Lancashire Heeler: Overview

In his past, the Lancashire Heeler was used to drive livestock to market. He was short enough to nip at their heels to move them along and agile enough to leap out of the way if they tried to kick. When he wasn't on the road to the market, he helped out on the farm by catching rats and rabbits.

He resembles his cousins the Cardigan and Pembroke Welsh Corgis but has a black-and-tan coloration that may be a sign of Manchester Terrier heritage. In his homeland of Great Britain, he's a popular companion, show dog, and agility and obedience competitor. He also competes at herding trials.

This is an intelligent dog who learns quickly, but he has a mind of his own and can be stubborn as well as mischievously inventive. Train him with kind but firm consistency and positive reinforcement. With other people he's generally friendly but he can be sharp toward other dogs. Early socialization with people and other dogs is important. He's best suited to families with school-age children and enjoys having a yard where he can run. Be sure it's escapeproof!

« Lancashire Heeler Profile | Next: Coat, color & grooming »