Lancashire Heeler

The Lancashire Heeler (also known as the Ormskirk Terrier) is a small, affectionate dog, hailing from the northern England county after which it’s named. The exact history is unknown, but the Lancashire Heeler probably originated at some point in the 17th century, perhaps as the result of a cross between the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Manchester Terrier. This breed was an all-purpose farm dog, used for both livestock herding and ratting. It is characterized by a long but sturdy body, short legs, big triangle-shaped ears, and a short double coat, slightly longer around the neck. Black and tan are the most common colors, but liver and tan are accepted as well.

This breed is considered to be vulnerable in the United Kingdom. There are only around 5,000 Lancashire Heelers left around the world, putting them at high risk of inherited diseases.

3 Pros and Cons of Owning a Lancashire Heeler

Size and Weight

The Lancashire Heeler is a small dog, its legs deliberately shortened, perhaps as a result of some Corgi heritage.

Common Health Issues

The Lancashire Heeler has an excellent lifespan of around 12 to 15 years, but it does tend to suffer from several health issues and eye disorders, exacerbated by its shrinking genetic pool. Some of the most common problems include cataracts, disc diseases, and cancer.

There are also several rare diseases that you should look out for. Persistent pupillary membrane, which occurs in fetal development, is the result of a blood-rich membrane persisting near the front of the lens instead of receding into the eye, as it should during development; this membrane is visible from the outside and obscures vision. Lens luxation occurs when the ligaments in the eye begin to weaken, displacing the lens. Choroidal Hypoplasia is a developmental problem in which the blood-rich portion of the eye fails to grow properly; severe cases can result in loss of vision. Finally, patellar luxation is caused by the kneecap regularly becoming dislocated from the joint; some of the symptoms include pain, stiffness, and lameness.

Good breeders will always try to minimize the chances of genetic problems arising by testing their dogs for common health conditions. They should be able to provide proof of a negative test when asked.

Temperament

The Lancashire Heeler has a very pleasant personality. It is playful, affectionate, cheerful, and fairly open to strangers. It thrives on companionship and will follow its owner everywhere. You should be aware, however, that this breed does require plenty of mental stimulation and social interaction throughout the day. If it grows bored, then it will resort to destructive behavior. So whenever you need to leave this dog alone for several hours during the day, make sure it has enough activities to do, or else you might come home to a mess.

How to Take Care of the Lancashire Heeler

The Lancashire Heeler is a great choice for both first-time and experienced owners. They do require quite a bit of exercise and early training, but if you’re willing to devote the time and effort, then this breed can yield some great results. They are also fairly good apartment dogs, provided you have enough outdoor space nearby for exercise and playtime.

The Best Dog Food

The Lancashire Heeler needs around a cup of high-quality dog food every day, though the exact amount will likely vary with the dog’s age, size, and activity level. Since obesity can be a slight problem, you should limit the number of snacks and provide plenty of exercise throughout the day.

Maintenance and Grooming

Despite the thick double coat and the tendency to shed, the Lancashire Heeler is an easy dog to groom. Regular brushings a few times a month with a firm bristle brush should be sufficient to keep the coat healthy and clean. Bathing should be done only when necessary, perhaps a few times a year, because the coat is pretty good at taking care of itself.

The Lancashire Heeler will also require regular nail trimmings around once a month. If the nails start clicking loudly on the floor, then they need to be clipped immediately. Check the ears regularly to prevent infections, and if necessary, clean them out with a cotton swab. Finally, brush their teeth frequently with a kind of appropriate vet-approved toothpaste.

Training

The Lancashire Heeler has an intelligent and eager mind, often seen in a breed of this kind. While it can be a little independent-minded, this breed also loves to learn new things and spend quality time with its owner. One thing to keep in mind is that you will need to exercise patience and understanding to avoid alienating your dog. The last thing you want it to do is to shut down and ignore you because you were overly harsh toward it.

You should also keep your commands consistent yet simple to establish clear boundaries and rules. But provided you remain positive and upbeat, this dog has an amazing ability to learn new commands and tricks.

Exercise

The Lancashire Heeler needs about an hour of exercise every day. It enjoys long walks, fetching, playtime, and even agility and herding challenges, but it probably won’t do as well with faster exercise due to its shorter legs.

Puppies

Despite their naturally playful and affectionate temperament, Lancashire Heeler puppies will need to be properly trained and socialized as early as possible. Parks, meet-ups, and daycare are all good options for introducing your dog to new situations. These puppies are fairly easy to housetrain, but a crate can help in this regard because dogs do not want to soil their sleeping areas. More advanced commands should ideally begin around the four to six-month mark after you develop a strong bond with your dog.

Unless you plan to breed your dog, it is a good idea to have them spayed or neutered by the first year of age. This confers numerous health and behavioral benefits.

The Lancashire Heeler and Children

With its affectionate and spirited personality, the Lancashire Heeler should endear itself to children of all ages. Nevertheless, this dog does tend to nip a bit and bark loudly, which might disturb some younger kids. Adults should always supervise all interactions until the children are old enough to learn the responsibility of caring for a dog on their own.

Dogs Similar to the Lancashire Heeler

The Lancashire Heeler bears a strong similarity to several other breeds of herding dogs that originated from the United Kingdom.

• Pembroke Welsh Corgi: Playful, intelligent, and affable, the Corgi is a herding dog that originated not very far from Lancashire in Wales. It has the same long body and short legs as the Lancashire Heeler. Their natural intelligence and friendliness made them a favorite breed of Queen Elizabeth II and millions of other people around the world.
• Manchester Terrier: Because of their close history together, a comparison between the Lancashire and Manchester Terrier will reveal obvious similarities. Both dogs are intelligent, spirited, and affectionate. And while the Manchester stands a lot taller, their coat color and head shape are similar as well.
• Border Collie: This is an athletic, smart, and affectionate herding dog with a medium-length double coat of fur. Black and white is the standard color scheme, but there are many accepted colors, including blue, brindle, red, sable, lilac, and a combination of these.