Lakeland Terrier puppies

About the Lakeland Terrier

The Lakeland Terrier was bred by fell farmers in the English Lake District to follow a fox to ground and deal with it, which called for a narrow, tough dog in a hard weatherproof jacket. It stands 37 to 38 cm and weighs around 7.7 kg, with a wiry double coat over a softer undercoat and a long, dark, rectangular head. It is cocky and self assured, comes at life at full tilt outdoors, and is a good deal more civilised in the house than that suggests.

Exercise means a long daily walk or jog plus regular chances to run flat out on a long line in a safe place, because short lead walks do nothing for the head. Hand stripping keeps the colour and harsh texture; clipping softens and fades the coat. Loose hair stays in the jacket rather than on the sofa, so brush weekly to lift it out. Prey drive is real, so fence properly and keep a lead on near wildlife. It rates middling with children, so supervise and socialise.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Lakeland Terrier puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get it socialised before the vaccination course finishes. It will still need four meals a day. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Primary lens luxation, detectable by DNA test
• Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, diagnosed by x-ray of the hip in a young dog
• Ear infections, found by checking regularly under the hair of the ear
• Dental and periodontal disease, found at veterinary dental checks and kept down by regular tooth brushing

From Lakeland Terrier breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/lakeland-terrier/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Your Lakeland Terrier puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Lakeland Terrier.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 7.7 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Other small breeds

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