If you like dogs with long bodies and short legs, you will fall in love with the Lancashire Heleer. This little dog descends from the famous Welsh Corgi and the not so well known, but charismatic and energetic, Manchester Terrier, two dogs traditionally used for different tasks and that have provided important physical and behavioral traits to the Lancashire Heeler.
If you are a dynamic and adventurous person, the lancashire heeler will not hesitate to accompany you on all your travels and shower you with affection and affection. Although he tends to be somewhat nervous and stubborn, he is an ideal dog for those who, with patience, dedicate their time to socializing him and educating him positively. If you want to know more about this indefatigable sheepdog, keep reading! Because in this article on our site we tell you everything you need to know if you want to adopt a Lancashire terrier or if you already live with one at home. Discover the characteristics of the lancashire terrier and fall in love with this incredible dog.
Origin of the lancashire heeler
The first records that refer to this breed date back to the 17th century and place it in the county of Lancashire (England). However, the exact time when the Lancashire Heeler originated and litters began to be bred independently is not entirely clear and it is suspected that this breed is even older than is believed. Apparently, this curious dog was born thanks to the cross between a Welsh Corgi, from which he inherited his body morphology, and a Manchester Terrier, which provided, among other things, the characteristic black and tan color of the Lancashire heeler's coat.
In England, its country of origin, the Lancashire Heeler first gained fame as a herding dog and was primarily used to control cattle in the fieldand to guide you from farms to city markets. But this was not the only function of the dog, as this dog was also highly appreciated for its hunting instinct and its ability to catch rats and mice that they sneaked into the houses and ate the crops.
Lancashire heeler breeding has been almost all this time limited to a very specific area of England, which is why it has been on the verge of extinction on more than one occasion. However, and although it is still considered vulnerable, in 1981 the breed was officially recognized and began its expansion, especially towards the United States, the Nordic countries and Central Europe.
Lancashire Heeler Characteristics
The first thing that catches the attention of the lancashire heeler is, without a doubt, the shape of its body, as this dog is on average 2.5 centimeters taller than longer than tall, presenting a morphology very similar to that of the Welsh corgi. The height at the withers is about 30 cm, while the weight ranges from 6-8 kg. Despite the fact that its body and its small size make it seem slow and somewhat clumsy, the truth is that the Lancashire Heeler is a powerful, agile dog with a lot of energy. Its limbs are short and muscular and its tail is of medium length and curves slightly upwards, especially when the dog is alert.
Continuing with the characteristics of the lancashire heeler, the ears of this dog are triangular and are kept erectas, in an attentive attitude. On the other hand, their eyes are almond-shaped and are usually dark brown, except in the case of liver-colored specimens, which have lighter eyes. Its snout is of medium length and tapers until it reaches the nose, which can be black or brown.
Lancashire heeler colors
When it comes to its coat, the Lancashire heeler's coat is short, harsh and thick and has a dense undercoat of undercoat much softer and finer than the outer layer hair. The most common color is black and tan , although there are also specimens in color liver and tanIt is possible that some individuals are born with a white spot, especially on the chest, although it is not the most frequent.
Lancashire heeler character
The lanchasire heeler is an extraordinarily animal faithful, affectionate and affectionate with his human family, with whom he establishes a bond very strong. He has a lot of energy and enjoys playing, walking or doing sports outdoors, so it is important that his guardian is a dynamic person who has enough time to cover the social, physical and psychological needs of the dog. Likewise, it is recommended that whoever adopts a Lancashire Heeler has some previous experience in canine education and training, since this breed can become very stubborn and needs good socialization in order not to develop behavioral problems, especially towards other dogs.
This dog also stands out for being a great watchdog of the home, as it is always alert to what is happening around it. However, he tends to be friendly and sociable with everyone. Its intelligence and ability to learn and adapt to the environment is very remarkable and it shows instinctive behaviors of both a sheepdog and a hunting dog, inherited from its predecessors, the Welsh Corgi and the Manchester Terrier. In fact, the name "heeler" refers to its tendency to nibble the ankles ("heels" in English) of other individuals, which is precisely what sheepdogs do to guide flocks through the field.
Lancashire heeler care
The Lancashire Heeler does not require particularly expensive or unusual care, making it an easy dog to maintain. With regard to his coat, it is necessary to brush him with some frequency to remove all excess dead hair and allow good perspiration of the skin, especially in summer and in moulting season. Using a quality brush and combing the dog once or twice a week will be enough to keep its coat he althy. If there are no dermatological problems, it will suffice to bathe him once every month or every two months.
