Lakeland Terrier

The Lakeland Terrier is a rather small dog of short-backed, square proportion with a sturdy, workmanlike build. Its legs are fairly long, enabling it to run at good speed and traverse the rugged shale terrain of its native mountain countryside. Its gait is smooth and ground-covering, with good reach and drive. Its body is deep and narrow, allowing it to squeeze through small passages after its quarry. Its expression reflects its mood, ranging from intense to gay or impish. Its double coat consists of a soft undercoat and a hard, wiry outer coat.

The spunky Lakeland makes the most of every day, always busy investigating, playing and, if it really gets its wish, hunting, running and chasing. Given daily exercise in a safe area, it settles down in the home and makes an entertaining and endearing house pet. It is reserved with strangers and usually aggressive toward other dogs and small animals. Clever, independent and stubborn, it can be mischievous. It is nonetheless sensitive and must be trained with patience as well as a sense of humor.

The Lakeland Terrier breed dates back to the 1800s and is one of the oldest terrier breeds that is still around today. The breed was originally called the Patterdale Terrier, however it is a separate breed from the Patterdale Terrier that we know of today. The Lakeland was developed by crossing the Bedlington Terrier, with the Old English Wirehaired Terrier in the Lake District of England. The dog was used to prevent fox and other vermin from destroying the crops and herds. It hunted den animals such as badger, fox and otter. It was able to hunt on uneven terrain, woods, fields and water. It chased and killed the quarry. The Lakeland was recognized as a breed in 1921 and by the AKC in 1934. It is still used for hunting, as a companion and as a show dog. Some of the Lakeland Terrier’s talents include: hunting, tracking and watchdog.