Lakeland Terrier

15-17 lbs
13-14"
England
Cumberland Terrier, Fell Terrier, Patterdale Terrier, Colored Working Terrier, Westmorland Terrier

The Lakeland Terrier is one of the oldest of the Terrier breeds and was initially used to hunt animals that were considered vermin, such as otters, badgers, and even foxes. As these animals were sometimes larger than the dog themselves, these Terriers were bred with fearlessness in mind, but as fearless as they are on the hunt, they are somewhat more prone to separation anxiety than many other breeds. Lakelands are considered hypoallergenic due to their low shed rate, and they have very little smell. These little dogs do not require frequent baths, but weekly brushing and occasional clipping or stripping of the coat are needed to keep their coat healthy. 

purpose Purpose
Vermin Hunting
history Date of Origin
1700s
ancestry Ancestry
Old English Wirehaired Terriers, Bedlington Terriers

Lakeland Terrier Health

Sketch of Lakeland Terrier
Average Size
Male Lakeland Terrier size stats
Height: 13-15 inches Weight: 15-17 lbs
Female Lakeland Terrier size stats
Height: 13-14 inches Weight: 15-17 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
Minor Concerns
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Allergies
  • Eye Problems
Occasional Tests
  • Eye
  • Hips
  • X-Rays
  • Eye Examination
  • Physical Examination
  • Allergy Tests

Lakeland Terrier Breed History

Terrier’s, in general, were bred to hunt and kill animals that were seen as vermin such as rats, badgers, otters, foxes, and weasels. Terriers became specialized by size, color, and temperament to hunt specific categories of vermin. Lakeland Terriers are one of the oldest of the working Terrier breeds, though they have gone by several different names throughout their long history. They originated as hunters of larger vermin in the Lake District of England and were originally known as Patterdale Terriers. They were bred initially to assist the farmers in the area by going to ground after badgers, otters, and foxes; not just to alert a human partner or to corner the animal, but to find and destroy their prey in order to keep them from raiding livestock. They were bred for gameness, which is defined as the trait of eagerness even in the face of substantial threat or injury, and this gameness has led some of these Terriers to follow badgers, otters, and foxes into their holes and pursue them for days. In 1912, a Terrier breed club was formed with the aim to recognize distinct breeds of terrier, including the Lakeland Terrier, which was known as the Cumberland County Terrier at that time. World War I slowed development of the breed, however, and an official breed standard was delayed until the 1920’s. It was at this time that the breed was given their current name. The Lakeland Terrier first appeared in the show ring in 1928 at Crufts in the United Kingdom, and was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1934.

Lakeland Terrier Breed Appearance

The Lakeland Terrier is a solidly built but narrow dog, sturdy with a long neck and square proportions. They have a long, rectangular head with short V-shaped ears that fold down towards their face and either an impish or thoughtful but alert expression. The Lakeland Terrier’s coat is short and dense, consisting of both a soft undercoat and a slightly longer layer of dense, wiry fur that is accented by longer bushy fur found on the face and legs. They come in several recognized colors, including black, blue, brindle, grizzle, liver, red, red grizzle, wheaten, black and tan, blue and tan, liver and tan, and even grizzle and tan. These dogs were bred to hunt and kill animals that were often larger than they were, so they require a scissor bite and a very strong jaw. Historically, the tail was docked to protect the animal from injuring it while they were working, however, many owners today choose not to shorten this appendage. In either case, the tail is most frequently carried jauntily above the dog, but it should not curl over the back.

Appearance of Lakeland Terrier
Eye Color Possibilities
brown Lakeland Terrier eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black Lakeland Terrier nose
Black
Coat Color Possibilities
black Lakeland Terrier coat
Black
gray Lakeland Terrier coat
Gray
brown Lakeland Terrier coat
Brown
red Lakeland Terrier coat
Red
cream Lakeland Terrier coat
Cream
fawn Lakeland Terrier coat
Fawn
blue Lakeland Terrier coat
Blue
silver Lakeland Terrier coat
Silver
sable Lakeland Terrier coat
Sable
brindle Lakeland Terrier coat
Brindle
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Lakeland Terrier wiry coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Lakeland Terrier Breed Maintenance

