Origin
The Blue Lacy is a working breed of dog. They were developed by and were named after the Lacy brothers (Frank, George, Ewin, and Harry) to gather and move feral hogs in the Texas Hill Country after they transferred from Kentucky in 1858.
The dog, according to the Lacy family, was a result of crossbreeding English Shepherd, coyote, greyhound, and wolf.
Historic documents show they were used for a variety of additional jobs, such as herding cattle and hunting ringtails.
On March 15, 2005, in the 79th Legislature of the State of Texas, Representative Joaquin Castro and members of the Texas Lacy Game Dog Association filed House Concurrent Resolution No. 108, proposing the blue Lacy as the official state dog of Texas.
Traits and Behavior
These dogs are gentle and calm animals. They have an even temper and rarely have mood swings. They are extremely loyal and devoted to their families, which is one of the reasons that they were bred.
Blue Lacy dogs often suffer from separation anxiety because there is nothing more that they like than being with their family at all times.
This breed is extremely affectionate and would often sit at the laps of its owners. This can be a problem seeing that they are both huge and heavy. With proper socialization, the Blue Lacy dogs are confident, polite and aloof.
They are extremely wary of strangers. It takes a long time for them to warm up to new people. They are also very protective of their property; they will not let any intruder into their homes at all costs.
This breed is quite brave and would never back out from a fight. But, it is not in their nature to attack first.
Despite their intimidating size and strength, this breed is great with children. Adult Blue Lacy dogs are very gentle with children and are tolerant of any rough play.
However, young Blue Lacy dogs may not be good with children because they are quite excitable and may harm the child. They are tolerable to other canines as well as non-canines. But they may attack other animals if not trained properly.
Overall, Blue Lacy dogs are trainable like any other dog. They aren’t aggressive and stubborn, but their confidence will often make them think that they don’t need leaders. Dog owners should exercise their leadership over this breed constantly to prevent unwanted behaviors.
Pet Care and Diseases
Surprisingly, the exercise requirements of this breed are low. Blue Lacy dogs are big couch potatoes and will often laze around the house all day. Even so, they still need exercise to stay healthy and to not get bored and destructive.
This kind of dog needs vigorous long walks regularly. Owners should practice control over their pet so that it won’t become stubborn.
Owners should carefully regulate the amount of activity and ventilation a Blue Lacy dog gets especially in hot temperatures, after meals, and before they reach its full size.
Owners should remember that these dogs are messy eater and drinker, that is why these dogs are not for people who can’t stand any mess in their homes.
Regular cleaning is required after every meal.
If not dried and cleaned regularly, the skin can get irritated and infected. However, regular brushing is sufficient on their coats.
When it comes to routine maintenance, like nail trimming, owners should have their pets acquainted with the procedure at a young age. It is quite problematic to trim a full-grown adult who is not familiar with the procedure.
One common health problem is bloat. It is a condition in which the stomach gets twisted inside. Immediate surgery is needed to correct this condition as it may lead to death.
There are many causes of bloat but one way to prevent it is to avoid giving your dog exercise after eating. Another way is to feed them two to three small feeding daily instead of one large meal.
Appearance
The Blue Lacy is medium in size with a light, balanced yet powerful build. According to the Texas House Concurrent Resolution No. 108, the height of a Blue Lacy dog is between 18 to 25 inches (46 to 64 cm) while the weight is between 30 to 50 pounds (14 to 23 kg), but it was not until 2005 that the resolution became official.
The Blue Lacy’s coat is short, sleek, smooth and tight. An excessively long or rough coat is a disqualification.
Though they are often called “blue” Lacys, there are three permissible color varieties of the Lacy. “Blues” are any shade of gray from light silver to dark charcoal.
“Reds” range from light cream to rust. The “Tri” combines a blue base with distinct red markings as appropriate for trim, and white which may appear on the brisket and stretch from chin to groin.
White may also be present on one or more paws. Excessive white is discouraged, and markings on the face or above mid-line are a disqualifying fault.
General Information
The estimated life expectancy for this breed is about 16 years. The average litter size is approximately 5 puppies. Other names include Lacy Dog, Lacy Game Dog, Texas Blue Lacy and Lacy Hog Dog.
Breed Club
Visit this dog club website dedicated to Blue lacy dogs. Click this link:
http://www.americanbluelacyassociation.com/Join-American-Blue-Lacy-Association.html