The Lancashire heeler is a strong dog despite his small size. This little breed is capable of herding and directing large groups of cattle. The origin of the heeler breed is unknown but may result from Welsh corgi and Manchester terrier crosses.
Lancashire Heeler Breed Overview
The Lancashire heeler breed originated in England. This heeler's general purpose is a farm dog, capable of both chasing vermin and herding cattle. This breed is known as cheerful and bright.
Small and Mighty
Despite his size, this is a strong dog capable of directing much larger cattle groups than some herding breeds.
Origin and History
The exact details of the origin of the breed are unknown. The heeler was a Welsh corgi-type dog used to drive cattle and livestock back to England's northwest from Wales. The Manchester terrier was later introduced, and the result is the Lancashire heeler.
Temperament
This breed is intelligent, rugged, and skillful. The Lancashire heeler is less inclined to be nippy like other heeler breeds. With this in mind, this dog is perfect for families if trained well.
Appearance
This breed is small, powerful, and sturdy. The coat is black or liver with tan markings on his muzzle, spots on the cheeks, and often above the eyes.
- Coat color: The coat color is always liver or black with tan markings.
- Height: The dog's size is between 10 and 12 inches tall.
- Weight: This breed's weight is between nine and 15 pounds.
Low-Maintenance Grooming
The Lancashire heeler's fine undercoat is covered by a weather-resistant, short, thick, hard, flat topcoat. The topcoat is slightly longer on his neck. A quick weekly brushing is adequate for this breed.
Health Issues
This breed is generally healthy, and there are only a few medical conditions pet parents may need to discuss with the vet.
- Primary lens luxation
- Persistent pupillary membranes
- Collie eye anomaly
Exercise
This small breed is active! This dog was used to drive cattle, so he needs a lot of exercise and time outdoors. Pet parents may consider dog sports, including agility, lure coursing, scent work, and field sports. This breed's herding instincts are evaluated at noncompetitive herding tests. The Lancashire heeler exhibiting basic herding instincts may compete in herding trials!
Best Small Breed Diet
Pet parents need to look for high-quality ingredients for an active small breed. Many diets are specially formulated for smaller breeds, including working and herding dogs.
Caring for Your Senior Lancashire Heeler
The lifespan of the heeler is 15 years. This dog may live a long, healthy life if he visits the vet twice a year for wellness exams. With that in mind, small active senior breeds may need an exam to check out his joints. An aging dog benefits from joint supplements or pain medication and a vet may assess which are essential, so this little guy lives pain-free.
The Herding and Working Groups
The U.S. Lancashire Heeler Club is an excellent resource for pet parents. Animal lovers interested in a puppy may reach out to a reputable breeder with any questions. The Lancashire heeler is the smallest of all the working and herding breeds, making him popular with anyone living on a small hobby farm.
The Lancashire Heeler Is a Cheerful Little Dog
This dog breed is one of the smallest working and herding breeds. Pet parents with an active lifestyle are a perfect fit for this little heeler. This dog is a generally healthy breed, and grooming is relatively low-maintenance! The Lancashire heeler is a lovely family pet and capable of herding cattle.
