Lakeland terrier are small , highly levelheaded hot dog with big personalities and a typical visual aspect . Learn more about living with this bearded English breed .
Hailing from England ’s Lake District , Lakeland terrier have made their way across the pool ( and around the world ) to become loveable , full of life family pets . These small - but - mighty dog — often called by their nickname , " Lakies"—wereoriginally multiply to huntfoxes on sheep farms in northwest England near the Scottish margin . But today , they make stellar companion animals .
Lakeland terrier are little , nimble , hardy , and confident , which are just some of the many reasons why this breed is so beloved among enthusiasts . They’restill relatively rarein the United States , but belike to catch on even more as citizenry discover this bold , affectionate breed with twinkle middle and bearded chins .
Eudyptula / Shutterstock
" They ’re loving toward their multitude , very playful , autonomous , very overbold , and adaptable to a variety of environment , " says Sarah Wooten , DVM , veterinary expert forPumpkin Pet Insurance .
Appearance
Petite in sizing , Lakeland terriers are smaller than many of their terrier cousin-german . This breed typically endure 14–15 inches tall and weighs around 17 pound ; as with many breed , females may be slightly smaller than males .
Lakeland terrier colouration and blueprint are various , include black , black and tan , dreary , downhearted and tan , grizzle and tan , liver , red , red grizzle , wheaten , brindle , grizzle , and liver and tan .
They have thick double coats that dwell of a hard , stringy outer coat and a softer priming . Most owner keep their Lakeland terrier ' coating trim shorter on their fountainhead , ears , bureau , shoulder , and behind the tail ; they forget the relief a bit longer . The Lakeland terrier ’s face is easily recognizable , too , thanks to his classifiable beard .
zelenka68 / Adobe Stock
These heel have small , V - shaped ears that fold ahead on top of their heads . Their eye colour can execute the gamut from dark hazel to warm brown to smuggled , and Lakies are often described as having a mischievous look in their eye . They have small , smutty nose tips .
Temperament
Loving , surefooted , and cheerful , Lakeland terriers make wonderful companion fauna . Though they ’re small in height , Lakeland terriers have vainglorious personalities that make them fun to be around .
They ’re highly affectionate toward their human families and relatively subject to meeting new citizenry . That said , Lakeland terriers are also always on alarm and prepared to tell their owners — loudly — whenever someone pulls into the private road or walks up to the front door .
Like others in the terrier breed group , Lakies ' gamy , playful personalities andhigh intelligence levelsmake them an idealistic primed formore experienced best-loved parent . These dogsmake cracking family pets , but they do best with owners who can set clean-cut boundaries , commit to regular training academic term , and offer lots of mental and physical stimulation .
" To put it gently , terriers are not for the faint of heart , " says Linda Simon , MVB , MRCVS , consulting veterinarian atFiveBarks .
Living Needs
Because they were in the beginning breed to hunt fox lurk near sheep farm in England , Lakeland terriershave a high prey driveand are not the best fit for families with other small mammals as pets . Although , they mayget along well with some true cat — especially those they ’ve been raised with since they were puppies . But these domestic dog may chamfer their feline family members , so pet parents should always supervise interactions between Lakies and CAT .
These pups get along comparatively well with other dogs , specially if your Lakeland terrier puppy has beensocialized from a unseasoned age . Lakies are relativelygood with children , too , but parents should always keep a watchful eye over kids and all dogs and learn them how to play nicely .
Though Lakeland terrier are highly affectionate toward their family members , they can be left alone for geological period of meter as long as they ’ve had a luck to exercise and burn off some steam first . In their idealistic globe , though , Lakeland terrier would be able to spend all of their time around their humans , so this stock is a great option for people who work from home or who have flexible schedules .
Lakeland terrier are very fresh and eager to please their human parents , which can make themrelatively easy to train . That articulate , their big brains also mean they can become bored well , so be sure to keep training sessions short and exhilarating .
Lakies canquickly learn new behaviorswith reward andpositive reinforcement , such ashigh - value treats , words of boost , petting , and toy . They love learn new things , too , so assist keep your Lakeland terrier engaged throughout his life-time by constantly introducingdifferent cues and tricksto your breeding sessions . Puppy kindergartenand grownup training socio-economic class are also a great way of life to offer your pup with stimulation and new challenges .
