Origin
The Lakeland Terrier is often referred to as a cheeky rascal and for good reason because these attractive little dogs boast having a real sense of humour. They are highly adaptable being just at home in a working environment as they are in a family environment. They are tireless, affectionate and extremely loyal terriers that form a very strong bond with their families enjoying nothing more than being involved in everything that goes on in a household. Sadly, today these little dogs are not as popular as they once were and as such they have been placed on The Kennel Club’s list of vulnerable native breeds.
As their name suggests, the Lakeland Terrier first appeared on the scene in the Lake District of England in the early 1900's. They were originally bred to work in mines and on farms, but with hunting being a popular sport at the time, many types of terriers were used in the field and it is from these dogs that the Lakeland evolved with people wanting to create the "perfect" terrier to hunt with. The end result was the Lakeland Terrier, a cheerful, fearless little dog that boasted a tremendous amount of courage and stamina.
These charming little dogs were not given their Lakeland name until a breed club was founded in 1912 after this they were recognised as a unique breed by The Kennel Club in 1921. Sadly, over time the breed has become less popular here in the UK and elsewhere in the world and the numbers of puppies registered with The Kennel Club every year has dwindled. As a result, the breed has now been classed as a vulnerable native breed even though they make wonderful family pets and companion dogs.
