Lakeland Terrier
About the Lakeland Terrier
Temperament
Physical Characteristics
| Size Category | Small (10-25 lbs) |
|---|---|
| Height | 13-15" |
| Weight | 15-17 lbs |
| Coat Type | Wire |
| Coat Length | Medium |
| Colors | |
| Hypoallergenic | Yes |
Care Requirements
Exercise Needs
Moderate (30-60 min/day)
45 minutes per day recommended
Grooming
Regular - 2-3x/week
Mental Stimulation
★★★★★Needs plenty of mental challenges
Drooling
★★★★★Living Conditions
Cost of Ownership
| Purchase Price | $1,500-$2,500 |
|---|---|
| Annual Cost | $1,200/year |
Costs vary based on location, breeder, and individual needs. Annual costs include food, veterinary care, grooming, and supplies.
Health Considerations
Like all breeds, Lakeland Terriers may be prone to certain health conditions:
Regular veterinary check-ups and proper care can help prevent or manage many health issues.
Best For
- Families with Children
- Apartment Living
- Active Owners
- Allergy Sufferers
May Not Be Ideal For
- Long Work Hours Away
- Sedentary Lifestyles
Guides for your Lakeland Terrier
The story behind the Lakeland Terrier
The Lakeland Terrier comes from the Lake District of northwestern England, where hill farmers kept small game terriers to protect lambs from foxes in steep, rocky country. Working alongside foot packs, these dogs followed hounds over fell ground and went to earth after fox in rock crevices, which required a narrow body, hard coat and considerable nerve. The type was long known locally under several names tied to particular valleys and packs before Lakeland Terrier was settled on in the early twentieth century and a breed club formed. Related northern terriers including the Border and Bedlington share overlapping ancestry, and Airedale and Fox Terrier influence is generally accepted in the show type. The breed gained Kennel Club and later AKC recognition. It is now uncommon, kept by show exhibitors and a few working homes.
Originally bred for: Fox control, Fell hunting terrier, Vermin killing. You can trace how working roles shaped today’s breeds across our dog guides.
Feeding a Lakeland Terrier
An energetic small terrier does well on a nutrient-dense complete food split into two meals, with training treats deducted from the daily total. Adequate fat supports a harsh coat. Keep the dog hard-bodied, since even slight excess weight is obvious on a compact frame.
Watch for: No definite breed-wide intolerance is known. Wire-coated terriers commonly present with itchy skin and chewed feet, which more often reflects environmental allergy or grooming issues than diet. If food seems implicated, run any exclusion trial with veterinary supervision rather than independently.
Not sure what to put in the bowl? See our picks for the best dog food for small breeds.
Mealtime extras: training treats worth keeping in your pocket. Everything else lives in our dog nutrition and feeding hub.
Living with a Lakeland Terrier
Day to day, the basics matter most: how much exercise your dog needs, how often to get out for a walk, and how much sleep is normal.
For play and enrichment, browse our favorite dog toys and interactive toys for rainy days.
Gear that fits the breed makes life easier: a well-sized dog bed, a comfortable no-pull harness.
Raising a puppy? Work through crate training and the teething timeline — or see how old your dog is in human years with our dog age calculator.