History of the NEMDA club and NEMDA Registry

Newsletter article 8/02 written by Rebecca Hahn, DVM, NEMDA's Registrar

As we have many new members, I thought it may be a good idea to outline a quick history of the NEMDA club and NEMDA Registry. I am sure sometimes the newer members may feel out of the loop - as many of us have been working on this club rather "closely" for quite a while. I personally do not want this in any way to intimidate new members . Please join in the club and be active! We "old- timers" may bark but we donít bite!

The first documented importer of Entlebucher Sennenhunds into North America was Andrew Luescher,DVM who was then living in Canada. In 1986, he contacted the Canadian Kennel Club about including the Entlebucher into their Registry. Having no luck at that time, Dr. Luescher began the ECDR /EBE Entlebucher Registry. There were several Registrars for the ECDR/EBE, the last of which was Jane Torma - a founding member of NEMDA, the first NEMDA President and currently active in the PRA committee. In 1989, an Entlebucher club was formed (Ms. Torma was on the Board). IN 1995, this club disbanded and the ECDR Registry folded. After that there was no Entlebucher club until the NEMDA club was formed.

In 1989, Leslie Elliot of Tucker kennels accomplished the task of getting the Canadian Kennel Club to recognize the Entlebucher as a full breed. Unfortunately by that time several generations with offspring from previous imported dogs were documented in the ECDR Registry but never brought into the Canadian Kennel Club Registry. This then resulted in a large population of Entlebuchers in North America without truly well documented pedigrees. Breeders resorted to using the United Kennel Club or the All American Rare Breed Association for pedigrees. Recently some breeders have been using the Foundation Stock Service. Please be aware that none of these are true Registries. They do not require the strict rules of identification and due diligence that is required by any Registry that has FCI (international) recognition.

Realizing the dire need for a respected and documented registry, in 1997, I (Rebecca Hahn, DVM) made many phone calls followed up with a letter sent to all the serious Entlebucher enthusiasts I knew. By 1998, NEMDA was born - an official club with a Board, By-laws, Breeder code of Ethics, Rescue committee, PRA committee, Newsletter, ETC....... In the late summer of 1999, I began work on the NEMDA Registry using the strict identification and documentation guidelines as used by the Canadian Kennel Club and various other FCI affiliate Registries. The groundwork was no easy task - as many people were not even involved in Entlebuchers anymore - yet the cooperation was wonderful. Currently, the Registry has over 550 Entles in the data base with about 150 registered with the Registry. The health information is shared with the genetics committee and the breeding information is shared with the Breeding Committee.

In the fall of 2000, several NEMDA Board members including myself, presented the NEMDA Club documents and the Registry to the Canadian Kennel Club. We passed with flying colors. The CKC has recognized NEMDA as the United States based Entlebucher club and Registry This is a major milestone for the Entlebuchers in North America!! There is no reason any Entlebucher in North America cannot have a well-documented pedigree generated by NEMDA. I have worked with many owners to get the proper information needed for pedigree documentation - sometimes these cases are easier than others, but I am committed to getting all the Entlebuchers possible documented in the NEMDA Registry. There is no excuse for any breeder to be using the UKC, or AARBA or the FSS as a pedigree source. The prices for the NEMDA Registry are cheap, my time is all volunteer (and therefore sometimes a bit slow) and 60% of all profits are earmarked for research, which directly benefits the Entlebucher dog. All NEMDA pedigrees are recognized by the Canadian Kennel club and they will provide Registration within their club based upon NEMDA papers!

If anyone has any questions about the NEMDA Registry, needs NEMDA Registry applications or CKC Registry applications - feel free to contact me. Rebecca Hahn, DVM.

As always, I cannot give enough congratulations to the people who have worked so hard to make NEMDA such a strong and respected club. As a Veterinarian I work with many breeders of many breeds so I know how frustrating the dog breeding business can be. I think our club has set high standards and this is such an essential element to preserve as the breed becomes more popular and widespread. The foundation we set now will mold the future. Thank-you to all. RH

If you have questions or comments, please contact Katlin@entlebuchers.net