Contact Verified Lakeland Terrier Breeders

The Lakeland Terrier is a charming, tireless companion from the fells of England's Lake District. Originally bred for the demanding task of hunting foxes in rugged terrain, this compact dog stands 35 to 39 centimetres at the shoulder, weighs 8 to 9 kilograms in the case of males, and has a remarkable amount of self-confidence. To give your future four-legged friend the best chance of living out its typical life expectancy of 12 to 15 years in good health and with plenty of energy, choosing a knowledgeable Lakeland Terrier breeder is the most important first step.

Lakeland Terriers are friendly, confident and bold dogs. As true terriers, however, they are also independent thinkers with a strongly developed working instinct and a certain stubbornness. Inadequate socialisation in the first weeks of life quickly turns that cheeky, intelligent character into a dog that is hard to manage day to day. An experienced breeder lays the foundations for impulse control and getting used to the environment right from the whelping box.

Breeding choices also have a direct bearing on physical resilience. Although the breed is generally considered robust, health problems affecting the joints and eyes do occasionally occur. Only someone who knows the bloodlines closely and pairs dogs with care can systematically minimise these risks for the offspring.

A health-minded breeder does not rely on appearances alone, but has breeding dogs examined by a vet before they are used for breeding. In the Lakeland Terrier, three areas are the main focus:

• Eye examinations: Because various eye abnormalities can occur in the breed, responsible breeders have the parents' eyes clinically examined regularly by veterinary specialists in ophthalmology. Such checks show whether the parents were free of detectable changes at the time of the examination, and they reduce the risk for the offspring.
• Hip screening: To preserve the active terrier's joy of movement, the hip joints are carefully assessed beforehand by X-ray.
• Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease: This is an aseptic necrosis of the femoral head which, during the growing years, causes severe pain and lameness in the hip joint. As there is no DNA test for it, detailed knowledge of the breeding lines is crucial: reputable breeders pay close attention to whether cases have occurred among relatives, and consistently remove affected lines from breeding.

Ask to see the original official results for the parents before you buy. Together with rearing that is gentle on the joints and a healthy weight later in life, this gives you the best basis for a long life for your dog.

You can recognise a good Lakeland Terrier breeder by their transparency and expertise. The puppies grow up in the house or in close contact with the family, get to know everyday noises, and the mother is on site and shows a friendly, balanced temperament. Budget 1,500 to 2,500 euros for a puppy from a breeder like this.

Use your first visit to put these six breed-specific questions to the breeder:

• What results are available from the clinical eye and hip examinations of both parents? (Ask to be shown the documents directly.)
• Have any cases of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease come to light in your breeding lines or among offspring from previous litters?
• How strong is the parents' prey drive, and how do you prepare the puppies for life as a family dog?
• How do you encourage tolerance of other dogs and familiarity with children in the first weeks of life?
• Can you show me how the harsh, dense coat with its undercoat is properly cared for and hand-stripped? (Lakeland Terriers barely moult, but need regular grooming.)
• What do you recommend for exercise that is gentle on the joints in the first year of life?