Also, it is recommended to check your ears and clean them at least once a month or whenever excess earwax builds up or dirt, to avoid otitis and other ear problems. Of course, and as with any other breed, it is important to get the Lancashire Heeler used to tooth brushing and to do it at least once a week, as this prevents the formation of tartar and plaque.
Finally, make sure that this breed gets sufficient physical exercise to avoid becoming overweight. The ideal is to take the dog for a walk about three times a day and do so in enriching environments (parks, countryside, etc.), occasionally offering it the opportunity to interact with other dogs or explore freely. In the case of individuals who frequently walk on rough terrain or who, for example, are at risk of getting burned by asph alt, it is essential to protect and keep their pads hydrated, as well as trim their nails if they grow excessively.
Lancashire heeler education
Traditionally used as a herding dog, this breed is highly intelligent and has a great decision-making capacity, which means that it learns quicklywhat you have to do at all times and acts autonomously to achieve your goals, becoming an independent animal. Now, this does not mean that he does not develop an attachment to his guardian, quite the contrary, because the Lancashire heeler loves to be in the company of his human family.
Anyone who adopts a dog of this breed should know that patience and positive reinforcement are essentialin his education. The Lancashire heeler will be delighted to learn new skills and train with his tutor as long as the sessions are short, dynamic and fun for the furry. Punishments and harmful tools (spiked collars, choke collars, electric collars, etc.) are absolutely contraindicated and can cause serious emotional and behavioral problems in the dog.
During the puppy stage, the dog should be socialized so that as an adult it does not present problems of fear or insecurity in front of other animals, people, noises or objects. An ethologist or canine educator can advise you during this socialization process. Likewise, it is important to teach the animal to respond to the call, since the Lancashire heeler tends to run after anything that catches his eye and can reach to get lost or have an accident if you run away.
In general, this is a somewhat stubborn breed, so it is important to take into account the advice mentioned and some experience. A first-time caregiver may feel frustrated that he is not meeting her goals. For this reason, in these cases, we recommend going to a professional canine educator. Also, don't miss this other post on How to train a puppy.
He alth of the lancashire heeler
This breed is very robust, easily endures long working days in the fields and has a coat adapted to withstand low temperatures. However, it is vulnerable to some conditions, many of them congenital and/or hereditary, especially those that affect sight. Some examples of common eye pathologies in the Lancashire Heeler are:
- Collie eye anomaly: as its name indicates, the breed most commonly affected by this pathology are border collies, however, it is also common to find it in the Lancashire terrier. The anomaly is congenital and hereditary and consists of a thinning of the vascular tissue present in the back of the eye. Sometimes, the disease does not progress and the animal does not suffer any complications, although it may also be the case that the dog's sight is partially or totally affected, developing blindness in the worst case.
- Primary lens dislocation: In this case, the dog's lens moves either forwards or backwards, causing swelling, irritation and pain in the eye. The most effective way to solve a lens dislocation or subluxation is intraocular surgery, especially in the case of forward displacement dislocations.
- Persistent pupillary membrane: this pathology, normally congenital, occurs as a result of a malformation during ocular development that can cause vision problems. vision or promote the appearance of cataracts. It is usually diagnosed when the dog is just a few weeks old and, depending on its severity, can be treated or operated on.
On the other hand, patella dislocation or elbow dysplasiaare also relatively common conditions in this breed, especially in older individuals.
If the animal is correctly vaccinated, it is provided with quality food adapted to its needs, the presence of external and internal parasites is effectively prevented and veterinary check-ups are carried out with some frequency, The Lancashire Terrier is a long-lived dog that can live up to 14 or 15 years.
Where to adopt a lancashire heeler?
The Lancashire Heeler is a vulnerable breed and, although it is relatively common to find it in some countries such as the United Kingdom or the United States, it is not well known in the rest of the world, and it is very rare to see dogs of this breed in Spain. However, in practically all the cities and municipalities of our country there are shelters, protectors or kennels where it is very common to find small dogs, many of them with characteristics similar to those of the lancashire heeler, both physical and behavioral. Mixed-breed dogs or those used for work in the fields are, unfortunately, abandoned every day and need a home and a family. For this reason, from our site we encourage you to contact animal shelters and associations when looking for a dog to share your life with.