" These pawl are best for experienced frump owners that can indue in other socialization and training with a flight simulator who translate terriers , " say Wooten . " They are intellectual nourishment - propel but do n’t wish to do the same affair over and over . "
Falling somewhere between faineant couch potatoes and rambunctious Tasmanian devils , Lakeland terriers are relatively energetic and profit fromregular use and playtime . This can includelong walkswith flock of chance for sniffing , playing game , swim , tramp , run , and more . Lakies also enjoysolving food puzzlesand playing withinteractive toysthat challenge their astute intellect .
These cad also thrive in an array of dog natural process and sports , including trailing , earthdog , performance , and conformation . Some even train to becomecompassionate therapy dogs , according to theUnited States Lakeland Terrier Club ( USLTC ) .
" With daily employment , these frank can be mellow around the house , " Wooten order . " These dog savor farsighted walks , and adult dogs also enjoy even up with their health care provider . They wish it best when they have a probability to run daily . "
With plenty of regular workout , Lakeland terrier are adaptable dogs who can survive anywhere , from urban condo to sprawl farms . But keep their high prey drive in mind , and be sure any thousand or play area where the Lakeland terrier will be allow to tramp issecurely fenced . Always keep these hotdog on leash , too , as Lakeland terriers are fain to chase after after low neighborhood animal .
Care
Thanks to their hardy , weatherproof double coat ( norain gearneeded here ! ) , Lakeland terrier need some special charge and tending when it come to grooming . Like some other terrier breeds ( theNorwich terrier , for one ) , these dogs need a uniquegrooming method call off hand - strippingor helping hand - plucking . As the name paint a picture , this proficiency involves carefully draw out out honest-to-goodness hairs to set aside new ones to develop in .
With solitaire and raft of practice , Lakeland terrier owners can learn how to hand - strip their dog ’s pelage themselves . Or , to pull through meter and get-up-and-go , there are also groomers who specialize in hand - stripping . Though the Lakeland terrier breed standard song for hand - stripping , some Lakie parent opt to just trim or clip their dog ’s coat alternatively .
hebdomadary brushingcan help keep a Lakeland terrier ’s coating from developing matte and can help get rid of extra hair that falls out by nature ( when they throw away , their hairs tend to get stuck in their coating rather than descend away from their consistency ) . Lakeland terrier also gain fromregular bathsandnail trims — whetherwith a clipper or a grinder — to keep them looking , smelling , and feeling their best .
And because Lakies tommyrot andshed minimally , they ’re a in force alternative for people who care to keep a tops tidy planetary house .
Health
Withgreat nutrition , mess of exercise and input , andregular checkups at the vet , Lakeland terriers can subsist up to 12–15 year . This strain isexceedingly healthyand has very few , if any , breed - specific wellness conditions . In fact , fit in to the USLTC , no health fault touch on more than 1 percent of the Lakeland terrier universe and , as a result , the organization does not require its member breeders to screen out their blackguard for any wellness conditions .
Some Lakeland terrier stock breeder try out for common wellness condition that appear in other dogs — including those affectingthe eyes , the essence , andthe patella — but this is out of an abundance of care to keep the breed strong and good for you in the hereafter .
Lakeland terriers are healthiest when they consume appropriate sum of high - timbre dog food that ’s designed for their historic period level — puppy , adult , or senior . The swear out recommendations on the dog nutrient container are a honorable place to begin , but a knowledgeable vet can also offer advice onhow much to feed a Lakeland terrierbased on the individual dog ’s size of it , practice session levels , and other factors . Owners should think of to describe for goody in their dog ’s daily nutritionist’s calorie intake — like all small- andmedium - sized frump , Lakeland terrierscan become overweightif they eat on too much or do n’t get enough exercise .
To ensure that Lakeland terrier have white , healthy dentition , it ’s important for owners tobrush their pup ’s tooth regularly , rather every night before bed . A veterinary surgeon can also commend whether or not a Lakeland terrier needsprofessional teeth cleaningsand how often to schedule these designation .
Regular pinna cleaningscan alsohelp prevent infectionsand any shit or debris buildup in the canals .
History
Originally developed in the Lake District of northerly England in the 1800s , this breed helped British sodbuster keep their sheep safe from dodger , particularly during lamb season . These lick dog had an significant job to do , according to the USLTC : cover down fox in their dens .
Not only did this make them fantastically intelligent and resourceful , but Lakeland terrier also became courageous and brave . Their weatherproof coat and stamina for cover farseeing distances across tricky terrain made them cracking work partners to severely - working farmers and rancher .
The breed made their way across the pool and the American Kennel Club recognized Lakeland terriers in 1934 .
