Let's talk about the Lancashire Heeler, the small English herding dog. We'll explore its characteristics and habits, trace its history, and take a close look at the breed standard that defines it.
Origins and history of the breed
The Lancashire Heeler is an English herding dog, one of the very few breeds whose ancestry is beyond any doubt: it is unquestionably the result of a cross between a Welsh Corgi and a Manchester Terrier. Despite its small size, it is one of the most valued herding dogs; thanks to its tireless energy and impressive speed, it is an excellent guardian of flocks during seasonal migrations.
Its breed was officially recognised only in 1960. The Lancashire dog takes its name from a county in north-west England, where it was born more than a century ago and where it is still highly prized for its qualities today. In 1981, the English Kennel Club finally established its breed standard and listed it among the native English breeds at risk of extinction; indeed, in 2011 only 98 individuals were recorded across the whole of Great Britain.
Breed standard
The Lancashire Heeler is a very small herding dog, with a maximum height of 31 cm at the withers in an adult male, weighing around 6 kg. Despite being a small-sized dog, it appears sturdy and perfectly proportioned, with a very strong, flat back that flows harmoniously into the hindquarters. The tail is set high and carried forward. The legs are straight with very robust bone structure — short, yet extremely quick. A decidedly strong neck supports a head that closely resembles that of the Corgi, with a rather pointed muzzle, a well-defined stop, and a strictly black nose.
The eyes are always dark in colour, neither sunken nor protruding, with a gently almond-shaped appearance. The ears are set to the sides, always carried erect, wide at the base and narrower at the tip, with a triangular shape — very similar to those of the Welsh Corgi. The coat consists of short, very dense fur that is smooth and hard to the touch, lying close to the body except on the tail, where it forms small fringes. The permitted colours are liver, tan and black-and-tan; although as the dog ages, the tan markings tend to fade in intensity.
Health and nutrition of the Lancashire Heeler
The Lancashire is a dog that enjoys excellent health, which means it requires no more than routine check-ups; its coat can be brushed a couple of times a week. The Lancashire Heeler's diet must always be of excellent quality and very well balanced; when it comes to portion sizes, the English dog manages itself rather well.
Temperament of the Lancashire Heeler
If you picture the scene of a small dog chasing the postman and barking furiously, that's the Lancashire Heeler to a tee. It is not known for being sociable with strangers, but when it comes to its own family it has no equal; it grows indescribably attached to its owners, for whom it is more than willing to set aside its herding instincts and become a companion dog. However, the jealousy it feels towards the people it loves can sometimes lead it to show aggression; even so, it tends to use its voice rather than its teeth to frighten what it considers an enemy, limiting itself to barking furiously.
The Lancashire is happy to play with children, but it is a good idea to have an adult present to ensure it doesn't lose patience — another quality it is certainly not renowned for! It lives very comfortably indoors, but it does need access to an outdoor space where it can do what it does best: flushing out small prey. Daily walks with its owner are essential; indeed, they are the only way to channel its inexhaustible energy, which would otherwise be directed indoors with results that could be rather alarming.
As we have mentioned, its vitality is boundless — yet thanks to its remarkable ability to adapt, the Lancashire Heeler can become an excellent companion dog even for elderly people, effortlessly transforming into a laid-back companion that spends its days dozing contentedly by its owner's side.
Breeding
The Lancashire Heeler puppy is truly beautiful and incredibly small, which makes the energy it displays from its very first days of life all the more surprising. One distinctive feature of this English breed is how important it is to begin its training from a very young age, so that it learns the rules of good behaviour, manners and respect for its owner, as well as how to follow commands without too much protest.
The Lancashire picks up almost everything very quickly, but it is essential that the right guidance is given from an early age. If you follow this advice, you will find that once it reaches adulthood it will give you no trouble whatsoever. In Italy, Lancashire Heeler breeders are not very well known; it is therefore advisable to purchase puppies from their native land, even with the help of websites, while carefully avoiding private sales.
