Life Span : 9 to 14 years
Availability : Rare
About Lancashire Heeler
The Lancashire Heeler was once used to drive livestock to market and hunt rats and rabbits at home, but is now a popular companion dog breed in his native Britain. He resembles his Corgi cousins, and can be intelligent, mischievous, or stubborn.
This small breed was originally bred to be a drover and herder of cattle. The exact origins of it are unknown, but it is likely that it owes its size and shape in some part to the Welsh Corgi and a black and tan terrier called the Manchester Terrier. The ancestors of the Lancashire Heeler were first seen as a separate breed some 150 years ago.
In the late 1970’s the Lancashire Heeler Club was formed with KC recognition following in 1981. Since then however, numbers of this dog have sadly declined and in the 21 century, they were placed on the KC’s ‘Vulnerable Native Breeds’ list. A number of dedicated breeders are trying to save this dog from possible extinction, but in 2007, only 146 were registered with the KC.
The Lancashire Heeler is an intelligent little dog that loves people, children and games. He’s bursting with energy which isn’t surprising given the type of work he was bred for, and so will join in whenever there’s fun to be had.