Blue Lacy
The Blue Lacy or Lacy Dog is a breed of working dog that originated in Texas in the mid-19th century, the only dog breed to have originated in that state. The Lacy was first recognized in 2001 by the Texas Senate. In Senate Resolution No. 436, the 77th Legislature honored the Lacy as "a true Texas breed". In June 2005, Governor Rick Perry signed the legislation adopting the blue Lacy as "the official State Dog Breed of Texas".
Appearance
Lacy dogs are strong and fast, lightly built but proportional within the height-to-weight ratio. Height at the withers is from 18 to 21 inches (46 to 53 cm). Dependent on height and working condition, weight should be approximately 25 to 45 pounds (11 to 20 kg) for females and 35 to 50 pounds (16 to 23 kg) for males. The standards listed in the Texas House Concurrent Resolution No. 108 are slightly different: height between 18 to 25 inches (46 to 63 cm), weight between 30 to 50 pounds (14 to 23 kg) but it was not until 2005 that it was official.
Head
The head is medium in size. Powerful, keen and carried with pride.
Skull – Moderately long, medium in width and well built. Slight median line extending back over the forehead with a moderate stop at the foreface.
Muzzle – Of equal length or slightly shorter than skull when viewed in profile. Foreface should be moderately tapered but not dished, disproportionately short, or overly houndish or bully in appearance.
Jaws – Strong with even white teeth meeting in a correct scissor bite. Lips cover the jaws completely but are neither loose nor drooping.
Ears – Medium in length. Thin and hanging with a tight construction. While alert yet relaxed, top of the ear should sit level with the top of the head. When held flat against the cheek parallel to the muzzle, the tip of the ear should align approximately with the eye. Excessively long ears extending more than one-quarter inch past the eye or extremely short, pricked ears are a serious fault.
Eyes – Sharp, alert, and bright. Similar to a wolf in appearance and intensity. Colors range from bright yellow to rich brown. Should be round and set well apart.
Appearance
Lacy dogs are strong and fast, lightly built but proportional within the height-to-weight ratio. Height at the withers is from 18 to 21 inches (46 to 53 cm). Dependent on height and working condition, weight should be approximately 25 to 45 pounds (11 to 20 kg) for females and 35 to 50 pounds (16 to 23 kg) for males. The standards listed in the Texas House Concurrent Resolution No. 108 are slightly different: height between 18 to 25 inches (46 to 63 cm), weight between 30 to 50 pounds (14 to 23 kg) but it was not until 2005 that it was official.
Head
The head is medium in size. Powerful, keen and carried with pride.
Skull – Moderately long, medium in width and well built. Slight median line extending back over the forehead with a moderate stop at the foreface.
Muzzle – Of equal length or slightly shorter than skull when viewed in profile. Foreface should be moderately tapered but not dished, disproportionately short, or overly houndish or bully in appearance.
Jaws – Strong with even white teeth meeting in a correct scissor bite. Lips cover the jaws completely but are neither loose nor drooping.
Ears – Medium in length. Thin and hanging with a tight construction. While alert yet relaxed, top of the ear should sit level with the top of the head. When held flat against the cheek parallel to the muzzle, the tip of the ear should align approximately with the eye. Excessively long ears extending more than one-quarter inch past the eye or extremely short, pricked ears are a serious fault.
Eyes – Sharp, alert, and bright. Similar to a wolf in appearance and intensity. Colors range from bright yellow to rich brown. Should be round and set well apart.
Neck
The neck is slightly arched, strong, very well muscled, and of moderate length. Set well into the shoulders. Body Strong, balanced, built for speed, agility, and endurance. Body should be square or just slightly longer than tall. Back should be well-muscled, level, and of moderate length. Deep, moderately broad chest extends approximately to the elbows. Combines with well-sprung ribs to provide plenty of lung space. Abdomen should be small, narrow and moderately tucked-up at the loins. Forequarters Shoulders should be well laid back and muscular. Legs are straight and medium in length. Hindquarters Haunches should be balanced and muscular with a tight, slightly rounded croup. Proportionately angulated stifles lead to straight, low hocks. Feet Cat-like feet are firm, compact, and arched with webbed toes and thick pads Tail |
Tail is medium set, reaching approximately to the hocks, and should be carried showing confidence.
