Physical Characteristics

Breed Group:

Pastoral goup.

Weight:

Approximately 6-13 pounds (3-6 kg).

Height:

Approximately 10-12 inches (25-31 cm) at the withers.

Color(s):

The most common colouring is black and tan, although liver and tan is also common.

Coat:

The Lancashire Heeler has a smooth coat of harsh fur as well as a protective undercoat.

Overview

Character:

Lancashire Heelers are friendly and energetic animals. With their great personalities, these dogs make excellent companions for adults and families with older children.

Country of Origin:

England.

History:

The Lancashire Heelers that exist today are actually a recreation of the original breed which lived a long time ago and was primarily used for herding and driving livestock. When the use of cattle dogs dwindled, so did the population of Lancashire Heelers, almost to the point of extinction. These days, Lancashire Heelers still have outstanding herding abilities; however, these dogs are now mostly kept as companions rather than working dogs.

Name:

Additional names for this breed include Ormskirk Heeler and Ormskirk Terrier.

Temperament:

Lancashire Heelers tend to be wary of strangers, but are very pleasant companions to familiar people. With incredible strength and amazing instincts, these dogs are also excellent for tasks such as ratting and herding. While Lancashire Heelers have a tendency to nip at heels, they can be trained not to do this.

Care

Training:

Although Lancashire Heelers can be difficult to train, they are still trainable. Due to their strong herding instincts, it’s important to train these dogs at a young age not to nip at people’s heels.

Activity:

These alert and energetic dogs are very active and require plenty of regular exercise.

Ownership:

Lancashire Heelers are suitable for apartment living as long as they are kept busy and receive sufficient exercise every day. While friendly, these dogs tend to do better with older, respectful children rather than younger children. With that in mind, with the right family, Lancashire Heelers are excellent companions. This breed requires persistent and patient obedience training and has an average life expectancy of 12 to 13 years.

Breeders

No breeders listed at this time.

List of dog breeds