Origin and History
Four Lacy brothers Frank, George, Ewin, and Harry, moved from Kentucky to Burnet County, Texas, in 1858, bringing the founding stock of the Lacy dog breed with them. Over the course of time, they developed the dog that we now know as the Lacy, to be used as a ranch dog, and primarily to round up hogs. Modern Lacys are used for multiple tasks, including baying and hunting hogs, herding cattle, blood tracking, and treeing. Some Lacys are resourceful enough to do a very good job at more than one skill.
It is commonly told that the presence of Lacys in the Hill Country strongly influenced local author, Fred Gipson, and was the inspiration for his novel Old Yeller.
A few years back, Lacy dog use, and numbers, was on the decline. But, through the efforts of dedicated breeders, they are now making a comeback, and are found in many other parts of the country. Recently, LDBR breeders sent the first Lacy dogs to Europe, where they will undoubtedly do very well too.
Coloration and Marking
“Blue” Lacy dogs’ main colors are either red, or blue, or some combination of the two. They may also have minimal to full white markings on their brisket, and on their paws. Lacys with all three colors are called Tris.
Blue Lacys vary in shade from a light gun-metal gray to a very deep blue. Red Lacys range from a very light Cream to a dark red. Tri-colored Lacys are mostly blue, with red markings over their eyes, on the muzzle, under the tail, and down the legs, and additional white markings. The Lacy dog’s eyes are very bright, and range from a deep amber to a striking yellow color.
Handling and Care
Lacy dogs are very energetic, capable of handling a full day of hard work, and are very easy to train. They are also known for being hardy, healthy, and long lived. And, they like to be with their owner, whether that means relaxing, or putting in a long day on a job. They do best when given plenty of exercise!
Temperament
Lacy dogs are very dedicated to their owner, a good family dog, and watchdog. They flourish in a working environment. A Lacy that is not exercised will find it’s own way to release energy, sometimes being destructive.
The Future
The Lacy dog has become much more well known and popular during recent years, and breeder numbers have been growing along with the demand for quality pups.
This attention, though welcomed, is a double-edged sword to those dedicated to the breed, because it means people who aren’t the best candidate for Lacy dog ownership seek out pups. But, breeders of high quality working dogs are careful about where the pups are placed, and are doing a very good job of insuring that the working Lacy Dog will be around for many more years.