Dog Breeds: American Blue Lacy

There is a great deal of confusion over what is meant by "American Blue Lacy." There are really two breeds these days, the Blue Lacy and the American Blue Lacy (though they were originally one and the same). The Blue Lacy is a gaming dog. The American Blue Lacy, on the other hand, is a companion/working dog. American Blue Lacy breeders are making every attempt to preserve the breed without introducing new blood.

The American Blue Lacy is a proud dog originating in Texas, but its roots go back to Kentucky. In 1858 the dogs were brought by covered wagon from Kentucky to Texas by George, Ewin, Frank, and Harry Lacy. The Lacy brothers settled in Burnet County area and bred their unique dogs. At the time, the breed was simply called the Lacy. Eventually the term "blue" was added to the name due to both the blue gene the dogs carry. The Blue Lacy was a working dog right from the start, used for hunting, tracking, and even herding on the ranches of Texas.

For a century the breed was called the Blue Lacy. But eventually, in the early part of the 21st century, the Lacy breed began to split in two because of industrious breeders. Some lines were bred for gaming, sometimes with a little of other breeds mixed in to get the most out of the Lacy's working abilities. This breed retained the name Blue Lacy.  The other line was bred more for companionship and ranching than gaming. It is this second breed that eventually became known as the American Blue Lacy, and no impure blood is allowed in this breed. Today the American Blue Lacy Association (ABLA) is concentrating on the restoration of the breed to the original standards set by the Lacy brothers in the late 1800s.

The general appearance of the American Blue Lacy should convey a sense of speed, power, and grace. The dog should be medium in size, standing no more than 21 inches and weighing no more than 45 pounds. The bearing should be noble, the expression alert, and the lines well balanced and clean. The eyes should be deep and wide set.

Despite the name of the breed, there are actually three color variations allowed, though blues are most common. Red dogs range from a light cream to a deep rust. Blues are any shade of gray from a light silver to charcoal. The third acceptable color is actually a combination of blue and red. Some dogs may have a blue base with red markings and even a little white, making them a tri-color American Blue Lacy. White can appear on the chest and run all the way up to the chin. The stomach and toes may also be white, but too much white is not in keeping with the breed standard. Dogs with excessive white should not be bred.

This breed is alert, intelligent, and has a sweet disposition. Even though this breed was originally intended to hunt hogs, they make excellent companion dogs. They are good with small children and other pets and are smart enough to learn just about any trick. As a house pet, the American Blue Lacy is almost perfect, but they can also be used as working dogs. You will find this breed working as service dogs, search and rescue dogs, and police dogs. They also excel at obedience trials. The American Blue Lacy is also a good guard dog, though they are bay hounds and so are more prone to barking madly than actually attacking someone.

Because this breed is so smart, it can become bored quite easily; long walks help, but it's not always enough. They need constant mental and physical stimulation and a lot of attention; this is not a breed that can spend 40 hours a week all alone while everyone is at work and school. They adapt to most living conditions as long as they have something to do when not sleeping or eating. An American Blue Lacy doesn't do well outside because they have almost no coat. This makes grooming easy enough, but it also means you can't leave Fido outside for hours on end. He'll get cold, so bring him inside.

There are few health problems associated with this breed, but most American Blues are vaccine sensitive due to the blue gene. This means that over vaccinating can lead to health problems, most notably immune disorders. Discuss a reasonable vaccination schedule with your veterinarian to ensure your pet's health.

This versatile breed can be used as a ranch dog or can make a wonderful house pet. Their love of games and their easy way with people of all ages contribute to their growing popularity as pets. If you're looking for a dog to fit in with an active and energetic family, this breed might be for you.