Ethical Breeder Checklist for New Lacy Owners

Purebred doesn’t necessarily mean well-bred and a well-bred Lacy Dog is more than a piece of paper. Though pedigrees will give you important insights into a dog’s lineage, registration does not guarantee a puppy will look or work like a Lacy Dog. When picking out a puppy, these are the things a buyer should expect from an ethical Lacy breeder. Among other things, an ethical breeder should be educated about genetics, structure, anatomy, purpose, animal health, behavior, and training methods.

1.) Breeding for working ability. An ethical breeder will be able to show you their Lacys at work. If that is not geographically possible, they will have videos or numerous photos available for potential buyers. If you want a true working Lacy,  you should only buy a puppy out of working parents. Though pet breeders will occasionally produce a good hunting or herding dog, the odds are against it.

2.) Breeding to standard. In addition to being proven working dogs, breeding stock should fit the conformation standard. It is important that the dogs are the  right size, ideally 17 to 22 inch and 30 to 50 pounds, so they can perform the jobs they were created for in the Texas brush and heat. Dogs should not look like hounds (long ears or drooping lips) nor should they look like pit bulls (pricked ears or  overly heavy, loaded shoulders). Ethical breeders will only use standard dogs in their breeding program.

3.) Breeding for temperament. Lacys are tough working dogs. They should be driven, gritty and capable of getting the job done. Many are protective of their property and people. They also have a strong pack instinct and will correct other dogs. But truly aggressive dogs should never be bred. Dogs who bite people or wantonly attack other dogs have no place in a breeding program.

4.) Places puppies in working homes. Lacys can make great companions, but they are not meant to be purely pets. Ethical breeders not only breed working stock, they sell to working homes. If you don’t have a real job for a Lacy, you should look at another breed.

5.) Emphasizes health and proper care. Ethical breeders only cross healthy dogs from healthy lines. They keep their dogs in a clean and healthy environment. They either feed a raw diet or quality dog food. They give their dogs the best care possible. And they will encourage potential owners to do the same.

All ethical breeders will welcome you to their home and kennel. They will let you meet the parents and prove their working ability. They will also require you prove yourself worthy of a Lacy Dog. It is vital to the preservation of the breed and the happiness of each dog that they end up in the right environment.

Prices do vary, but breeders who charge substantially more than that or who produce several litters a year are in it for profit, not to preserve and improve the breed. If you have any questions about litters, bloodlines or breeders, please send us an email.

Help us Help Working Dogs and Win a Yeti!

As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting the working dog community, the NLDA will be sponsoring a canine Search and Rescue team through the Greater Houston Search Dogs organization.

SAR teams provide search and rescue services to law enforcement, fire departments and other public safety agencies free of charge. Specialized canine teams, composed of certified handlers and canines, require extensive training, maintenance and equipment in order to deploy safely and successfully.

Volunteer handlers are not paid for their time or service and they are responsible for the entire cost of training, maintenance and equipment for their canine partners.

A portion of the proceeds from this fundraiser will directly support a canine SAR team.

From now until the Working Dog Field Day on May 11th, 2013, tickets may be purchased by using the secure checkout on our webpage or over the phone by calling (214) 679-1801 until 4 pm the day of the event. Tickets will also be available at the Working Dog Field Day at Reveille Peak Ranch on Saturday, May 11th from 9 am until 4 pm.

>>———-> Click Here to Use Secure Checkout

You need not be present to win.

There will be 2 different raffle pools containing prizes; Lucky Dog and Texas Adventures. Your name and number of tickets will go in to the drawing for those prizes. A ticket will be drawn for each prize in the pool.

The Lucky Dog Raffle – 5 Winners – Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20

One 45 quart Yeti Cooler – $329 Value
One Tri-Tronics Sport Basic G3 Collar – $219 Value
One Mud River Dog Handler’s Bag – $44 Value
One Subscription to Extreme Hog Hunter Magazine (formally Bayed Solid) – $27.50 Value
2 Cable Leads from Wild Boar USA – $23 Value

Texas Adventure Raffle – 3 Winners – Tickets are $10 each

One Texas Mesquite Custom STIC knife – $100 Value
One guided striper fishing trip on Lake Buchanan for 2 (lodging not included) – $500 Value
One Whitetail Doe hunt on a private ranch near Mason, Texas – bow or rifle (lodging available) – $250 Value.

