Lakeland Terrier
湖畔㹴
Updated 2026-09-09
At a glance
The Lakeland Terrier is a square, sturdy little working terrier from England's Lake District, bred to run with the hounds over rocky fells and go to ground after fox and badger. Bold, friendly and self-confident — "a big dog in a small package" — it is wickedly smart, learns fast and bores fast, so it needs mental work and regular all-out running on a long line rather than only short lead walks. The hard, wiry coat is low-shedding but needs hand-stripping or clipping.
Facts
| Size | Small |
|---|---|
| Height | 37–38cm |
| Weight | 7.5–7.7kg |
| Life expectancy | 12–15years |
| Breed group | AKC: terrier FCI: 3 |
| Role | Terrier |
| Coat | Wire coat |
| Shedding | 2/ 5 |
| Exercise | 30–90min/day |
| Can be left alone | up to 3 hours |
| Companionship need | 5/ 5 |
| Trainability | 3/ 5 |
| Barking | 3/ 5 |
| Good with children | 3/ 5 |
| Good with other dogs | 3/ 5 |
| Heat tolerance | 3/ 5 |
| Cold tolerance | 3/ 5 |
Health
This page is general information compiled from published sources. It is not veterinary, legal or purchase advice. Dogs vary within a breed — talk to a vet or a reputable breeder about the dog in front of you.
Health notes are not veterinary advice. Conditions listed are those reported for the breed, not a diagnosis of any dog. Always consult a veterinarian.
General health screening
The kennel-club pages consulted do not single out breed-specific conditions; ask your vet about routine screening (hips, eyes, heart) appropriate to a dog of this size.
Patellar luxation
Patellar luxation (slipping kneecaps) was the most frequent orthopaedic diagnosis in the parent club's 2020 review of 380 Lakelands' veterinary records, though no condition occurred above the rate in the general dog population. Ask your vet if your dog skips or holds up a hind leg.
Inherited eye conditions
Dry eye (KCS) and glaucoma appeared at low rates in the parent club's 2020 veterinary-record review. Ask your vet promptly if an eye looks red, sticky, cloudy or painful.
Behaviour
Wicked smart — learns fast, bores fast
The AKC quotes a long-time breeder: Lakelands are "wicked smart", learn quickly and get bored quickly, so choose a trainer who understands the terrier mind, make the right thing easy and reward good choices; they do not thrive on repetitive drilling. Physically they need little, but mentally they need a lot — regular all-out running on a 20–30 ft line, not just short lead walks.
Bold, busy and self-confident
The CKC says to look for a typical Lakeland to be bold, friendly, happy and self-confident; with a true terrier nature it revels in activity and likes to be busy, makes a good watchdog and a pleasant companion, and needs daily walks on lead.
Energy and exercise
Energy level is rated 3/5 (moderate) on the AKC breed-trait chart. The Royal Kennel Club puts its exercise need at "up to 1 hour per day".
Training and barking
AKC trait chart: trainability 3/5, barking level 3/5. Individual dogs vary; early socialisation and reward-based training are recommended for every breed.
Official guidance
Summaries of official documents are ours; the source is linked. Breed standards, laws and licensing rules change — check the issuing body for the current version.
American Kennel Club — Lakeland Terrier
Breed overview, breed-trait chart, history, official standard summary and health notes from the AKC and the national parent club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
Canadian Kennel Club — Lakeland Terrier (Terriers)
Origin, temperament, activity level, height/weight, coat and grooming as described by the Canadian Kennel Club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
The Royal Kennel Club — Lakeland Terrier
Breed characteristics (size small, exercise up to 1 hour per day, lifespan over 12 years).
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
FCI nomenclature — Lakeland Terrier (standard no. 70, group 3)
FCI breed nomenclature entry with the official breed standard PDF in English, French, German and Spanish.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
What owners say
Owner advice is quoted from public community posts and reflects those owners' opinions, not PocketPaw's position. It is unverified and not a substitute for professional advice. Each item links to where it was said.
“The parent club's health committee analysed the records of 380 Lakelands seen at a national chain of veterinary hospitals between 2010 and 2020 and found no genetic disease occurring at a higher rate than in dogs generally; the most common entries were skin growths, behaviour problems (fear, anxiety and separation anxiety, about 10%), liver enzyme findings, pancreatitis and patellar luxation, and the committee notes that socialisation strongly affects the behavioural figures.”
— United States Lakeland Terrier Club — 2020 Lakeland Terrier Health Survey via breed clubWorldwide2026-09-09
Sources
- [1]Lakeland Terrier — Dog Breed Information — American Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [2]Lakeland Terrier — Choosing a Breed — Canadian Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [3]Lakeland Terrier — Breeds A to Z — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [4]Lakeland Terrier — FCI standard no. 70 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [5]How do I help my dog adjust to spending time alone? — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [6]Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016 (Hall, Carter & O'Neill, Scientific Reports 10:9128) — Nature / Scientific Reports (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [7]2020 Lakeland Terrier Health Survey — United States Lakeland Terrier Club — United States Lakeland Terrier Club (public health pages) (Accessed 2026-09-09)
Still have questions?
Ask owners on the PawMunity forum — every breed has its own board.
Breed data compiled by PocketPaw from the sources credited on each entry. Text and layout © 2026 NextPath Solutions Limited. Please link to a page rather than copying it.