Alice White
Blue Lacy is a rare dog breed bred by a family of farmers from Texas, USA. Characterized as hardy, energetic, and capable of a wide variety of work. Differs in high intelligence and territoriality. Outside the United States, the breed is not widespread. Another name: Texas Lacy.
History of the Breed
The Blue Lacey breed was bred in the late 19th century by the Lacey brothers (Frank, Jord, Evin, Harry), who moved from Kentucky to Texas in 1858 and settled on a ranch in Burnet County. Lacy’s original purpose was to catch wild pigs and bring livestock to market. Accordingly, a very strong, hardy, well-trained, and human-oriented dog was needed. In the process of working on the breed, English Shepherds, Greyhounds, and Wolfs were crossed. As a result, we managed to get a versatile medium-sized working dog with a uniform blue color.
In 2001, the Blue Lacy dog breed was recognized by the Texas Senate, and in 2005 it became the official dog breed of the state of Texas.
The Blue Lacy is not recognized by the American Kennel Club or any other major canine organization. Fans of these dogs hope that this will never happen because it can negatively affect the breed.
Appearance
Blue Lacy dogs are of medium size, lightly built, fast, strong, proportionate in height and weight. Gender dimorphism is well expressed.
- Height at withers: 43-56 cm.
- Weight: 11-23kg.
The head is proportional to a broad, rounded skull. Long ears with rounded tips hang from the cartilage on the sides of the head. The eyes are very expressive, yellow or amber in color. The muzzle is long, wedge-shaped. The bite is correct, the teeth are strong, complete. The body is lightly built with well-developed relief muscles. The chest is deep and wide. The belly is well tucked up. The back is straight. The loin is slightly rounded. The croup merges into a crescent tail.
The coat is short, smooth, shiny, with practically no undercoat. There are three acceptable color variations:
- blue (gray) – any shade from light silver to dark charcoal;
- red – from light cream to rusty;
- tricolor – combines a blue base with distinct red marked and small white spots on the chest and/or legs.
Temperament
The most important thing to know about the Blue Lacy for potential owners is an active, working dog. Blue Lacy dogs can be companions for active people, but the working dog life is best for them.
Owners describe their dogs as loyal, alert, reliable companions, very motivated in their work, but calm and sweet at home. They are moderately independent, and therefore need a leader whom they will trust. They are quite sensitive and do not tolerate physical punishment. They respond well to positive reinforcement training.
This is an excellent guard dog with a pronounced territorial instinct. They are prone to the excessive barking because part of their work with livestock is precisely to hold the animals with their voice. Sometimes Blue Lacy dogs can live with cats and other small animals with which they grew up, but they will kill strangers on their territory without hesitation, be it a neighbor’s dog or a raccoon.
Features of Maintenance
If the owner of the Blue Lacу does not have an area where the dog can run freely, you will have to provide the dog with full physical activity in the form of long walks in the morning and evening. Even then, the dog will probably have a lot of energy left over. Blue Lacу will be ready to accompany the owner everywhere and play with the children. Best of all, Blue Lacy dogs are suitable for a person or family who can provide her with work, for example, herding cattle, herding horses, finding objects. Without work and good physical activity, Texas dogs can be devastating. Some develop obsessive behaviors and health problems.
It is unlikely that dogs of this breed will feel good in a city apartment and will be able to adapt to limited walks on a leash on the sidewalks.
The short, smooth coat has practically no undercoat, so grooming is reduced to occasional brushing, bathing as needed, and basic procedures (brushing teeth, trimming nails, cleaning ears). Molting is seasonal, moderately expressed.
Health
Blue Lacy dogs are marketed as a relatively healthy breed. Life expectancy is 12-16 years. Common hereditary diseases include:
- Dysplasia of the hip joint;
- Elbow dysplasia;
- Tendency to skin diseases;
- Hypothyroidism;
- Food allergy.
A rare hereditary condition sometimes occurs in blue dogs: dilution alopecia, which is characterized by hair loss and other skin problems.
Sensitivity to anesthesia is of great concern. A significant part of the breed is very sensitive to anesthesia. A level of anesthesia that would be safe for most dogs of the same size can kill Blue Lacy. This trait is possibly passed on from the ancestors of the breed – the Greyhounds. Because this breed is rare, owners should alert veterinarians of this trend prior to any surgical procedure.