Coat
Short, smooth, and tight. Excessively long or rough coat is a disqualification.
Color
Though they are often called blue Lacys, there are three permissible color varieties. Blues are any shade of gray from light silver to dark charcoal. Reds range from light cream to rust. The tri combines these colors with a blue base and distinct red markings as appropriate for trim. Blue shading or trim on red dogs is not permitted. White should appear on the brisket and may stretch from chin to groin. White should also be present on one or more paws. Excessive white is discouraged and markings on the face or above mid-line are a disqualifying fault.
Height and Weight
Lightly built but proportionally balanced within height-to-weight ratio. Height at the withers should be between 18 to 21 inches. Because the Lacy is meant to be medium in size, dogs measuring more than an inch above or below these standards will be disqualified. Dependent on height and working condition, weight should be approximately 30 to 45 pounds for females and 35 to 50 pounds for males.
Gait
Effortless, nimble, and quick. Their gait is light and free but still powerful. All movement should allude to reserves of strength and dexterity.
Coat
Short, smooth, and tight. Excessively long or rough coat is a disqualification.
Color
Though they are often called blue Lacys, there are three permissible color varieties. Blues are any shade of gray from light silver to dark charcoal. Reds range from light cream to rust. The tri combines these colors with a blue base and distinct red markings as appropriate for trim. Blue shading or trim on red dogs is not permitted. White should appear on the brisket and may stretch from chin to groin. White should also be present on one or more paws. Excessive white is discouraged and markings on the face or above mid-line are a disqualifying fault.
Height and Weight
Lightly built but proportionally balanced within height-to-weight ratio. Height at the withers should be between 18 to 21 inches. Because the Lacy is meant to be medium in size, dogs measuring more than an inch above or below these standards will be disqualified. Dependent on height and working condition, weight should be approximately 30 to 45 pounds for females and 35 to 50 pounds for males.
Gait
Effortless, nimble, and quick. Their gait is light and free but still powerful. All movement should allude to reserves of strength and dexterity.
Temperament
Lacys are intelligent, intense, active, and alert. Developed to be both hunting and herding dogs, they display great drive and determination to work with big game and control difficult livestock. Young dogs may have too much energy and drive for small children. They are easy to train, learning new skills quickly. Activities The Lacy is a working breed and most need a job. Work they excel at includes herding livestock, blood trailing, treeing game, running trap lines, and hunting wild hogs. Modern activities like agility that stress intelligence, passion, speed and nimbleness may be appropriate substitutes for traditional work. Herding instincts and trainability can be measured at noncompetitive herding tests. Lacys exhibiting basic herding instincts can be trained to compete in stock dog trials. Health Blue Lacys are very healthy dogs. Developed for generations to meet the standards of professional Texas ranchers and hunters, they are sturdy enough to withstand tough terrain and difficult working conditions. However skin problems and food allergies can occur. Color dilution alopecia is very rare but has occurred in Lacys. History The Lacy dog was named after the Lacy brothers—Frank, George, Ewin, and Harry Lacy—who in 1858 moved from Kentucky to Texas and settled in Burnet County, Texas. The dog, according to the Lacy family, was a mixture of English Shepherd (or perhaps coyote), greyhound, and wolf. Texas House Concurrent Resolution No. 108 also mentions scenthound. The brothers originally developed the dogs' natural herding instincts to work the family's free-roaming hogs. On March 15, 2005, in the 79th Legislature of the State of Texas, Representative Joaquin Castro and members of the Texas Lacy Game Dog Association filed House Concurrent Resolution No. 108, proposing the blue Lacy as state dog of Texas. This legislation was proposed to recognize the original breeders and their contribution to the State of Texas as well as to honor the Lacy as a Texas original. House Concurrent Resolution No. 108 was adopted by the Texas House of Representatives on May 15, 2005, and by the Senate ten days later on May 25, 2005. Governor Rick Perry signed the legislation adopting the Lacy as "the official State Dog Breed of Texas" on June 18, 2005. The blue Lacy was proposed by some in 2008 to replace Reveille VII, a collie, as the mascot dog of Texas A&M. In accordance with tradition since Reveille III, however, a collie was chosen. |