Lakeland Terrier Breed description: Character & Co

The Lakeland Terrier is a British, medium-sized terrier.

The origin of the Lakeland Terrier

The Lake District in the north of England is the original home of this hunting terrier. It was originally bred to hunt foxes. Small and agile, the Lakeland Terrier could squeeze into the branching burrows underground and drive the foxes out.

As it appears today, this primitive terrier originated in the course of the 19th century. The Old English Black and Tan Terrier, which is now extinct, the Bedlington Terrier, which is still active, and the Border Terrier are considered to be the progenitors. Earlier names were Fell Terrier, Cumberland Terrier or Westmoreland Terrier. It got its final name and breed standards in 1913.

The breed has become rare even in Great Britain and the USA. Here in Central Europe you can hardly see it.

The breed characteristics of the Lakeland Terrier

You could say that its appearance is his trademark! However, it is often confused with the very similar Welsh Terrier. The latter is much more common. Both dogs are very similar in type and stature. It has a strapping appearance and is easily recognizable by the typical elongated head shape with the curly hair and beard.

To this day it is a hunting terrier and very agile. Even though this dog can seem stoic at first, one should not underestimate its temperament.

Among the terriers, it is the smallest of the high running species. The FCI lists it under Standard No. 70, Group 3: Terriers and Section 1: Large and medium sized Terriers.

• English hunting terrier from the Lake District
• confusingly similar to the Welsh Terrier
• smallest high running terrier