Blue Lacy Colors

Don’t let the name fool you — Blue Lacy dogs can come in many shades other than blue! Blue Lacy’s are game dogs that were first bred in Texas. They get their name from the family that bred them, the Lacy family. 

The Lacy’s settled in Texas in 1858 and began breeding dogs for cattle herding. A unique combination of Greyhound, scent hound, and coyote is what they used to create the Blue Lacy breed. When breeding Blue Lacys, the Lacy family put emphasis on their herding and droving characteristics. 

The official family record doesn’t specify which scent hound was used, but many suspect it could’ve been a July Hound or an Italian Greyhound. Whichever it was, the breeding technique worked well, producing a new breed that would become popular herding dogs. They were used for herding and ranching for many years, but as the ranching industry declined and technology increased, their population dropped. Blue Lacys were then rediscovered to be used as hunting dogs, and are now the most popular breed used by United States trappers. 

If you’re planning to adopt a Blue Lacy, you may be wondering what choices you have. We’re going to cover the many color varieties that Blue Lacy dogs can come in. 

Blue Lacy Colors

Blue Lacys can come in three color varieties, each varying in shade and markings. Unsurprisingly, Blue Lacys come in blue, but it’s not necessarily the blue you’re picturing. A ‘blue’ Blue Lacy can be anywhere from a light gray to nearly black. They typically have a blue tint to their coat in the sunlight. Some Blue Lacys have white or cream-colored chests.

Red-colored Blue Lacys are also common, and they can be anywhere from a light cream color to a dark, rusty red. Like the ‘blues’, ‘reds’ have solid coat colors, so you won’t see much variance in the shade except on the chest.

The final permissible color variety of Blue Lacys is ‘tris’. They’re called that since they are tri-colored, with a blue base and red and white markings. Tri-colored Blue Lacys can come in many more patterns and combinations than ‘reds’ or ‘blues’. They often have lighter-colored paws, chests, and muzzles.

One unique feature of Blue Lacys is their eyes, which can be yellow or amber. The vibrant hue stands out against the color of their coats. 

Blue Lacy Coat and Physical Characteristics

Blue Lacys have short, smooth fur and very little undercoat, if any. This makes them a relatively easy breed to maintain in terms of grooming. They usually grow to between 18 and 25 inches and 30 to 50 pounds. Males are generally larger than females. 

Blue Lacy Personality and Temperament

These dogs are well-regarded as all-around great pets. They do well with children and are loyal to their families, but are also very hard workers. It’s been said that just one Blue Lacy can do the work of up to 5 farm hands! That’s because they have a knack for handling tough cattle, keeping a close eye on a flock, or leading a flighty chicken. Their genetics give them these skills instinctively, making them one of the most valuable breeds of working dogs.

Aside from working on a farm or ranch, Blue Lacys make great guard dogs in general. They’re also used for hunting, treeing animals, and tracking. 

Because Blue Lacys have an instinct to herd, hunt, and watch, you’ll find that they need something to focus their energy on. This breed does pretty well in any environment, but they do best with a task or activity to do. They can get restless and may focus on tearing up something they shouldn’t instead. Even if your Blue Lacy has a task, you’ll want to take it on daily walks for a few miles of exercise. Many Blue Lacys also enjoy agility practice because of their ability to pick up on new skills quickly. 

The most important thing to remember about Blue Lacys is that they are sensitive dogs. Despite being great workers and tough dogs, they are very sensitive to yelling. They respond much better to stern commands or even soft commands. 

Blue Lacy Life Expectancy

Blue Lacys have long life expectancies with the average being about 16 years. They age well and will work up until their final weeks or months of life, with many 16-year-old Blue Lacys still out working cattle. One great thing about this breed is that they don’t have any reported health problems. Many modern dog breeds suffer from health issues like hip dysplasia and skin conditions, but Blue Lacys aren’t prone to any problems. This is likely one of the reasons they have such high life expectancies. 

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Pawsitively D'Lish Pet Photography