A Guide to the Loveable and Hard Working Lancashire Heeler Dog Why This Breed Makes a Great Hunting Partner

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Lancashire Heeler photo
Medium Breed Lancashire Heeler

Is the Lancashire Heeler Right For You?

  • 1 The Lancashire Heeler is considered a rare breed of dog today.
  • 2 Lancashire Heelers are small and short-haired which may suit people with a smaller home.
  • 3 Nonetheless the Heeler is strong and energetic and can be a great active mate.

HISTORY

Once almost on the brink of extinction, the Lancashire Heeler we have today is not the same as the one from the 17th century that was helping Lancashire residents keep their cattle in line. Todayโ€™s Lancashire Heeler has a fair amount of Welsh Corgi and Manchester Terrier in their veins, although the breed of today and the genuine article of the past are almost identical. Today the Lancashire Heeler is mainly used to hunting rabbits and rats, even though they were initially bred for herding cattle. The Lancashire Heeler was finally recognized as a breed in 1981.

Quick Facts

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    Size

    Toy/Small

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    Lifespan

    12 - 15 years

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    Hair Length

    Short/Harsh/Smooth

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    Male Height

    10 - 12 inches (25 - 31 cm)

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    Male Weight

    6 - 13 pounds

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    Female Height

    10 - 12 inches (25 - 31 cm)

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    Female Weight

    6 - 13 pounds

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    Litter Size

    2 - 5 puppies

Personality

Lancashire Heelers are well known for their alertness and remarkable strength considering their size, as well as their instinctive ability to herd. These dogs are incredibly nice to their family, but are likely to become aggressive with strangers and young kids. They may nip at the heels of people, due to their herding background. They should be trained and socialized early so as to diminish these types of behavior. .

Color

As far as coloring is concerned, the Lancashire Heeler only comes with two options: black and tan, liver and tan.

Health Concerns

The average life expectancy of the Lancashire Heeler ranges from 12 to 13 years. They can be affected by:

  • hereditary eye diseases
  • patella luxation
Appearance

The Lancashire Heeler is a small, sturdily built, low profile pooch. They have disproportionately small legs, much like a Corgi, and their ears are big and wide open, standing straight up atop their head. They have a very strong body, with muscular hindquarters, and a firm abdomen. the tail is high set and carried forward over the back.

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