How the blue-lacey breed arose, external norms, manifestations of character and its health, care: walking, which includes diet, training, interesting facts. Puppy price. The Blue-leucy were bred by farm brothers who immigrated to Texas. These dogs were created to be cowboys and farmers' helpers - the second hand of a man on a ranch. With the decline of farming, there was a decline in blue-lacey needs. The breed began to fade away and would almost disappear, but its fans remembered that dogs are wonderful hunting companions. The increased demand for blue-laces saved her from extinction.
How did the Blue Lacey dog come about?
These dogs were bred in the middle of the 19th century, in Texas, precisely in order to be a universal, ideal human helper. The variety is named after its creators. These dogs know where and when to be at the right time and complete tasks without hesitation and fear. This was very important to the needs of colonial Americans in the 1800s. Especially for the farmer brothers Frank, George, Edwin and Harry named Lacey.
These farmers kept several hundred head of cattle and pigs, without the help of modern agricultural equipment. The four brothers not only needed help in collecting and driving livestock, but also in the hunt for hunting game and animal skins for their families. They say that their dogs replaced the work of five cowboys during the day, and the rest of the time, the dogs hunted wild pigs and found injured deer on the trail of blood.
In 1858, the Lacey brothers came to the granite hills near Marble Falls, Texas, from Christian, Kentucky. Immigrants started breeding shortly after settling in Texas. The brothers made sure that every dog they bred had excellent working characteristics. They showed the same diligence and vigilance in breeding their dogs, as in breeding their livestock. Frank, George, Edwin and Harry weren't just busy raising livestock and canines. The brothers were soldiers in the Confederate Army and had many other achievements in their country and society.
The Blue Laces are different from other herding dogs. They have great instincts, and dogs never bite livestock, holding and guiding them to the right place. People also used these dogs as hunting dogs to search for wounded deer and other animals. The Blue Lacey do their job very masterly. They keep the cattle under great control and do the same with wild pigs. This is a really worthy sight! Without the help of the blue-lacey cowboys, they will bring a herd of about three hundred heads, after three hours, taking them under guard.
These incredible dog instincts allowed the Lacey brothers to spread them around. The canines were loyal companions to their owners. The decline of the family farming industry, as well as the introduction of technologies such as ATVs, have led to a dramatic reduction in the Lacey breed. While the need for his instinctive herding abilities was dwindling, their hunting skills were greatly needed in the commercial, hunting industry, which was at that time on the rise. The discovery of the Blue Lacey's abilities as a hunting companion-assistant dramatically increased the demand for the breed.
Currently, these dogs are the most common breed used by American hunters. Now the descendants of the Lacy brothers are working to increase the number of breed individuals, bringing their number closer to what it once was.
Although the exact pedigree of the Blue Lacey is not clear, official documents say they were the result of mating with a Greyhound, English Shepherd, Greyhound Coyote, or wolf. When breeding, special attention was paid to herding characteristics. The Blue Lacey was listed to a group of herding dogs.
As with every breed of dog, the different combination of genes used to breed one breed is a version that humans may have their own opinion on. The only proven fact is that all dogs are descendants of coyotes, aboriginal canines, jackals or wolves. Having studied the pedigree of dogs in any encyclopedia, this fact is confirmed.
Description of the external norms of the blue-lacey breed
This is a medium sized dog with a light, balanced but powerful build. Their movements indicate speed, power and agility. The height at the withers in males is from 49 to 56 cm and in bitches from 43 to 47 cm. The weight of males from 11 to 20 kg and bitches from 16 to 25 kg.
- Head - elongated structure. The skull expands between the ears. The forehead is flat. The brows and nape are not pronounced. The cheekbones are well defined.
- Muzzle - long, rectangular with a straight nose bridge. The transition from forehead to muzzle is not pronounced. The lips are thin, taut, and dark. Scissor teeth.
- Nose - developed, coal-black, lilac, brown - depending on the color of the "coat" of the dog.