Lakeland Terriers are typically considered to be a hypoallergenic breed in large part due to their low shed rate, and although they do not require frequent bathing, they do require some specialized grooming. The coat requires weekly brushing and combing which serves to both remove dirt, tangles, and excess fur and also to redistribute the required natural oils throughout the fur. This breed’s coat also requires either clipping or stripping on a regular basis to keep it healthy. Those that choose to strip the coat can either use hand stripping or strip the animal using a stripping knife. A clipped coat is often easier for pet owners to maintain, but the texture and color of the animal’s coat may be altered. These dogs are an energetic breed, and they require a great deal of exercise to keep them at their happiest and healthiest. Although Lakeland Terriers are generally small, their abundant energy coupled with their tendency towards barking frequently make these dogs unsuited to the apartment lifestyle.

Brushes for Lakeland Terrier
Slicker Brush
Slicker Brush
Deshedder
Deshedder
Clipper
Clipper
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Lakeland Terrier requires weekly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Lakeland Terrier Temperament

The Lakeland Terrier is intelligent and is quite capable of picking up on training. However, they also have an independent nature and a stubborn streak, so clear boundaries are imperative for a peaceful household. Lakelands are also suspicious of unknown dogs and people, and without appropriate socialization, these dogs can become aggressive with other dogs and sometimes with strangers. With their families, they are typically seen as playful and affectionate. They can make good companions for older children but should be very closely supervised with small children as they often exhibit guarding behavior and may not be tolerant of poking or prodding. Lakeland Terriers may have difficulty getting along with other dogs in the house, particularly other Terriers and dogs of the same sex and unless they are exposed to cats at a young age, they may pursue them as if they were prey. They will almost certainly go after any smaller animals that get loose in the house, such as mice, gerbils, and hamsters.

Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
9 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
45 minutes
activity minutes

Lakeland Terrier Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
1.3 cups
cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$1.00 - $1.30
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$30.00 - $37.50
food bag monthly cost

Lakeland Terrier Height & Weight

6 Months
Sketch of Lakeland Terrier at six months
Male Lakeland Terrier size stats at six months
Height: 12.0 inches Weight: 11.0 lbs
Female Lakeland Terrier size stats at six months
Height: 11.5 inches Weight: 11.0 lbs
12 Months
Sketch of Lakeland Terrier at 12 months
Male Lakeland Terrier size stats at 12 months
Height: 13.5 inches Weight: 14.0 lbs
Female Lakeland Terrier size stats at 12 months
Height: 12.5 inches Weight: 14.0 lbs
18 Months
Sketch of Lakeland Terrier at 18 months
Male Lakeland Terrier size stats at 18 months
Height: 14.0 inches Weight: 16.0 lbs
Female Lakeland Terrier size stats at 18 months
Height: 13.5 inches Weight: 16.0 lbs

Top Lakeland Terrier Breeders

Check out who made our list for the most reputable Lakeland Terrier breeders of 2024.
Top Lakeland Terrier breeder Hollybriar Farm
Hollybriar Farm
Lanexa, Virginia
Top Lakeland Terrier breeder Snowtaire Kennels
Snowtaire Kennels
Orting, Washington
Top Lakeland Terrier breeder Thomas Terriers
Thomas Terriers
Ulman, Missouri
Top Lakeland Terrier breeder tolyn kennels
tolyn kennels
Milan, Michigan
Top Lakeland Terrier breeder Teraz Lakelands
Teraz Lakelands
Pompano Beach, Florida
Top Lakeland Terrier breeder Greycottage Terriers
Greycottage Terriers
Bethlehem, Connecticut

Lakeland Terrier Owner Experiences

Teddy
5 Months
7 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
He is absolutely lovely, very friendly towards people and other dogs. The girls constantly pick him up for cuddles and when he is tired they wrap him up in a blanket with his bear and put him in bed
6 years, 9 months ago
Mildred
2 Years
3 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Dog Parks
Very few people have ever seen a Lakeland Terrier before. We get lots of questions.
6 years ago
Lucien
Nine Months
1 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Very good very smart energetic very friendly with other dogs
5 years, 1 month ago
Book me a walkiee?
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