Lancashire Heeler

The Lancashire Heeler, also known as the "Ormskirk Heeler,"� was originally developed in the Lancashire region of England as a cattle drover. It is the smallest of the "pastoral"� breed group ("herding"� in the United States) registered by the United Kingdom Kennel Club. This breed is a "heeler"� in style of herding as opposed to a "header"�. The Lancashire Heeler nips at the heels of livestock, harassing it from behind to move in a specific direction. This breed like the Welsh Corgi has a particularly useful trait in that its low build allows it to quickly lie flat in the event of a kick from cattle causing the kick to go over the dog's head and allow it to remain uninjured. Although the Lancashire is not a common breed, it is still widely used in its region of origin as a working livestock dog, as a useful ratter in the barn, and it enjoys a small but loyal following of those who appreciate it as a family pet. The Lancashire stands an average 10 to 12 inches tall at the withers, the male being bigger. It is compact, muscular, and robust. It has short, sturdy, thick-boned legs. Its head is in proportion to the body and the muzzle tapers to a long nose. It carries its triangular ears erect. Its well-furred tail is carried high and curved, but never curled. The ribs of the Lancashire Heeler are well-spring, its elbows rest under the rib cage. The back is slightly longer than the height, giving the dog an overall long and low appearance. The coat is double and composed of a thick, coarse top coat to deflect weather, with a dense undercoat to insulate from cold and damp. It has a slight ruff in the cold season. The color is most often black and tan, with liver and tan being less common. The eyes are almond-shaped and dark when the coat is black, and amber when the coat is liver. There is little documentation of the Lancashire Heeler's history, however popular belief in the regions where it worked and lived for several centuries agrees on most points. Apparently it was the response to the needs of Welsh drovers who took their cattle to market seasonally in the north to Lancashire. They eventually developed the ideal versatile working dog: a drover style herder, low and safe to the ground, tough and fearless enough to work cattle, with guarding instincts, reliable ratting ability, and enough hunting savvy to hunt a rabbit. Many historians have speculated that the Welsh Corgi and the Manchester Terrier played a part in the Lancashire's development, and it is likely that other breeds did as well. It seems very reasonable to assume that the Corgi shares ancestry with the Lancashire, as they have similar herding style and physical type. The Lancashire Heeler Club was formed in 1978 to promote the breed and preserve its heritage and quality. Although the breed was little known, its fanciers were determined, and in 1981 it was officially recognized by the UK Kennel Club and listed as part of the Working Group. As a "vulnerable"� breed, it was also placed on the Rare Breeds Register. As the breed started to appear in national dog shows, public awareness rose and it gained some popularity as a household pet. In 1999 the Lancashire Heeler was moved to the Pastoral Group when the group was established for the first time, with the Lancashire the smallest member. That year, it also won some challenge certificates for the first time, further catching the attention of the public. The American Kennel Club added the Lancashire Heeler to the Foundation Stock Service in 2001, and very recently the American Lancashire Heeler Club was formed. The breed is now recognized in several independent European registries. The Lancashire Heeler is active, alert, and intelligent. It needs regular physical exercise in the form of a daily walk, run, or vigorous play session, as well as regular mental stimulation, in order to remain fit. With adequate exercise it can do well in an apartment. This dog, as with many herders, has a territorial instinct and will bark at anything suspicious in its environment. The terrier in this breed will only emphasize this tendency. Early training, teaching the dog to stop on command after a few initial barks, will prevent this turning into a bad habit of obsessive barking. The Lancashire Heeler is a moderate shedder. A few times a year seasonally, it may shed more heavily. Regular brushing with a good hard brush will keep the coat in good condition, clear away any dead hair, dirt and debris, and also serve to keep skin healthy. Baths may be given as needed. This breed is very healthy and genetic disease is rare. The Lancashire lives to be 12 to 14 years old on the average. There is some incidence of eye disorders such as Collie Eye Anomaly. As in many small breeds, there is occasional patellar luxation. Owners should take great care not to allow this breed to become overweight, as doing so will encourage undue stress on the spine; this can lead to potentially serious and expensive back problems for the dog. The Lancashire Heeler makes an excellent family companion. It does well in an active household. It is generally friendly with cats and other canine members of the household. Because of the breed's ratting talents, caution should be used with small pets such as ferrets, until the dog understands them as part of the pack. This breed is typically good with children, but may tend to chase and nip at heels when there is rough play. Children should be warned and taught to behave calmly around the Lancashire, as running and shrill cries will tend to trigger the herding instinct. Owners of the Lancashire Heeler will enjoy involving the dog in herding trials, obedience work, and earth dog competitions.

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