Lucas Terrier Club

General Appearance. The general appearance is that of a sturdy, symmetrically built working terrier like that of an old-fashioned Sealyham type. There should be a combination of substance, power, balance and hard muscular condition. Any tendency to grossness or weediness is a serious fault. It should be remembered that the Lucas terrier was developed to work in a pack environment to push game out of heavy cover to waiting guns and not as an earth dog.

The Lucas terrier was created by crossing Norfolk terriers with Sealyham terriers. The following mixes are accepted onto the Breed Register and are considered to be Lucas terriers - Norfolk/Sealyham hybrids, Lucas terriers crossed with either Sealyham terriers or Norfolk terriers. The addition of any breed, or type, of dog other than Norfolk terrier or Sealyham terrier is completely unacceptable and these dogs are NOT considered to be Lucas terriers.

Characteristics. The Lucas terrier is a friendly dog with no aggressive tendencies towards people or other dogs, though a dog with an overly soft temperament is as undesirable as an aggressive, fearful or nervous dog.

Head. The head, in balance with other proportions of the dog, and in keeping with its general conformation is broad of skull, and only slightly curved between the ears, flattening to a slight but definite stop. The cheeks are muscular, but not coarse or prominent , the underjaw is strong, deep and well developed. The foreface is broad and well filled under the eye with a medium length, deep muzzle. The lips are tight and clean. The nose is black irrespective of the colour of the dog. Dark, almond shaped eyes, neither prominent nor sunken, with well pigmented eye rims. The ears should be of moderate size, preferably small, v-shaped and carried close to the head. Prick or fly-away ears are undesirable.

Teeth. The teeth should be strong, sound and regularly placed, gripping with a scissor-like action, the lower incisors close behind and just touching the upper. Not to be overshot or undershot.

Neck. The neck is strong, muscular and of medium length broadening to blend into the body and free from throatiness.

Forequarters. The shoulders are broad of blade, sloping, muscular and well angulated to the upper arm and at the point of the withers should not be too closely set. The forelegs have strong, round bone, extending to the feet without weakness of the pasterns. The forelegs should be perfectly straight when viewed from the front.

Hindquarters. The hindquarters are broad, strong and muscular. Thighs are long, broad and well let down. When viewed from behind the hind legs, from the hocks to the feet, are straight and placed neither close nor too wide apart.

Body. The length of the body from the point of the breast bone in a straight line to the buttocks is slightly greater than the height at the withers. The topline is level, back strong, with ribs well sprung and ribbed back (not barrel ribbed). The chest is deep and muscular and moderately broad, loins are broad, deep and muscular with deep flanks strongly coupled between the fore and hindquarters.

Tail. Customarily docked. The recommendation is one-third off, two-thirds on.

Docked: Medium length. Thick with a rounded tip. Set in line with back and, for preference, carried erect.

Undocked: Tail of moderate length to give a general balance to the dog. Thick at root and tapering towards tip. Ideally carried erect, but not excessively over the back, and with no curl, kink or twist.

Coat. The coat should be fairly harsh, weather resistant and of medium length. Very soft, fluffy or curly coats are undesirable but short, wiry Norfolk type coats are acceptable.

Colour. In predominantly coloured terriers the colour should be tan (all shades) or saddle and tan (the saddle can be black or badger-grey). White markings in the pattern of Irish spotting (ie around the muzzle, on the feet and legs, on the underside, on the chest area and/or around the neck) is acceptable. Black or badger-grey should not be the overall or predominant colour.

In predominantly white Lucas terriers the dog should have a base coat of white with coloured markings in a piebald or extreme white spotted pattern. Markings may be tan (all shades), black, badger-grey, black and tan or badger-grey and tan. A completely white dog is acceptable.

Size. The desirable height at the withers to be within the following dimensions:

Dogs 10 - 12 inches

Bitches 9 - 11 inches

Dogs or bitches over or under these specified sizes are undesirable.

Weight. The desirable weight to be within the following dimensions:

Dogs 14 - 20 lbs

Bitches 11 - 17 lbs

Dogs or bitches over or under these specified weights are undesirable.

Movement. Soundness is of paramount importance. The action is true, free and supple. Capability of quick and sudden movement is essential. Stiltedness, loaded or slack shoulders, straight shoulder placement, weakness at elbows, pasterns or feet, straight stifles, cow or bow hocks must be regarded as serious faults