Blue Lacy Dog Breed: Traits, Care, and Training Guide

In This Article

• Characteristics
• Breed History
• Training and Care
• Diet and Nutrition
• Health Problems
• Where to Adopt or Buy
• Blue Lacy Overview
• Further Research

The Blue Lacy is a medium-sized working dog breed hailing from Texas. It's known for its typical blue-toned coat, smooth, sleek appearance, and intense bright yellow or rich brown eyes. The Lacy is a bold, intelligent, and active breed that was originally developed to work feral hogs. These driven, determined dogs also excel at herding cattle and hunting wild boar. Since their inception in the mid-19^th century, the Blue Lacy has developed into one of the working breeds preferred by ranchers, hunters, cowboys, and trappers.

Breed Overview

GROUP: Working Group

HEIGHT: 18 to 21 inches

WEIGHT: 25 to 50 pounds

COAT: Short and smooth

COAT COLORS: Blue (gray, light silver, charcoal), red (light cream, rust), or tri-colored

LIFE SPAN: 12 to 16 years

TEMPERAMENT: Intelligent, bold, active, devoted, alert, and intense

HYPOALLERGENIC: No

ORIGIN: United States (Texas)

Characteristics of the Blue Lacy

The Blue Lacy has always loved having a job to do—and plenty of open space to run around. They were bred to be energetic, dedicated dogs capable of handling livestock ranging from longhorn cattle to hens. Throughout history, Lacys have been relied on as trusted watchdogs, in addition to fulfilling both herding and droving tasks.

Affection Level Medium Friendliness Medium Kid-Friendly High Pet-Friendly Medium Exercise Needs High Playfulness High Energy Level High Trainability High Intelligence High Tendency to Bark Medium Amount of Shedding Low

History of the Blue Lacy

The Lacy dog was named after the Lacy brothers—Frank, George, Ewin, and Harry. The brothers moved from Kentucky to Texas in 1858, where they settled in the Hill Country and developed the breed to work free-roaming hogs. Historical documents indicate that the Lacy is believed to be a mix between greyhounds, scenthounds, and wolves.

Blue Lacy dogs have met the needs of colonial Americans on their ranches for hog hunting, locating wounded deer, and chasing game for well over a century throughout the Southwestern U.S. The breed was recognized by the Texas Senate in 2001. In June 2005, Governor Rick Perry signed legislation officially naming the Blue Lacy as Texas' official State Dog Breed.

As the family-owned ranching industry began to decline, in part due to technology such as all-terrain vehicles, the Lacy breed at one time became close to extinction. However, the breed was rediscovered as a hunting companion, which dramatically increased the demand for Lacys—today they are the most common breed used by trappers in the U.S.

Some historians believe that the presence of Lacy dogs in the Hill Country influenced Fred Gipson, who was raised in nearby Mason County, to write the novel "Old Yeller" (published in the 1950s), which is the classic story about a boy and his dog. The dog in the book, however, was a black mouth cur.

Blue Lacy Care

Although Lacys make excellent companions and are great with children, they require a calm, assertive leader who isn’t afraid to set clear and consistent rules. Easily trainable, they also require consistent and daily physical and mental stimulation. Blue Lacys are naturally territorial and will always go out of their way to protect their property and their family, but they may not always do well entering homes with other pets due to their high prey drive.

Exercise

It's important that an owner of a Blue Lacy provide the pet with plenty of outdoor time and space to run and, ideally, a job to do. These dogs will require long, brisk daily walks and plenty of romps in the backyard, but even that may not be enough; many of these dogs will still demand a challenging job such as herding, hunting, tracking, agility, or flyball. Experts suggest that Lacys need a minimum of 30 minutes—but more like 90 minutes—of vigorous exercise a day.

Grooming

Lacys only need basic dog grooming. Their short, tight coat needs minimal maintenance: a once or twice weekly brushing, with more frequent brushing during seasonal shedding times. Otherwise, keep their nails trimmed, ears clean, and teeth taken care of.

Training

The breed’s intelligence means that they are generally very easy to train, but they are sensitive to yelling; Blue Lacys will always respond better to stern but soft commands.

Though they will adapt well to most living conditions and make great family pets with proper socialization,

Diet and Nutrition

The Blue Lacy should perform well with high-quality commercially or home-prepared (under veterinary supervision) dog food. Fresh, clean water should be available at all times for this active, high-energy dog.

Common Health Problems

Lacys are a very healthy, robust breed. However, all dogs are susceptible to certain conditions. Blue Lacys have been associated with the following health issues:

• Color Dilution Alopecia: Hair loss, skin problems, and bare patches on the coat
• Food Allergies: An aversion to a protein found in commercial dog food
• Hip Dysplasia: Abnormal development of hip joints
• Elbow Dysplasia: Abnormalities causing lameness in the foreleg
• Hypothyroidism: Inadequate production of hormones from thyroid

Where to Adopt or Buy a Blue Lacy

Because they were created to be working dogs, most breeders prefer to place these pups in ranching and hunting homes to preserve that heritage and allow Blue Lacys to do what they do best: work.

Though rare, you may be able to find a Blue Lacy dog from a shelter or rescue group. If you choose to work with a breeder, expect to pay between $400 to $1,000 for a Lacy puppy. Most breeders are located in Texas, but as the breed's popularity rises, so might the number of breeders and the prices of pups.

Here are two online resources to help you find your new best friend:

• The National Lacy Dog Association
• Texas Lacy Game Dog Association

Blue Lacy Overview

Pros

• Good herding and working dog

• Coats require minimal maintenance

• Easy to train

Cons

• Requires vigorous exercise

• Ill-suited for apartment living

• Can be territorial and confrontational with unfamiliar dogs

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More Dog Breeds and Further Research

Be sure to do your homework when choosing a dog breed. Talk to other Blue Lacy owners, reputable breeders, and rescue groups to learn more about this particular breed and its care.

If you’re interested in learning more about similar dogs, consider these other working breeds:

• Rottweiler
• Doberman pinscher
• Akita

There's a variety of dog breeds, and with a little research, you can be sure you'll find the right dog to bring home.

FAQ

• Is the Blue Lacy a good choice for a first-time dog owner?

  Lacys are intense, high-energy dogs that are ill-suited for both apartment living as well as novice owners. They will become bored and destructive when left alone for long periods and will respond better to a more experienced owner who can demonstrate the confidence and leadership that these working dogs crave.

• Is the Red Lacy the same dog as the Blue Lacy?

  Blue Lacys are also unofficially called Red Lacys when their coats present red tones. Though Blue Lacys can be found with red or tri-colored coats, all of these dogs carry the gene for blue coloring. Sometimes tri-colored dogs from this breed are simply called Lacys.

• Is the Blue Lacy dog breed rare?

  The vast majority of Lacy dogs are found in Texas, which makes the breed considered somewhat rare. But the dog is becoming more popular for its skilled hunting prowess, and breeding populations are slowly being established across the U.S., Canada, and Europe.