- Eyes Blue Laces are very vibrant and feature orange and yellow colors, which add a unique touch to their appearance. They are small, almond-shaped.
- Ears - of medium size, triangular, with rounded ends, slightly raised on the cartilage and turned forward.
- Neck good length, strong, muscular.
- Frame - stretched, powerful, but balanced. The withers are pronounced, the back is strong. The chest is in excellent volume. The loin is powerful. The croup is muscular, slightly sloping. Ribs are oval. The bottom line is pulled up.
- Tail continues the line of the back, long, slightly saber-like curved, tapers towards the end.
- Front limbs blue-lacey - slender, strong, straight. Hind legs - parallel with prominent thighs.
- Paws - in a lump.
- Coat short and sleek type.
- Color - three acceptable varieties. "Blues" - any shade of gray, from light silver to dark charcoal. The red color ranges from light cream to rust. Three combinations of these colors with a base blue tone and a crisp red tint. White color appears on the chest, abdomen and legs. Red and tricolor dogs carry the blue gene.
Distinctive features of blue-lacey behavior
Until the last decade, representatives of the breed were grown exclusively for working purposes. The result is one of the most energetic breeds on the planet. These dogs tend to be very loyal to their families. The Blue Laces are deeply attached to their owners. It is a dog that craves the constant companionship of its family, and many breed dogs suffer serious anxiety if left alone for long periods of time.
Breeders have worked to ensure that this breed is gentle and tolerant with children. Pets must be properly trained to communicate with children. This breed tends to be somewhat dominant and is better able to obey and understand an experienced owner.
While the blue-lacey is not aggressive, many breed individuals have very strong protective instincts. Socialization is extremely important for puppies, otherwise fear or aggression may arise later in life. This is a rather dangerous dog that can be an excellent watchdog. But, most members of the breed do not have enough aggression to exhibit ideal protective functions.
Blue Lacey works great in pack with other hunting dogs. As a result, this breed tends to be tolerant of other brethren when properly socialized. However, dogs can fight with other domestic canines to defend their territory or during the mating season, exhibiting dominant behavior.
The Blue Lacey is very often used as a hunting dog, showing a high level of aggression towards the animal. A pet left in the backyard for a period of time is likely to bring home gifts to its owners - dead animals ranging from a lizard to a mole. This breed is also an excellent herding dog. Most pets need to get used to large animals such as horses or sheep from childhood. Dogs will get along with cats if they grow up next to them, otherwise, "murki" will be hunting prey.
Blue Lacey Health
The breed is considered to be very strong and hardy. Many breeders claim that this is one of the healthiest dogs of all modern breeds. These dogs were bred exclusively as workers, in the harsh, climatic conditions of America. Any genetic defects that diminished the breed's ability to work were quickly remedied either by natural selection or deliberate breeding efforts. This does not mean that Bluesi are not susceptible to genetic health disorders, but this breed has far fewer provoking factors than most purebred dogs.
Due to good immunity and excellent heredity, these dogs are long-livers for both their parameters. The average lifespan of a Blue Lacey is about 16 years, and many members of the breed exceed that. These pets tend to stay in great shape until old age, and many members of the breed are still active working dogs between the ages of 15 and 16.
The blue lace has several issues of some concern. Because there is a genetic link between coat pigmentation and skin and coat problems. Blue, bronze, gray and tricolor blue-laces are at risk of developing a variety of skin and coat imperfections. Alopecia areata is the most common, although allergic reactions, a mutation of demodicosis, other forms of alopecia, and many other problems have been identified.
Of great concern is the sensitivity to anesthesia in a significant percentage of the breed. A dose of anesthesia that is safe for most dogs of the same size can kill blue-laceies. This trait is possibly transmitted genetically. Since this breed is rare, owners should alert their veterinarians to this trend prior to any surgical procedure.
How to take care of Blue Lacey?
