Sporting Lucas Terrier
10-15 yrs
11-15 lbs
10-12"
England, Scotland

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Sporting Lucas Terrier

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Sporting Lucas Terrier

11-15 lbs

10-12"

England, Scotland

Lucas Terrier

The Sporting Lucas Terrier at one time was strictly used to hunt ground vermin but has evolved into an enchanting, loving companion dog. He is energetic, feisty and alert; he is a terrier after all. Even though he is an energetic dog, he is not typically a hyperactive dog and is relatively easy to train. He does enjoy spending time running, playing and being with his family but he is also able to take it down a notch and spend time relaxing and lazing around the house. The Sporting Lucas Terrier does require early socialization for him to become a well-adjusted member of the family.

                
                Purpose
              
Hunting  Ground Vermin

                Date of Origin
              
1940s

                Ancestry
              
Sealyham Terrier, Norfolk Terrier, Plummer Terrier

Sporting Lucas Terrier Health

Average Size

Height: 11-14 inches Weight: 14-18 lbs

Height: 10-12 inches Weight: 11-15 lbs

Major Concerns

Usually A Very Healthy Breed

Minor Concerns

Ear Infections
Patellar Luxation
Ectropion

Occasional Diagnoses

Dental Issues

Occasional Tests

Eye Examination
Dental Examination
Yearly Eye Exam
Yearly Physical Examination

Sporting Lucas Terrier Breed History

Sir Jocelyn Lucas, MC, KBE, MP returned home from World War I and began breeding Sealyham Terriers. He created Ilmer Kennels, a famed kennel in Europe. In the late 1940s Lucas and his long-time business partner, the Honorable Mrs. Enid Plummer, began cultivating the Lucas Terrier because they felt that the Sealyham Terrier was too large to efficiently work. The Sealyham was also experiencing several stillbirths in the whelping box. They chose a smaller Sealyham Terrier female from their kennel and bred her to a Norfolk Terrier male from the Colonsay bloodlines. The resulting litter was the beginning of the Lucas Terrier. The breed gained some popularity because it is said that Sir Jocelyn Lucas was an expert marketer. Throughout the years, the Lucas Terrier lost many of the characteristics that Lucas and Plummer worked so hard to develop. In the 1990s Brian Plummer, a noted terrier expert, began reinventing the Sporting Lucas Terrier. He crossed a Lucas Terrier with one of his Plummer Terriers. This cross was named the Sporting Lucas Terrier. In order for a dog to be officially recognized as a Sporting Lucas Terrier it must be a direct descendant of one of the Ilmer Sporting Lucas Terriers and all ancestors in the pedigree must be registered Sporting Lucas Terrier, registered Sealyham Terrier or registered Norfolk Terrier. Any ancestor that is not purebred or registered will cause the dog to not be recognized as a Sporting Lucas Terrier. The United Kennel Club recognized the Sporting Lucas Terrier in 2002. The Lucas Terrier Club of the United Kingdom was established to continue efforts to have the Sporting Lucas Terrier recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale.

Sporting Lucas Terrier Breed Appearance

The Sporting Lucas Terrier is a compact and sturdy terrier that is low to the ground, standing between 10 and 13 inches tall. He is a working terrier and should have a flexible spine, sturdy legs and a powerful jaw. He should never look bulky or overly muscled. He has triangular shaped ears with rounded tips. His ears are carried close to his head and drop forward in a semi-erect position. His nose is well developed with wide nostrils and black in color. Oval, deep set eyes give him an alert expression. His eyes should be dark in color and set wide apart. The Sporting Lucas Terrier has double coat that is about 1 ½ inches in length. His topcoat is stiff and harsh while his undercoat is dense and softer. There are two types of color patterns for the Sporting Lucas Terrier: predominantly white bodied or solid bodied. The predominantly white bodied Sporting Lucas Terrier can have dark patches of any shade of grizzle, badger-gray, black or brown. Tan markings can be present. The colored body Sporting Lucas Terrier can be any shade of black and tan, grizzle and tan, or brown. He can have small white markings on his feet, brisket or chest.

Eye Color Possibilities

Brown

Nose Color Possibilities

Black

Coat Color Possibilities

White

Black

Brown

Gray

Coat Length

Short Medium Long

Coat Density

Sparse Normal Dense

Coat Texture

Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Sporting Lucas Terrier Breed Maintenance

The Sporting Lucas Terrier is a double coated breed and is not hypoallergenic. He does require weekly grooming to keep his coat in good condition. A pin brush or slicker brush should be used when grooming. A metal comb will help work through any tangles that may have formed. Because he has a double coat, he will shed seasonally. Aside from shedding moderately twice a year, he is a low shedder. When he is shedding in the spring and fall you will want to brush him more often to keep the loose hair from gathering all over the house. To save you time and hassle, you may consider having him professionally hand stripped when he sheds his undercoat. Professional groomers can easily hand strip the coat and keep the mess at bay. When he is being bathed, make sure you are using a shampoo that is formulated for harsh or wiry coats. Sporting Lucas Terriers can be prone to ear infections, be sure to clean his ears weekly as a preventative.

Brushes for Sporting Lucas Terrier

Pin Brush

Slicker Brush

Comb

Brushing Frequency

Daily Weekly Monthly

Sporting Lucas Terrier Temperament

Overall, the Sporting Lucas Terrier is a friendly breed but he is wary of strangers and does not readily accept new people into his home. He is an energetic dog, but he is not as hyperactive as his other terrier cousins and can be content spending the evening chewing on a bone or lazing at your feet. Early socialization and training are important to ensure he understands his position within the home and his boundaries. It is a rare occurrence for any Sporting Lucas Terrier to show aggression towards people; however he may show a bit of an attitude towards other dogs when trying to determine dominance. He is not an overly barky dog, he will sound the alarm when a strange person or animal approaches his home or threatens his family. He does require daily interaction and exercise to keep him from becoming a destructive nuisance. The Sporting Lucas Terrier is a good choice for a first time dog owner.

Sporting Lucas Terrier Activity Requirements

The Sporting Lucas Terrier is a high energy dog without being the Tasmanian Devil. He does crave mental stimulation along with daily exercise to keep him happy and sharp. Interactive toys are a great way to engage him when you do not have the time throughout the day to play games with him. Taking long walks around the neighborhood or going for long hikes through the local park are great ways to keep him moving. Since he is a terrier, he would excel at many dog sports such as fly ball, barn hunts or agility. Plan on spending between 30 and 45 minutes a day with your Sporting Lucas Terrier doing some type of physical exercise.

Activity Level

                  Low
                  Medium
                  High
                
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
10 miles

Minutes of Activity Per Day
30 minutes

Similar Maintenance Breeds to Sporting Lucas Terrier

Similarly Sized Breeds to Sporting Lucas Terrier

Sporting Lucas Terrier Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
1.3 cups
Daily Cost
$0.90 - $1.00
Monthly Cost
$25.00 - $30.00

Sporting Lucas Terrier Height & Weight

6 Months

                  Height: 9.5 inches
                  Weight: 8.0 lbs
                
                  Height: 9.0 inches
                  Weight: 7.0 lbs
                
12 Months

                  Height: 11.5 inches
                  Weight: 12.5 lbs
                
                  Height: 10.0 inches
                  Weight: 11.0 lbs
                
18 Months

                  Height: 12.5 inches
                  Weight: 16.0 lbs
                
                  Height: 11.0 inches
                  Weight: 13.0 lbs

Written by a Rough Collie lover Holly Ramsey

Published: 02/22/2018, edited: 02/24/2021

Sporting Lucas Terrier Owner Experiences

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