The Texas Blue Lacy Dog

[Deltablue]

Hi! I'm sure most of you have never heard of this breed and I thought I would spread the word on them!
Remember old yeller? He was based off a Lacy dog.

The Texas Blue Lacy Dog originated in, you guessed it! Texas! It's the only dog from the Lone Star State and has been labled the State dog (like the Catahoula is La. state dog). Their origens are hotly debated amongst Lacy lovers and you will find two main stories.

The first is that the Lacy brothers bred them to hunt hogs off their land. So that makes the Lacy's hog hunters, right? WRONG.

They were meant to DRIVE hogs. The brothers raised and sold these animals (much like cattle) and the dogs drove them to sale. This meant the Lacy had to be smart, quick, and tough. They also needed to be capeable of driving/herding cattle, and some hunting varmits. These dogs are brilliant and beautiful. This gets even hotter when some want to defend their 'inherent ability' to hog hunt. However, the lacys are not large enough to face off large boars that could put them into serious danger.

They are perfectly content as a working breed with typical working jobs: these include therapy, service, agility, and other dog sports such as flyball (they are exceedingly fast). They also make great cattle dogs. They were developed to be all-around dogs, good at everything and the true breed stands up to this. Do not be fooled by sites that say they must be used for hunting only, or that they are bad with children. On the contrary, working homes (other than hogdogs) report that they LOVE kids and are exceedingly well-behaved.

The Lacy comes in three colors: Blue, Red, and Tri. They are called blue lacys because ALL colors have the blue gene. They are also known to have 'creepy' or 'light' eyes.

Among their roots are the coyote and greyhound, other than that we have no idea what they're made of!

If you have any questions feel free to ask and I'll tell you anything I can about the breed. I own, and love, one myself!

[lynners]

This is the first I've heard of this breed. Are they recognized by the most common registries (CKC, AKC, etc)?

[Deltablue]

No, although they are trying to be. They are a young breed. They almost died out too, they are bringing them back though and I'm glad. Gunner is an amazing dog, and has a typical breed attitude. Smart, loyal, friendly, intense. I would own another one in a heartbeat.

[kian]

I hadn't heard of this breed either and a hog driver! Very interesting to read.

[Deltablue]

I'm from Texas and still didn't know what they were until about a month after we found Gunner. Most don't know. So I try to tell as many people as possible! We even have a famous character based off a Lacy Dog, "Old Yeller". Who hasn't watched the movie? (He was played by a lab in the movie, but the book was written about a Lacy).

[mcdammit]

I have heard of this breed! I was wasting time cruising the internet one day . . .

It's the only dog from the Lone Star State and has been labled the State dog (like the Catahoula is La. state dog).

There are 10 states that have a "state" dog: Louisiana - Catahoula Leopard dog; Maryland - Chesapeake Bay Retriever; Massachusetts - Boston Terrier ; Pennsylvania - Great Dane; Texas - Blue Lacy; South Carolina - Boykin Spaniel; North Carolina - Plott Hound; Virginia - American Foxhound; Alaska - Alaskan Malamute; Wisconsin - American Water Spaniel.

When I was younger, I thought all states had "state dogs". I learned later on that that was not necessarily true. Most of these breeds have an obvious connection to the state. (I wasted more time and searched the not-so-obvious ones!) I am very proud to be a Virginian and love the fact that George Washington is credited (by the AKC) as having created what we today call the "American Foxhound". (Just some useless trivia!)

But, back to the topic at hand . . the Blue Lacy's look and sound like wonderful dogs. I hope the attempts to maintain the breed are successful.

McDammit

[Deltablue]

Thanks for the trivia! I love stuff like that I think it's cool!

[CattleCait]

I have heard of Blue Lacies! I was looking for a good farm dog, I think they're beautiful and just good all around dogs. Try finding one in Michigan though
I'll get one someday if the opportunity presents itself, but right now two dogs are enough for me and run the farm just fine on their own. Usually they don't need my help.

Where'd you find out that Old Yeller was a Blue Lacy though? I heard he was a Blackmouth Cur.

[kian]

Cait we haven't from this poster in a few months, but you are right about Old Yeller being a Black Mouth Cur. I googled it!

[Deltablue]

Just got an email that someone replied! I've been "snooping" but not posting! Lol.

Try this site...
http://lacydog.com/

Or this one...
http://www.mslacydog.com/lacyinfo.html

Although I prefer the ideals of the American Lacy Assc... this is where I originally heard about Old Yeller. Blue Lacy dogs (of the red variety) look very much like small BMCs in pics. This is just what I've heard from Lacy Fans.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Both of those links look like good resources to me. I checked them out.

Deltablue: Don't wait for others to necessarily post before you post again. You can certainly join us in other sections of the Forums as well!

[Deltablue]

Thanks Oliver and Henry's mum. I just haven't caught a break lately to post (I teach 9-10 grade English). I'll try and be more regular!

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

No worries! It's not a "requirement". We just enjoy having everyone participate.

[CattleCait]

Sorry kian, I don't do forums very often so sometimes I forget that kind of stuff I'll pay more attention next time.