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Sporting Lucas Terrier |
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He is not recognized by the F.C.I. |
Origin |
Scotland | |
Translation |
Francis Vandersteen |
A brief presentation of the Sporting Lucas Terrier |
| Developed in Scotland in the 1990s, the Sporting Lucas Terrier is a direct descendant of the Lucas Terrier, created some 50 years earlier. These small, compact terriers are prized for their athleticism and ability to be both fast and flexible despite their small size. Their double coat is hard to the touch and offers a good level of protection against the outside environment. Traditionally used to hunt small vermin, such as rats and mink, this breed has the ability to burrow or follow its prey into tight spaces. They have been built for endurance and are not afraid of hard work. A well-balanced companion dog, the Sporting Lucas Terrier slips easily into most family homes. It's hard not to fall in love with their affectionate nature and self-confidence. |
History of the Sporting Lucas Terrier |
| A modern dog with a history that's easy to trace, the Sporting Lucas Terrier story begins in Scotland in the 1940s. They exist thanks to Sir Jocelyn Lucas, a Sealyham Terrier fancier interested in creating new breeds of dog. Sir Lucas began to worry that the Sealyham Terriers of his day were getting too big, so he bred the Lucas Terrier with the aim of preserving a small, athletic pet capable of hunting its prey right into the earth. The Lucas Terrier was developed by crossing the Sealyham Terrier and the Norfolk Terrier. The Sporting Lucas Terrier was then created in the 1990s by mixing it with several other Terrier breeds, including a number of Fell Terriers and Plummer Terriers. The result was a taller, leaner dog. Today, some confusion persists, with many people mistakenly thinking that the Sporting Lucas Terrier and the Lucas Terrier belong to the same breed. It was important to the original breeders that the Sporting Lucas Terrier retained not only the ability to be a sporting, vermin-hunting terrier that could go to ground, pursuing prey even when they burrowed, but also retain the courageous personality of the Terrier breeds so beloved by families around the world. It wasn't until 2002 that the UKC officially recognized the Sporting Lucas Terrier as part of its Terrier group. |
Appearance of the Sporting Lucas Terrier |
| It's essential that Sporting Lucas Terriers have a compact, robust body that enables them to keep pace with their prey and burrow into the ground. This means they must be well proportioned but with a flexible spine. Their broad head is of medium size, with a well-defined stop. Their jaws are particularly strong and should enable the dog to hold its prey and bite easily. Their oval eyes and prominent nose are both highly pigmented. Their ears originate from the top of the skull and remain in a half-pricked position at all times. A too-short neck is an automatic fault in the ring. Unlike many other small Terriers, Sporting Lucas Terriers should have a long stride, so their forelegs shouldn't be too short to limit movement. Their robust body is more rectangular than square, with a low center of gravity. Although their loins and croup are slightly sloping, their backs are straight. Although they have muscular hind legs, the leg bones should not be too dense, allowing for a more athletic movement. While the tail of many Sporting Lucas Terriers is shortened, if left natural, it will be carried straight. While the male will measure between 28 and 33 centimeters, the smallest female will only reach heights of between 25 and 30.5 centimeters. The average weight of the male dog is 6 to 8 kilos, while the lighter female will weigh 5 to 7 kilos. This breed has a double coat, with a stiff, hirsute coat and abundant undercoat. Dogs can be one of two color variants : Bronze with gray or bronze with black and brown, a small number of patches of white coat are permitted. White with brown, gray, gray and black markings, a certain amount of beige is also permitted. |
Temperament of the Sporting Lucas Terrier |
| The temperament of the Sporting Lucas Terrier is just as important as its physical appearance, with breeders looking for a dog full of personality and joie de vivre. These confident little dogs find it hard to believe that they are only a good 25 centimeters tall, and often behave like dogs two or three times their size. They have the ability to follow prey and are never shy. Despite their abundance of energy, they would rarely be described as hyper and can maintain good self-control. Fabulous hunters, Sporting Lucas Terriers face all their challenges with courage and enthusiasm, without being so stubborn as to put themselves in unnecessary danger. They accomplish any task entrusted to them with a positive attitude, and are in no way fazed by difficult working conditions or unfavorable weather. A very sociable dog, Sporting Lucas Terriers are a friend to all, and generally get on very well with other dogs. As they tend to be complete extroverts, other more shy dogs may find it difficult to interact with them at first. Although they may not initially welcome a stranger with open arms, their hesitancy won't last long if they feel the new arrival poses no threat. This dog will bark to alert its owner to any new arrival, but will not be hostile enough to make it a guard dog. |
Needs and activities of the Sporting Lucas Terrier |
| The Sporting Lucas Terrier is an energetic dog without being a Tasmanian devil. He needs mental stimulation and daily exercise to keep him happy and fit. Interactive toys are a great way to engage him when you don't have time all day to play games with him. Going for long walks around the neighborhood or taking long hikes in the local park are excellent ways to keep him on the move. Since he's a terrier, he excels at many dog sports such as fly ball or agility. Plan to spend 30 to 45 minutes a day with your Sporting Lucas Terrier in some type of physical exercise. |
Maintenance of the Sporting Lucas Terrier |
| The Sporting Lucas Terrier is a double-coated breed and is not hypoallergenic. He needs weekly grooming to keep his coat in good condition. A brush or smooth bristle brush should be used for grooming. A metal comb will help overcome any tangles. Because it has a double coat, it will shed seasonally. In addition to shedding moderately twice a year, he's weak. In spring and autumn, you'll need to brush him more often to prevent the soft hairs from sticking around the house. To save time and hassle, consider having him professionally hand stripped when he puts on his undercoat. Professional groomers can easily strip the coat and keep the mess at bay. When bathing him, be sure to use a shampoo formulated for hard or stiff coats. Sporting Lucas Terriers can be prone to ear infections, so be sure to clean her ears weekly as a preventative measure. |
English (United Kingdom) 
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