Dog Experts, What Do You Think Of This Breed?
Filed under Care & Training Q&As
Hey…
I’m finally getting a puppy next week, and after a long search for the
perfect breed, I decided to go with a little-known breed that’s been
around for 150 years, and is recognized by the National Kennel Club and rumored to be the most likely next addition to the AKC due to its
rapidly increasing popularity. It is called a Texas Lacy (also known as
a “Texas Game Dog”).
It comes in three color patterns: Blue Lacy, Red Lacy, and Tri-Color Lacy.
For a great photo of a Blue Lacy, which is the color I’m getting, click here…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_lacy
Texas Lacy’s are becoming popular for several reasons: one is because
they’re considered the smartest breed on earth, even moreso than the
better-known brilliance of the Border Collie. Another is their functionality. Their lineage is a 3-way cross between a greyhound,
a redbone hound, and a coyote…the coyote in it makes it a great
hunter, the greyhound makes it remarkably athletic, and the redbone
makes it renowned bloodtracker…and therefore it’s a dog you can
train to do darn near anything. Finally, it’s considered to be one of the longest lived and healthiest dogs on earth due to very responsible limited breeding. Lacy’s commonly live to see 15, and have been known to see 20, and remain relatively mobile until the very end. And
one truly bizarre ability; Lacy’s can even climb trees to its low branches…a skill it evolved after years of breeding towards squirrel
hunting.
But I’m writing this because, there is SO LITTLE INFORMATION online
about this dog. I had to speak with 20 breeders in person before I
learned the history of this remarkable dog. Lacy breeders are a
very secretive bunch; most require interviews before granting a puppy,
and are militant about the owner intending to either actively heard with,
or hunt with, the dog.
Do ANY of you know any more info about this dog? It’s amazing how
few “experts” even know of this breed, let alone have interacted with it.
But then again, it’s a breed that’s kept a very low profile in the rural
Texas-hill country for 150 years until recently, so that might be why
so few people realize what a gem it is.
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Actually “Loki” is wrong; you do not have to have a pure bred dog in order to compete in obedience, agility, fly ball, etc. The only thing you couldn’t do with your dog is compete in conformation.
BTW, there are MANY breeds that the AKC does not recognize, it does not make them any less “pure” than AKC recognized breeds (as long as they have a standard that is adhered to and a breed club that is actually organized). For example, nearly every other country recognizes 2 breeds of akita, but the AKC refuses to split the breed despite obvious differences in appearance, build and temperament.
I checked it out, and you’re not just pulling my leg. It’s a real dog alright, and not quite as rare as you think. I especially like the looks of the Blue Lacy( all good breeders want to interview prospective buyers).
while i dont know much about the breed, they are working dogs and most come from still working lines so you might have a very ACTIVE dog on your hands, be prepared to give your new pup lots of positive reinforment training and LOTS of excersize.
as you emntioned breeder want their dogs to go to homes where they will continue doing the work they were bred for…this is a GREAT sighn because it means this dog hasnt been jumped on by back yard breders and pupymills…
meaning…
if you do find a breeder that will let you have one of their puppies and you pass all the rigourous interveiws and meetings…you know your getting a well bred, healthy life long companion AND a breeder who will be there for any of your questions fro the life of your baby!
pretty dogs, not my kind of bred, but stunning all the same.
because of the grey and the coyote this breed should NEVER be left unsupervised or trusted with small animals cats or smaller breed dogs!
and unless in a safe area i probably wouldnt let the dog off leash as both coyotes and greys have absolutly terrible recall and both will chase almost naything that moves.
they are probably a talkative bred too as coonhounds (like the redbone) and coyotes are talkative dogs.
…and if you were smart, you would protect the breed and the breeders and keep your mouth shut and enjoy your dog.
What amuses me about this post is your exasperation over the lack of info on the web, and that you actually had to go and talk to breeders about it.
Welcome to the way things *should* be done, the way they were done before (*gasp*) the advent of the web. One day, when every dope is ordering a “Lacy” from puppyfind.com alongside their Maltipoos and Chiweenies, and the breed is sitting in shelters across the country, you might wish it was harder to get one.
This is a local working breed. I frankly don’t see the point in owning one as a pet — I would hope that the breeders don’t either. You can’t show it in obedience (to demonstrate its “brilliance”), agility, or herding trials, much less conformation. Why would you want one unless you have a ranch to work? Pigs to hunt?
Why take a pure working dog and dumb it down into a pet?
You wanted my opinion. So there you go.
I don’t know anything about Texas Lacies but I do know plenty about rare breeds and I’m saddened by how many people seem to think that you can’t compete in obedience and working events with a non-AKC breed dog. There is a world out there outside AKC, people.http://www.blackacorndogs.com/train_regi…
Well, well you just let the cat out of the bag.
I must have missed that edition of Y!A on the new game dog breed from Texas cause I never heard of it until now.
The breeders must remain a secretive bunch to keep the designer morons from breeding to it and turning it into Texadoodle!
This “breed” is not recognized by the AKC, which means it is not a recognized breed at all.
It may be a great dog you are getting, but bear in mind you cannot show it in sanctioned matches and no matter what anyone says, or whatever “kennel clubs” they make up for the dog, it still isn’t a standardized, registered breed at the AKC.
As to “world’s smartest dog”, that’s nonsense, one of my dachshunds is the world’s smartest dogs – except, of course, for someone else’s smartest dog. Seriously, dogs are individuals sweetie, you can’t lump an entire possibly new breed, not yet AKC registered and call it “the world’s smartest”.
Sounds like a local mix, the coyote part would certainly not be all that ideally domestic, and these “20 local breeders” who are so secretive sure sound like a bunch of bs artists.
Please be sure you aren’t being conned into paying for a mutt. Nothing wrong with local mutts, but they shouldn’t be bred on purpose and they shouldn’t cost much – you can get wonderful mix breeds at your local shelter.
Anytime somebody claims “secret” and “low profite” and rants against “experts”, warning bells go off in a thinking person’s head.
I do not have any more information for you but I too love this breed. I will be very very sad to see it join the AKC as I am sure most of those who love this breed will be as well. It is a lovely rare WORKING breed and SHOULD NOT be ruined by the AKC as so many others have been, including that brilliant Border Collie. There is nothing more terrible than a wonderful working breed going the way of RUIN simply by becoming a breed member of the AKC.
try this website: pets4you.com good luck!