Quick Fact!
The Blue Lacy is sensitive to loud noise, and is known to be more responsive in a quiet environment.
Identified popularly as working dogs, Lacy dogs are named after the Lacy brothers Frank, George, Edwin, and Harry Lacy of Burnet County, located on the Edwards Plateau in Texas. They were known to have immigrated to this place from Kentucky in 1858. The family bred hogs and cattle. They also bred dogs to work the animals. The Lacy breed is believed to be a mix of a greyhound, scenthound, and coyote.
Lacy dogs proved to be of great help to the colonial Americans in the Southwestern ranches. It was said that one Lacy would suffice for the work of five cowboys. The activity of ranching received a setback as technology progressed and encouraged the use of machines. This also affected the population of these dogs. However, today, they are the most widely employed dog breed by the United States trappers for their excellent hunting skills.
Texas State Dog
The Blue Lacy was a dog breed developed in the 1800s as a working dog. Although it was recognized as a true Texas breed in 2001, the 79th Legislature of the State of Texas designated the Blue Lacy as the official State Dog Breed of Texas in 2005. They are recognized by the National Kennel Club, Continental Kennel Club, Universal Kennel International, Lacy Game Dog Registry, Texas Lacy Game Dog Association, and American Pet Registry, Inc.
Information About the Blue Lacy Dog
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Size
Lacys are a medium-sized, well-built, and strong breed. They are usually observed to maintain a good height-to-weight ratio, and have a proportional body structure. The height of a fully grown Lacy, as measured at the withers, is approximately between 18 to 25 inches. Whereas, the average weight ranges from 30 to 50 pounds.
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Appearance
This dog, along with a lean built, has eyes of yellow to a light-orange shade. The ears are thin, triangular, slightly rounded at the tip; they generally have drop and rose ears.
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Color
Though they are called the Blue Lacy, they appear commonly in three different hues - blue, red, and tricolor. The blue Lacy can be of light silver, gray shade, or a dark charcoal color. The red ones refer to a tinge of light-cream to rust. The tricolor Lacy has red points scattered around the face, sometimes with a white spot on the chest.
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Coat
A smooth, sleek, and tight coat is a characteristic of these dogs. It lends them a sturdy and tough look. If the coat is seen to be rough or long, it supposedly suggests a disqualifying fault.
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Health
A breed used to the rugged topography of ranches, these dogs have evolved to withstand all kinds of seasonal variations, at least as far as the weather in Texas is concerned. Overall, there are less health issues with this dog, one rare exception being that of the color dilution alopecia (follicular dysplasia, or a genetic disease causing hair loss). Skin problems and allergies from food can be a possibility too.
The average lifespan would be around 16 years. Some are even found to be actively hunting or working up cattle, despite that age.
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What They Like Doing
Possessing a great stamina, Lacys love to work. This dog breed is recognized to belong to the hunting and herding category. They herd hogs, chickens, and cattle very efficiently. They possess enough vigor and grit to control a difficult livestock. They are used for search and rescue work, blood tracking (trailing a wounded animal), and are gifted with a sharp scent-trailing ability too. This dog has a good aptitude for agility courses, jogging, and games like Frisbee. They do make the best companions, but require enough physical challenges as a way out for their excessive energy.
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Temperament
Blue Lacys are intelligent, fast, always ready to work, agile, highly trainable, energetic, and also easy to train and handle. They are very gentle, but active, alert, and bold at the same time. They are easy-going with kids, In fact, young Lacys love being around kids. They can be quite loud when at bay though.
Owing to the decrease in ranching, there was a sharp decline in the population of this breed. Efforts have been made since 1975 to conserve and increase their numbers. One such ongoing attempt is that of purposefully breeding Lacys in Texas and selling them to the residents.
