Lucas Terrier facts for kids
Typical Lucas Terriers
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| Origin | England | ||||||||||||||||
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| Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) | |||||||||||||||||
The Lucas Terrier is a small dog breed that started in England in the late 1940s. These dogs are a type of terrier. They were created by Sir Jocelyn Lucas at his Ilmer Kennels. All real Lucas Terriers today can trace their family tree back to his original dogs.
Contents
History of the Lucas Terrier
Sir Jocelyn Lucas, 4th Baronet loved hunting and breeding Sealyham Terriers. He noticed that Sealyhams were getting bigger heads and shoulders, which he didn't like. He wanted to create a smaller, healthier terrier.
How the Breed Started
At his kennels in Hertfordshire, Sir Jocelyn decided to cross his smaller Sealyham female dogs with Norfolk Terriers. This mix helped him create the new Lucas Terrier breed.
Continuing the Breed's Legacy
After Sir Jocelyn became less involved in the 1950s, Mrs. Enid Plummer took over managing his kennels. She continued the breeding program. Later, Jumbo Frost took charge. She worked hard to make the breed more popular and set up the official Lucas Terrier Club (UK). She also made sure the breed looked and acted a certain way, which is still followed today.
What Lucas Terriers Look Like and How They Act
The Lucas Terrier is a strong, well-built dog that looks like the old-fashioned Sealyham Terriers. To be a true Lucas Terrier, a dog must come from the original lines. This means they are bred from a Lucas Terrier with a Norfolk Terrier or a small Sealyham Terrier.
Temperament and Personality
Lucas Terriers have wonderful, calm personalities. They are bred to be great companions. Many are also used as working dogs around the world. They are known for being friendly and should not be aggressive towards people or other dogs. They are also not usually scared or nervous, but they still have typical terrier traits like being lively.
Coat and Colors
Their coat is usually a bit rough and can handle different weather. It's also medium length. Most Lucas Terriers are tan, black and tan, or saddle and tan. You can also find them with mostly white fur, like a Sealyham Terrier. Some might have a red shade because of their Norfolk Terrier ancestors.
Size and Weight
Male Lucas Terriers usually weigh between 14 to 20 pounds (6 to 9 kg). Female Lucas Terriers are a bit smaller, weighing 11 to 17 pounds (5 to 8 kg).
Lucas Terrier Clubs
There are clubs dedicated to preserving and promoting the Lucas Terrier breed.
The Original Lucas Terrier Club (UK)
The Lucas Terrier Club (LTC) is a private organization in Britain. Its main goal is to protect and promote the Lucas Terrier. They also help breeders find registered Lucas Terriers to continue the breed. The club keeps a list of over 700 Lucas Terriers from around the world.
Lucas Terriers in the U.S.
In the United States, the United Lucas Terrier Association (ULTA) now looks after the breed. This non-profit group was formed in 2019. They work closely with the English Lucas Terrier Club to make sure the breed has a good future.
The Sporting Lucas Terrier
In 1999, a different club called the Sporting Lucas Terrier Club was formed. They register and promote a terrier that has some Lucas Terrier in its background. However, these dogs are also mixed with other breeds, like the Fell Terrier and Jack Russell Terrier. Because of these other breeds, dogs from these lines are not considered true Lucas Terriers. They are their own separate breed. These clubs work completely on their own, separate from the original Lucas Terrier clubs.
