Lakeland Terrier Breed Information

Lakeland Terriers are a member of the ‘Terrier’ breed group. Dogs in the Terrier group were originally bred for hunting vermin. They are hardy, brave dogs bred to pursue the likes of foxes, badgers and rats (to name a few) above and below ground.

Lakeland Terriers are very curious dogs that love nothing more than to be out exploring and investigating. They have a strong hunting instinct, so should be exercised in secure areas and also be well trained at a young age to ensure they respond to recall, which may be challenging to teach as, once on the scent of something, it will be difficult to regain their attention! Again, due to their strong hunting instinct, they should be socialised with smaller household pets at a young age. For more information on how to socialise your dog and train using reward-based techniques, take a look at our dog behaviour page. Given the right socialisation, they can make great family pets.

Breed-related health problems:

Owners are, understandably, upset when their dog develops a health problem linked to its breed. Often they wish they’d known what problems the breed was prone to have. The potential health problems that Lakeland Terriers are prone to include:

• Lens luxation – dislocation of the lens of the eye.
• Legg-Perthes disease (Legg-Calvé-Perthes) – blood supply to the femoral head is depleted, causing destruction of the femoral head.
• Cataracts – opacity of the lens of the eye – giving a ‘cloudy’ appearance.
• Microphthalmia - abnormally small eye

For some conditions, there are screening programmes available through the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and the Kennel Club. The Canine Health Schemes allow breeders to screen for a range of inherited diseases, so it’s a good idea to check the parents of any puppy you’re looking to rehome have been screened under these schemes. We’d also recommend discussing the medical history of your potential puppy’s parents and grandparents, and think very carefully before taking on a dog with any of the health conditions listed above evident in the family line.

You can find out more about the Canine Health Schemes on the BVA's website.

Exercise and grooming requirements:

Lakeland Terriers will need around an hour of exercise daily and grooming a couple of times a week to keep the coat in tip-top condition. They also tend to need scissoring and shaping by a professional groomer four times a year.

Estimated lifetime cost:

The likely lifetime costs for a Lakeland Terrier are based on estimates calculated using current market prices and include:

• Initial costs of the purchase of the pet
• Neutering
• First vaccinations and booster vaccinations
• Microchipping
• Accessories
• Food
• Pet insurance
• Toys
• Grooming
• Worming
• Flea treatments

The list above does not include veterinary costs if your pet becomes sick or injured, so these average lifetime costs could be even higher.

Insure your Lakeland Terrier with PDSA:

1 in 3 pets need vet treatment each year and vet bills can come to hundreds of pounds. PDSA Pet Insurance can give you peace of mind when your pet is poorly, especially for breeds like Lakeland Terriers that are prone to certain conditions. PDSA Pet Insurance offers:

1. Dog and cat insurance policies from 8 weeks of age.
2. 24/7 veterinary advice online or over the phone with Petcall.
3. Manage your policy online with the PDSA Insure Hub.
4. Monthly payment at no extra cost.

By insuring your Lakeland Terrier with PDSA Pet Insurance you’ll also be helping to provide vet care to some of the UK’s neediest pets.

For more information on taking care of your dog please visit our puppies and dogs section.

Rehoming from a reputable source:

Where you get a dog from can have a big effect on how healthy and happy it is for the rest of its life. Find out where our PDSA vet experts recommend you get your dog from.

Not sure if the Lakeland Terrier is the right pet for you?