Living with a Lancashire Heeler will redefine your ideas about small dogs. When you first see one, the first thing that comes to mind is like to be something about how cute this dog is. Undeniably, this is true.

Get to know them and you’ll soon discover that this is a dog with a purpose and who needs you to help him find his purpose before he finds it on his own. These are dogs who are brave enough to impose their will on an annoyed animal 100 times their size.

A Lancashire Heeler is not a dog for beginners. Even though they are small and cute, they are not a toy breed. Primarily, they were bred to do a job. Because they were bred to work so closely with their owners, they naturally gravitate toward double-duty as companion animals. They are tough, opinionated, demanding, and forceful. On the other hand, they can be sensitive and respond poorly to being bullied.

That said, Heelers were bred to work with their owners and they want a good relationship. If the owner has the right personality and skills, a Lancashire Heeler can be a devoted companion who’s ready to enjoy a good cuddle on their person’s lap. Ensure they know they have a purpose in life, and they are a joy to own.

The right personality
(of the owner)

If you are looking for a dog to share a laid-back lifestyle, keep looking. A Lancashire Heeler is not for you. However, if you are looking for a dog with whom you can develop a close relationship, a Heeler might be the breed. It is important to understand and respect this dog for what it was bred to do.

The ideal owner is one who can be clear in behavioral expectations and who is able to persistently enforce boundaries. Along with relentless persistence, patience is a virtue in owners.

It is good if the owner is willing to commit to daily training. Lancashire Heelers adore working with their people. They are responsive to training in the form of “games.” Dog sports that involve working as a team, such as scent work, can be very rewarding.

They are very willing to please and readily trained. Once they understand the task and its purpose, even if the purpose is little more than “It’s just for fun,” they will do anything for their masters. Well, maybe not every time, but mostly.

Coping with a demanding Heeler

Heelers are demanding and will run your life if you are not able to set and enforce expectations. It’s not suprising that many people who live with them refer to themselves as “staff” to their dogs.

Unfortunately, there are some owners who cope with this level of demanding by simply keeping their Heeler in a crate most of the time. The result is a quieter home, but also an unhappy Heeler. They get a Heeler who is unpredictable with people, and who never smiles. Dogs who live in such conditions are not fun to be around.

The better way to cope is to train your dog to have better citizenship skills. As little as five minutes a day spent in training will yield a civilized Lancashire Heerler. Increase the amount of training, and your dog will become more civilized in less time.