Blue Lacy

The Blue Lacy is a Texan working dog — the state dog of Texas, bred to handle half-wild cattle and hogs on open range.

History

It was developed by the Lacy brothers in Texas in the nineteenth century, reportedly from greyhound, scenthound and herding stock, to drive and catch free-ranging livestock. The "blue" is a dilute coat colour that the breed carries widely.

Temperament

The breed is known for being intense, driven and quick, highly bonded to its handler and unhappy without work. It is a serious working dog and its energy is not decorative.

Care and training

It needs an enormous amount of exercise and a job; without one it becomes destructive and difficult. It trains readily for a handler it respects. The short coat needs nothing.

Health

Generally robust; some dogs carrying the dilute coat colour show the skin condition associated with that gene. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.