Pet Health And Care >> Dog Breed >> Lakeland terrier

Lakeland Terrier Info:

The Lakeland Terrier is a breed of small terrier that developed in the Lake District area of England in the 19th century.

It is among the oldest working terriers, and has been used to exterminate vermin and to hunt various animals including otters, badgers, and foxes. Unlike many other breeds whose job it is to chase game, locate game, or simply retrieve it after the hunter has shot it, the Lakeland Terrier has been bred to both chase and kill game. It is thus extremely tenacious and fearless, especially for a small dog.

In spite of this however, it usually amiable and affectionate with humans and other dogs, especially if it has been socialized and trained properly.

Lakeland Terrier Personality:

The Lakeland Terrier is usually no more than 14 inches tall, and weighs between 6 and 8 kilograms. It has a squarish physique and a long, rectangular looking head with a large tuft of fur on top of the muzzle.

The dog has two coats – a soft undercoat and a coarse, wiry upper coat. Lakeland Terriers come in many colors, including black, red, wheat, and liver. They often also have a large patch of a different color on their backs, extending partially down their sides, known as a saddle. Lakeland Terrier puppies are almost always dark, and develop other colors only as they reach adulthood. In spite of being rather furry, these dogs do not shed much, and are therefore good for people who want to avoid this problem. Grooming is however required, and is done using certain simple techniques. Lakeland terrier grooming includes plucking of old hair by hand a couple of times a year. Trimming around the feet and ears is also usually recommended.

Lakeland terriers are affectionate, fun loving, energetic dogs, and make for great pets provided you are able to provide them with the required physical and mental stimulation. These dogs are very intelligent and can be easily trained to do a variety of tasks besides following simple obedience commands. Many owners report that toilet training is a bit slow, but it too eventually occurs. If you plan to get a Lakeland Terrier dog, you should also note that it will probably bark and dig a lot, and while it may be possible to minimize this behavior, it will probably never go away completely. It is also important to have proper socialization and establish firm pack structure, or else, like many other small dogs, the Lakeland Terrier can become aggressive, territorial, and destructive.

Submitted on November 19, 2009