Lakeland Terrier
A compact, confident terrier from the English Lake District that is bold, lively and full of independent spirit.
At a glance
- Size
- Small
- Height at the withers
- Males 33–37 cm · Females 32–35 cm
- Weight
- Males 7.5–8 kg · Females 6.5–7 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–15 years
- Exercise
- 45–90 min a day
- Grooming
- Regular trips to a groomer
- Coat
- Wire-haired, Double coat, short
- Colours
- Black and tan, Blue, Red, Wheaten, Liver, Black
- Bred for
- Terrier work, Companionship
- Country of origin
- United Kingdom
- FCI
- Group 3, no. 70 · Terriers
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 4/5 – High |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with other dogs | 2/5 – Low |
| Good with cats | 2/5 – Low |
| Open to strangers | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Energy | 4/5 – High |
| Playfulness | 4/5 – High |
| Needs mental stimulation | 4/5 – High |
| Easy to train | 2/5 – Low |
| Prey drive | 5/5 – Very high |
| Watchful and protective | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Barking | 4/5 – High |
| Shedding | 1/5 – Very low |
| Grooming effort | 4/5 – High |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 2/5 – Low |
| Suits apartment living | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Adaptability | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 4/5 – High |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- want a small, hardy dog for outdoor life
- enjoy a cheeky, characterful companion
- would like a low-shedding coat
Think twice if you …
- keep small pets
- want a quiet dog
- expect easy obedience
Care
Temperament
Bold, confident and lively, with a cheeky, independent streak. Friendly with family, alert with strangers and sometimes scrappy with other dogs.
Exercise
Needs about an hour of active exercise a day; it enjoys hill walks, earthdog work, agility and scent games.
Grooming
The wiry coat sheds little but needs a weekly brush and hand-stripping or clipping every few months.
Training
Clever but stubborn; keep training positive, short and consistent, and work on recall from early on.
Health
The breed is generally hardy, with occasional lens luxation, other eye conditions and patellar luxation. Ask the breeder for eye and knee results on both parents.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Eye examination
- Kneecaps (patella)
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Lakeland was bred in the fells of Cumberland to work alongside hounds, following foxes that preyed on sheep into rocky dens. It needed stamina, courage and a narrow chest to get through tight spaces.
In the home it is a bright, cheerful dog with a big personality in a small body. It is affectionate and enjoys being involved, but it is also very independent and quick to bark at anything new. It needs consistent training, plenty of activity and a secure garden, as it is an enthusiastic digger and hunter.
Did you know?
A Lakeland Terrier named Stingray of Derryabah won Best in Show at Crufts in 1967 and at Westminster in 1968.