Lakeland Terrier: breed description and breeding

The Lakeland Terrier breed is a small fluffy dog, famous for its courage and devotion. The dog quickly gets used to his master and remains faithful to him forever. This breed is perfect for single people, and for families with children. She can become a universal favorite. The main thing is to properly raise a pet.

It is about this furry favorite that will be discussed in the article.

Initially, the Lakeland Terrier was called the Putterdel Terrier and lived in the edge of the Lakeland lakes. However, outwardly the dog was very different from all other terriers and resembled a soft toy. Long legs and a narrow body helped the animal quickly and deftly move along rocky damp terrain. Such a dog was until the beginning of the twentieth century, however, little has changed in it.

With the onset of the twentieth century, the Putterdel Terrier was renamed the Lakeland Terrier. The dog, intended for hunting, instantly won the hearts of many people and to this day is considered popular.

The first fame came to the breed around 1912: it was then that the British Kennel Club recognized it as official. Lakeland appeared in America in 1936, but in Australia much later - in 1948.

The first Lakelands appeared on the territory of Russia about 20 years ago, now their breeding is considered a successful and rather profitable business.

Lakeland Terrier can be recognized by the following signs:

• dogs of this breed are not large in size;
• the muzzle of the animal has a slightly elongated rectangular shape;
• Lakeland's ears are V-shaped, set high and folded;
• the nose is black, and the eyes are both black and brown;
• the hair is curly, and, as a rule, slightly longer than the average size, the hair growing on the muzzle and legs is longer than on the body;
• the average dog size is 37 cm and the average weight is 7 kg.

As for the coat color, in dogs of this breed you can find such primary colors:

• the black;
• wheat;
• hepatic.

By nature, the dog can be described as a restless and cheerful pet, charging everyone with its positive energy.

As previously mentioned, the very first purpose of the breed in the past was hunting. Therefore, the hunting instincts of the dog are preserved to this day. It is important to ensure that the pet does not harm the surrounding animals and small pets.

Lakeland Terrier - Monogamous dog. This devoted dog is extremely difficult to endure separation from the owner and remains faithful to him forever. For the sake of man, the dog is ready for almost anything - be it hunting or protecting the owner.

If the choice was finally settled on a dog of the Lakeland Terrier breed, then before buying a puppy you should know the important rules. When choosing an animal, the first thing to do is pay attention to the following two factors:

1. dog health
2. character.

It is for these important factors that it is worth evaluating the quality of the acquired dog.

It is also very important to take a pet only in official nurseries or from trusted breeders, where they can show not only the puppy's mother, but also his father. The seller must consult the buyer about the rules for caring for the puppy, as well as provide the puppy with all the necessary information in terms of health and habits.

Due to the weak shedding of the dog, the care for it is not very difficult. However, thoroughly comb out all excess hair should be regularly (at least once every 2-3 months).

Other care procedures are as follows.

• It is recommended to carry out normal combing with a stiff brush no more than twice a week.
• As for the dog’s strong hunting teeth, a regular preventive examination will be enough to care for them. The situation with the eyes and ears of the Lakeland is somewhat more complicated - it is they that require special attention due to some diseases.
• Ear cleaning should be carried out regularly, since an ear mite can settle between them and the skull. Seasonal cleaning of various harmful insects is also mandatory.
• If we talk about worms, then their run should be carried out at least 10 days before the mandatory annual vaccination.
• In general, dogs of this breed are distinguished by fairly good health with rare, but possible pathologies, which are usually inherited. A common problem is cataract, which must be stopped as soon as possible.
• You can keep such a dog in the city and in the countryside. It is important that drafts do not get into the sleeping corner of the animal.

According to experts, most of the diet of the Lakeland Terrier should consist of a special dry food for premium dogs. These foods are designed specifically for active and energetic dogs to make up for all the energy lost during the day. However, when choosing feed it is best to consult with a specialist and take into account such important factors as the height and weight of the animal.

Also, one should not forget about meat - 300 grams in the daily diet of the pet will be more than enough. Vitamin supplements with all the necessary mineral elements will not be superfluous. In addition, the following are considered suitable foods:

• cottage cheese;
• sea ​​fish (boiled and boneless);
• boiled porridge on the water;
• eggs (2 pcs per week).

Vegetables can be added to meat: beets, cabbage, carrots, zucchini.

It is necessary to educate a dog gradually, without using physical force and aggression. Lakelands are quite smart and smart dogs, so it’s not so difficult to train them.

If there are small children in the house, then they need to be explained to them that it is strictly forbidden to take pet toys. Such actions can infuriate a dog.

When walking a pet, it is always necessary to keep it on a leash so that it does not harm others with its hunting instincts.

Before you purchase a dog of absolutely any breed, you must definitely consider all the advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of this breed include the following:

• positive and cheerful character of the dog, able to cheer up a person;
• this dog is distinguished by a special ability to capture the mood of surrounding people and their intentions, which is why such pets are the best suited for the role of a guard;
• due to rarely shedding hair and good health, the dog does not require complex and long-term care.

Particular attention should be paid to the disadvantages of the character of the dog, namely:

• from time to time the hunting past makes itself felt - that is when the Lakelands become uncontrollable and can harm small creatures;
• in the absence of attention at a young age or too aggressive behavior on the part of the owner, the dog can grow up very spoiled and pugnacious;
• wary and sometimes aggressive towards strangers.

About the features of the breed and grooming, see the next video.