Lancashire Heelers - The Lancashire Heeler a Pastoral Dog

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 moun-

tains. 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 bene-

fitted by being looked after and well fed.

When man began to settle into larger communities, settlements, villiages,

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

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, willing-

ness and desire to succeed. The complex amound of work they are given is under-

taken 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 mid-

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

century, from their humble beginnings, as was pointed out, from the Lancashire

farms, roaming the streets of our old cotton towns and villiages in Lancashire. Long

may they survive and go from strength to strength in the coming years as one of our

popular native breeds.

The Lancashire Heeler, he loves you more than he loves himself.