LAKELAND TERRIER
APPEARANCE
The Lakeland Terrier is a small but sturdy dog, with a distinctive beard and a wiry, hard coat. The Lakeland comes in 10 colors which are black and tan, blue and tan, liver and tan, tan grizzle, red, red grizzle, wheaton, liver, blue, or black. They have an upright tail. he eyes are small and dark colored. The nose and pads of the feet are black except in liver colored dogs where the nose and pad coloring will be liver colored. The weight of the Lakeland Terrier is around 14-20 pounds, and his height is around 13-15 inches.
PERSONALITY
The dogs are friendly, bold, and confident. It is highly active and playful, a great companion even with children. Unlike other Terriers, this canine enjoys the company of other pets. It can be reserved to strangers, but generally, it is a friendly dog. These are also not the right choice for those that want a quiet life, as they demand plenty of activity, plenty of attention, and they can bark a lot.
TRAINING
The Lakeland Terrier will need a very firm hand when it comes to their training because they are very stubborn dogs. Although incredibly clever, consistent training methods as well as short lessons will be the best way to teaching this dog basic obedience. This dog is intelligent and will learn quickly, but training should be firm and challenging. It may bark, and likes to dig.
EXERCISE
The Lakeland Terrier will appreciate and benefit from an occasional run, without leash, on an open area. The Lakeland Terrier does exceptionally well in agility, and loves jogging or brisk runs.
SOCIALIZATION
Although small, this bold terrier will stand up to any dog that wants to try his luck, and may also have a tendency to chase cats unless socialized early on. He should not be trusted with small creatures that run, as they could end up as lunch for your Lakeland Terrier. When it comes to strangers the Lakeland Terrier will usually be quite polite. He is generally good around gentle and considerate children.
LIVING CONDITIONS
Being a high-spirited and energetic dog, the Lakeland Terrier will be satisfied in apartment living, even without a yard. These dogs tend to play inside so will not need excessive amounts of exercise at the end of the day.
GROOMING
Two or three times each year, loose hair should be removed by gently tugging on the coat, and hair in the ears between the pads of the feet should be trimmed. Though it does not usually have hereditary problems, pay attention to its teeth and look out for ear mites. You will need to ensure that his beard is brushed and cleaned on a daily basis for hygiene reasons, and you should also keep the hair around his bottom trimmed. Allergy sufferers may fare well with this breed, as the Lakeland Terrier is a low shedder if groomed properly.
HEALTH ISSUES
The Lakeland Terrier is prone to a couple of eye ailments such as cataracts and lens luxation. Legg perthes syndrome may also be genetically inherited.
HISTORY
Originating from England, the Lakeland Terrier is related to a variety of other terriers, including the Dandie Dinmont and the Bedlington. This hunting and digging dog was used to hunt vermin. The breed was registered with the AKC in 1934.
