Watch out! There’s going to be a new breed joining the lineup at the AKC dog shows come 2024. The Lancashire Heeler is now recognized as the American Kennel Club’s newest breed, allowing competition rights starting in January 2024. What does this mean for this small breed? This small workhorse of a dog can now compete in any AKC-certified events, and the recognition comes with many benefits, including pedigree papers, specialized healthcare services, and recovery benefits.
The Lancashire Heeler Finally Gets It’s Day
The while small and hardy, is a dog that doesn’t slow down to rest. Now part of the Herding Group, they compete in events such as herding, agility events, obedience events, rallies, the Fast Cat (100-yard dash), the barn hunt, dock diving, disc dog, and tracking. They can also be found participating in tracking events as well as earth dog events and weight pulls.
Sheryl Bradbury, the President of the Lancashire Heeler Club, has been working on the recognition since 2017, working on adding the breed to the miscellaneous class. Finally in April, 2023, the breed was accepted into Herding Group starting January 2024.
Getting AKC Recognized Isn’t Easy
The road to this recognition isn’t easy. The process requires proof of at least three generations of pedigrees ensuring that the breed is well-established and is a sustainable breed for continued availability. It is estimated that there are only maybe 400 dogs of this breed currently nationwide.
There also has to be proof that the breed is able to compete successfully in events, including conformity events, agility trials, obedience, rallies, and barn hunt events. They must also, as miscellaneous and FSS breeds, compete in at least three open shows.
The Origin Story
While the complete story might be a little uncertain, the breed’s origin is believed to have started from a seventeenth-century crossbreeding of herd dogs. This breeding consisted of Welsh Corgies from Nothern Wales that were later bred with a Manchester Terrier. While starting as a herd dog, they later became very popular as household pets.
All About The Lancashire Heeler
The Lancashire Heeler’s coats are typically either black and tan or liver and tan. The coats are dense and waterproof and require very little grooming needing just a bath occasionally to keep them clean and healthy. They weigh between 9 and 17 pounds and can live up to 15 years. Their litters tend to run at about 5 pups at a time.
Conclusion
Whether you are looking for an amazing family pet or a breeding dog for shows, the Lancashire Heeler is a great prospect. The words used to describe them include sweet, loving, and loyal. They are said to be smart, determined, and alert. They can be versatile, adjusting to many situations. Whether you are looking for AKC Certified or not, these dogs are a great way to go.
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