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Lakeland Terrier Mobile

Lakeland Terrier

A smart, workmanlike dog, the Lakeland Terrier is a compact dog with a thick, harsh coat.

The need-to-know
  • Dog suitable for owners with some experience
  • Some training required
  • Enjoys active walks
  • Enjoys walking an hour a day
  • Small dog
  • Minimum drool
  • Requires grooming every other day
  • Hypoallergenic breed
  • Chatty and vocal dog
  • Guard dog. Barks and alerts
  • May require training to live with other pets
  • May require training to live with kids

Key Facts

Lifespan: 12 – 16 years
Weight: 7 – 8kg
Height: 34 – 48cm
Colours: Black and tan, blue and tan, red, wheaten, red grizzle, liver, blue or black
Size: Medium
Kennel Club Group: Terrier

Ratings

Family-friendly: 4/5
Exercise needs: 4/5
Easy to train: 2/5
Tolerates being alone: 2/5
Like other pets: 3/5
Energy level: 5/5
Grooming needs: 3/5
Shedding: 2/5

Personality

Because of their working roots, the Lakeland Terrier is fearless and fast when they need to be – but in the home, as a pet, they are friendly, loving and affectionate dogs, who are fun and mischievous and love being involved with everything and everyone. Some Lakeland Terriers can be feisty with other dogs and so early and ongoing socialisation is essential.

History and Origins

Country of Origin: England

As the name suggests, this terrier breed comes from the Lake District, where they were bred by farmers to work with hounds and go to ground after foxes to protect their lambs.

Various breeds have contributed to their make-up, including the old Black and Tan Terrier, the Bedlington Terrier, the Welsh Terrier and the Border Terrier - the idea being to breed a long-legged terrier that could keep up with hounds but still be small and agile enough to be able to crawl into holes and rocky crevices.

Did You Know?

  • A Lakeland Terrier called Stingray of Derryabah won Best in Show at Crufts in 1967 and then the next year went on to win Best in Show at America’s Westminster Dog Show. This is the only dog ever to win the ‘double crown’ of the dog world.
  • The first president of the Lakeland Terrier Association had a Lakeland Terrier that pursued an otter into a 23-foot burrow and it took three days to rescue the dog!
  • They’re thought to be a threatened native breed and are becoming increasingly rare.
  • One of the top-winning show dogs of all time was a Lakeland Terrier owned by Jean L. Health and Bill Cosby.
  • Before being called the Lakeland Terrier, this breed was known as the Patterdale, Fell and Elterwater Terrier.
Dog with red collar looking out the window
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