Lancashire Heelers - The Lancashire Heeler a Pastoral Dog

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The Lancashire Heeler a Pastoral Dog

C heinban L ancashire H eelers

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The Lancashire Heeler is a native breed of the United Kingdom

originating in the county of Lancashire hence the name, he is the

smallest dog in the Pastoral Group, this group comprises of dogs

who were used to herd cattle and sheep since the early days of

mans close association with dogs.

Not only have they been used to herd sheep, cattle and other

cloven hoofed animals, dogs were used to guard their owners

from predators. All over the world dogs can be seen working

with other animals, from the hottest climates of Africa and

Australia to the very cold temperatures of the Arctic Circle, dogs

are used to herd and guard other animals. There is a vast terrain

difference where the herding dogs are used, from arid deserts to

lowland plains to bleak snow capped mountains. Most dogs have

a natural instinct to chase anything which runs and to protect

their territory and other pack members from attack. We have

capitalised on these natural instincts and trained many dog

breeds to be natural herders, the Lancashire Heeler being one

of these. As time moved on this development was advantageous

to both man and dog. The dog's skills of herding and guarding

were valuable to man, the dogs benefitted by being looked

after and well fed.

When man began to settle into larger communities, settlements,

villages, they surrounded the villages etc with herds of animals,

which was the start of a form of a farming system, the herds of

different animals provided the settlers with food, drinks and

clothing These herds had to be protected from predators, they

were kept in close proximity to the village, these herds were

highly valued by the communities as also were the dogs who

were used to guard both flocks and homes. The dogs helped to

keep the flock in close proximitiy to the community.

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The different climates resulted in many different types of dogs

being bred to suit both roles as herder and guardians of a flock or

herds. Along with sheep dogs, cattle dogs, heelers, many different types of dogs were bred which resulted in the Pastoral Group we have today. In extreme wet conditions dogs with protective coats were required. In mountainous Europe came the Pyrenean Mountain dog, in Britain we had the Collie and Old English Sheep dog which were suited to our conditions, also Border Collies who have an excellent reputation as sheep herders, these dogs can be found in many countries working on the farms. Samoyed have been herding Reindeer for centuries in colder countries. Heelers got their name from nipping at the cattle's heels, without breaking the skin, as they drove the cattle to market or were rounding up the herd. The Welsh Corgi is another Heeler.

The Rottweiler was used in Southern Germany as a cattle dog but

has since gone on to be a guard dog with great success and now

resides in the Working Group. Shetland Sheepdogs, the Comondor,

the Australian Cattle dog and the Australian Shepherd dog are also

in the Pastoral Group because of their herding abilities. The herding

dogs ability to be highly trained stems from their natural

intelligence, willingness and desire to succeed. The complex amount of work they are given is undertaken or performed with little instruction.

The Lancashire Heeler being the smallest dog in the Pastoral Group

is often thought of as a 'lap dog' nothing could be further from the

truth, true there are the smaller types, fiesty, robust skimming over the top of the grass and seemingly turning in midair, dominant,

determined, intelligent, proud to be on show here in the twenty

first century, from their humble beginnings, as was pointed out,