- Wool this breed has very low grooming requirements. Blue Lacey doesn't need professional grooming. She needs rare combing. Manipulation is carried out more often, during the period of changing the coat with a brush. They bathe the dog with a gentle shampoo, and then wash it off well.
- Teeth to guard against imperfections with gums, bad breath and stone depositing, brush once a week with charcoal or dog paste.
- Ears check your pet. They should be damaged, reddened. There should be no bad smell coming from the inside of the sink. Clean them with herbal lotion once a week.
- Eyes the pet is carefully examined. If they are a little irritated, then wipe them off. Only a veterinarian treats injuries.
- Claws blue-laceies almost always grind, as they move a lot. Excess length is shortened with clippers.
- Feeding the dog may consist of natural products, but their combinations must be carefully thought out. Basically it is 80% meat and 20% fiber and carbohydrates. Every day, the blue-lace must receive vitamins and minerals in addition to food. Commercial food is also suitable for catering. But, it must be premium or super-premium. Dry food is selected according to the weight of the animal. Do not exceed its dosage. The pet must be able to always drink clean water. No additional vitamin supplementation is needed.
- Walking. There are very few dog breeds that show the workforce and endurance of the Blue Lacey. They are capable of operating for long hours in temperatures that can kill many breeds. As you might expect, this is a breed with very high demands on physical activity. Pets should get a minimum of two to three hours of vigorous activity every day, but their needs are much higher.
Even the most active family cannot always cope with trying to satisfy the lacey nature, so these animals are not for everyone. Dogs that are not properly exercised will develop severe behavioral problems such as extreme destructiveness, constant barking, hyperactivity, irritability, nervousness and aggression. Also, many serious emotional problems, among them are: depression, instability and psychological disorders.
While this breed is great for running or cycling, monotonous exercise is not enough for blue-lacing. She needs activities that allow her to show her mental abilities. These dogs are excellent hunting and grazing animals and will probably be happy to participate in these activities. The Blue Lacey has also been used for search and rescue, competitive obedience, frisbee and coursing, tasks that provide the breed with the activity it craves. Due to her natural needs, it is essentially impossible to keep a Blue Lace in an apartment or suburban home. These dogs need a yard of at least a few acres of land.
Blue lace training
It is an exceptional breed that has been trained with great success to work as a shepherd, hunter and guard. However, its representatives are not so simple, and training can become a serious problem. The Blue Lacey is a dominant breed that often completely ignores a trainer who has not established his authority. Psam gets bored very quickly when they have to repeat the same simple tasks.
One of the biggest problems, for most even experienced trainers, is that blue-laceies are extremely sensitive to voice intonation. Training methods that are too harsh or require screaming will cause a nervous dog to be too scared to attempt any action.
Most members of the breed respond well to reinforcement-based methods of rewarding food or praise. At the genetic level, Blue-Laceies perform two tasks very quickly: hunting and grazing. Even young puppies do it naturally and quickly learn lessons in these areas.
Interesting facts about blue lace
The Blue Laces were first recognized by the Texas Senate in 2001. In 2005, in June, legislation was signed into law by Governor Rick Perry indicating that these dogs are the official, state-owned breed of Texas. Today, the vast majority of Blue Laces are located in the US state of Texas. However, as the breed has become more famous in the United States, Canada and more recently in Europe, breeding populations of blue-laceies are emerging in these countries.
Blue Lace cost
Bred as working dogs, the breed is an incredibly motivated and hard-working animal. Those looking for a dog to hunt wild pigs or to hunt small animals such as squirrels or raccoons are likely to be very happy with such a pet. And those looking for a cattle dog will find this breed invaluable.
People who are considering adopting a companion dog are probably best off considering a different breed. They can contain this dog, if only they are willing to devote a large amount of time and effort to satisfy the pet with a huge amount of physical activity and regular mental exercise. The price of a puppy is $ 900-1000.
What blue-lacey looks like, see the following video:
