LAKELAND TERRIER

Apartment Living

Good for 1st Time Owners

Tolerance Levels

Affection for Family

Kid Friendliness

Stranger Friendliness

Ease of Grooming

General Health

Trainability

Prey Drive

Exercise Needs

Energy Level

History

The Lakeland Terrier hails from England and related to several terrier breeds. They are one of the oldest breeds in the world and the American Kennel Club was the first club in the world to register them.

Interesting Facts

Named after their birthplace
Mainly bred to hunt foxes
Superior burrowers
Very rare breed

Temperament & Personality

Like all Terrier breeds, the Lakeland is a fearless dog. They play with the zeal of a puppy, even in their adult stage. The dog enjoys the company of the family members but remains reserved with strangers (will not bite them). However, sometimes it has an independent streak and often compared to teenagers. Always in alert mode and are ready to go, they are both curious and eager to know things around. They are much better with other dogs as compared with any other Terrier. When well socialized, they are polite to strangers, but the owner may need to control its excessive barking nature. They love to dig the grounds and can be very possessive of their toys.

Exercise

Lakeland Terriers are high on energy and are full of stamina, but not suited for a apartment life. They need a lot of yard space to run and love outdoor games. Their daily activities should vary as they get bored very easily, so moderate to heavy games should be considered for them. If possible, the owners should enroll their Terriers in an agility training session. This breed also needs a lot of mental stimulations.

Grooming

Lakelands have a thick wiry coat which sheds minimally. Pluck the stray hairs continually to keep it looking trimmed. The coat needs to be stripped several times per year and use a shampoo for the wire coat. Brushing regularly is advised, but bathing them occasionally. The owners should check the ears on a regular basis, while the teeth should be brushed twice a week to prevent the build-up of tartar. Lastly, Toenails needs to be trimmed on a monthly basis.

Health Problems

The dog is prone to minor health concerns like lens Luxation and Distichiasis. Minor health issues include Legg-Perthes disease and Von Willebrand's disease. A thorough Eye check-up needs to done on a monthly basis. All the terrier breeds are prone to chronic allergies which can cause itchy skin and scratching leading to bacterial infections. Hypothyroidism, heart disease and also occurs in Lake Terrier.

Training

Training can be a bit tough as they tend to learn only the things which interest them. Although obedience training is a must for the Lakeland terriers, it takes a great amount of patience to train this breed. House training can also become a headache for the owners, but you can still house train them.

Feeding

The pups between the age of eight to twelve weeks need four meals a day, while once six to one year, it two meals a day. Some adult Lakelands needs two lighter meals in a day. High dry foods for the dogs ensure a balanced diet for them. Offer them only high-quality foods.