic that we had researched, planned, and hoped for an import 2 years prior but kept running into obstacles. Welcoming Antea to our family fell into place almost effortlessly. I booked my flight ready for adventure~ Chicago to Prague with a short layover in Berlin and the reverse coming home. There was never a question that the only way we would import a puppy was if she could travel in cabin during the flight.

Luckily I already had a passport. This trip was very short notice and since the timing wasn't ideal, it had to be quick. I felt very comfortable in the Czech Republic and adored Prague. I would go back in a heartbeat to take in more of the sights, revel in the culture and taste more of the local flavors. The people were so wonderful everywhere I went. A FaceBook Entle and dog sport friend met me at the airport. We enjoyed a memorable day together that I will always cherish. What a special treat to be able to go almost everywhere doing everything with her Entles Bady and Berry. They even hung out with us while we ate at an indoor restaurant.

After our fun filled day, I rented a car and drove to the recommended hotel. We first met at the hotel. He took me to their home to meet their lovely family including our puppy's mom, sister and brother. We had the most engaging conversation and talked late into the night. Such wonderful hosts, they had delicious dessert for us to share while we talked and later filled out the puppy paperwork. They treated me with warmth and kindness welcoming us as part of their extended family. Now that we brought their little Antea into our life, we promised to stay in touch. They have a very fond place in my heart and we are forever grateful that they allowed us to give Antea a loving home in the U.S. and help her reach her potential for being healthy, happy, and living her best Entle life! We had an easy, fun flight home. I wasn't sure what to expect on a 9 hour flight with a baby puppy. She took it all in stride and enjoyed the adventure of meeting new people and hanging out with me in her Sherpa bag. When we arrived back in the States, we were welcomed by the first big snowstorm of our Midwest winter. I would ordinarily hate it but everything is special through the eyes of a puppy! Watching her experience snow for the first time was magical and hilarious.

Our dogs are named after Star Trek characters. The movie Star Trek: Beyond came out in 2016. The mysterious, new alien Jaylah was undeniably a break out character! Jaylah provided a strong female lead with authenticity, great comedic presence, and a larger than life personality. Antea's breeder also proudly let us know that Antea meant "warrior princess" and by all indications she was true to that; the boldest puppy in the litter, first to climb out of the box and always ready to tackle new things, her siblings or anyone that wanted to play. Jaylah was the perfect name for little Antea. We had hoped her registered name could be Antea-Jaylah (+ Kennel) but a miscommunication and misunderstanding of the AKC Foreign Registration procedure prevented that. It really is not a problem for us, we know how coincidences and the signs all tie together, including that the in-flight movie playing during my trip abroad was... Star Trek: Beyond.

Jaylah is bold, spirited, and mentally tough~ nothing seems to faze her. She is athletic, drivey, intense, busy and ever riding the edge of reckless (so simiar to our 1st Entle, it's spooky). Jaylah is the most outgoing, friendly Entlebucher with an adorable submissive smile. She has no desire to follow the standard to be aloof, actually she thought it read a goof and certainly Jaylah can be a silly, carefree, clown.

Registered Name:

CH Antea z Rodevachu CGC BN CD FDC MX MXB MXJ MJP MXF SWD SWM SHDA TKI ATT

Jaylah's Knicknames:

J, JJ, Monkey, Devil Chewer, Peanut, Checkers

Jaylah's Star Trek namesake

Jaylah's Breeders- Rodevachu Kennel

Rodevachu- Mgr. Martina Smetanova & Josef Smetana
CH Amor Von Semberweiden- Jaylah’s Sire

Jaylah- You Tube Video Links

AKC Agility: 1st Open Jumpers Q
AKC Scent Work:

Jaylah made her Czech mark known in our lives right away. Being active, smart, and busy she was a challenge to keep stimulated and entertained enough so that she did not invent her own trouble. We tried to do some type of purposeful outing almost every day her first year of life. She played with interactive puzzles, learned games, life skills, and had many opportunities to enjoy safe puppy exercise like walks in the woods or play dates with similar age puppies and suitable adult dogs.

With little regard for her own body or safety, we also incorporated proprioception activities and conditioning work with FitPaws equipment as well as teaching tricks for fun and body awareness! Jaylah embraced it all and wanted more! We also dedicated much on-going time teaching her: "settle", relax, and impulse control. No dog should live in a state of high energy and high drive. We believe they need to learn how to "turn it off" too. We are not sure if we were helping to create, or just allowing the right conditions to encourage a monster, but no doubt JJ is a party girl!

• Jaylah earned her first conformation point in her debut show May 20, 2017 at OKC in Oshkosh, WI
• Jaylah earned her Canine Good Citizen Certificate(CGC) June 18, 2017 at just under 9 months old
• Jaylah earned her AKC Novice and Intermediate Trick Dog titles (TKN & TKI) June 24, 2017 at just under 9 months old
• Jaylah finished her AKC Conformation Championship title (CH) October 21, 2017 in Springfield, IL
   -- She earned her CH in just 5 shows (9 total days of showing), under 4 different judges at 13 months old!
• Jaylah earned her AKC Novice Jumpers With Weaves Agility title (NAJ) March 10, 2018 at Camp Bandy at only 17 month old in her 3rd trial
• Jaylah earned her AKC Beginner Novice Obedience title (BN) March 16, 2018 in Louisville, KY placing 3rd out of a competitive field of 18
• Jaylah earned her first AKC Novice Scent Work titles July 29, 2018: Containers (SCN), Interiors (SIN) & Exteriors (SEN)
• Jaylah earned her AKC Agility Excellent titles (AX & AXJ) in 2018 in our first trials back after my 2nd knee surgery!
• Jaylah earned the first entlebucher AKC Temperament Tested title (ATT) scoring the highest marks on January 25, 2020
• Jaylah earned her Obedience Companion Dog (CD) title January 15, 2022
• Jaylah earned her Master Agility Excellent (MX) & Master Excellent Jumper (MXJ) titles July 2, 2022
• Jaylah earned the highest level AKC Scent Work title: Scent Work Detective (SWD) July 31, 2022
• Jaylah earned her Scent Work Master Buried (SBM) and overall Scent Work Master (SWM) September 21, 2024

Here is Jaylah as a puppy working on tricks.
Tricks are a fun way to develop teamwork, communication, problem solving and even proprioception and conditioning!

Jaylah’s Stats

DOB: 09/26/16
Height: 16.5"; Weight: 38 lbs.
AKC#: DN49058401
OFA PRA EB-PRA26/OF-PI Clear
OFA Hips EB-347G24F-VPI
OFA Elbows EB-EL119F24-VPI
OFA Patellas EB-PA26/13F/P-VPI
OFA Heart EB-ACA10/24F-VPI
OFA Eyes ECR EB-EYE105/60F-VPI-GONIO
CHIC#: 134910

Jaylah remains healthy and has been spayed.