And please take the time to check out the many Friends of the NLDA who have so generously donated prizes for this worthy cause: Tri-Tronics, Wild Boar USA, Extreme Hog Hunter, Mud River and Gun Dog Supply.com.

Lacy Dogs Highlighted in Dripping Springs Outlook

Local magazine highlights Lacy history.

Working Dog Field Day

From the Hills to the Hollers…Let Them Sing!

If you want to hunt lions and bears, you have to find lions and bears…and in the vast rugged West, that is often easier said than done. For decades, dogs have helped hunters and ranchers locate, track, and tree game in a variety of conditions. Traditionally a roll fulfilled by hounds, Lacys, cur dogs and similar breeds are gaining popularity as effective tree dogs because of their intelligence and versatility.

A mountain lion is generally quick to tree. Photo by Cory Davidson.

“You can go catch a lion Monday, check traps on Tuesday and push cows around on Wednesday,” says Cory Davidson of Central Nevada. Multi purpose dogs are ideal for ranchers. A dog capable of tracking a variety of predators is instrumental in keeping livestock safe from coyotes and big cats. Cory hunts with a mixed pack of hounds and one Lacy. He admires the speed of a Lacy dog and believes they hunt harder…even though the hounds possess a cold nose for picking up the oldest tracks.

Lions, bears, and small game such as racoons and squirrels resort to climbing trees or ledges for safety. Once the dogs have located a track and found the quarry, their job is to push it up a tree and surround the base, baying to keep the animal from fleeing. Dogs that bay consistently and maintain respect for the cat or bear are more effective at holding the animal and less likely to be wounded or killed.

A multi purpose dog does require a bit more time to train. It’s easier to train a pup from experienced dogs than to start from scratch.

Since Lacys are so intelligent, they are easy to teach to track and tree. Most hunters start puppies on drags where a line is tied to a lion pelt (or whichever type of animal you intend to hunt) and drug through the woods. As with blood tracking, a good tracker must be conditioned to track. This means nurturing the desire to hunt and locate prey by keeping it fun and rewarding for the dog. There are few things more fun and exciting to a bay dog than a critter in a cage. A live animal can be trapped and a put it into a cage for the dog to bay and chase across the ground. Though not often thought of as a treeing breed, Lacys can be taught to tree very easily by suspending a caged animal from a tree where the dog has to opportunity to approach the tree and become excited about the prize in the top.

Teaching a lacy to tree is easy!

Lacys and cur dogs are well-balanced breeds, adaptable to various types of hunting and terrain. Their agility, speed, and a baying style that is unrelenting make them good choices for hunting predators in rough country. Although not specifically bred for treeing abilities, they are intelligent enough to learn to tree very quickly and can become proficient in trailing and treeing bear, cougar and bobcat when hunted in packs.

Lacy Dog on Babe Winkleman’s Outdoor Secrets

Host Babe Winkelman and Pro archer Mike Wheeler share their archery adventures for trophy whitetail bucks in Kansas. A lacy dog makes an appearance as the outfitter’s trusty tracking dog.

Lone Star Bowhunters Association to Sponsor NLDA Again for 2012 Banquet and Expo

Blood trailing workshop

The NLDA was once again in attendance at the LSBA 38TH Annual Awards Banquet on June 23, 2012 at the Brazos County Expo Complex.

The Blood Trailing Workshop covered topics such as Training techniques, mental conditioning, and Laying artificial trails. Participants were given the opportunity to work their dogs on an actual blood trail and visit the NLDA booth for information on memberships, the National Lacy Dog Registry, events, prizes, and merchandise.

Other events included snake avoidance, photo contest, special demonstrations, silent auction, and a 3D shoot.

We would like to thank the LSBA for providing us with a great venue and opportunity to reach out to the working & hunting dog community.

Blood trailing workshop

Chris Merworth and Daisy

NLDA at the Lone Star Bowhunters Association Expo

Tracking Challenge & Working Dogs Field Day Big Success in Southeast Texas

Fred works with Slate

About 2 dozen people and dogs gathered for the NLDA’s first tracking challenge and field day event of 2012.

The weather was nearly perfect for the weekend’s events. After the trials, participants were able to enjoy a delicious lunch and share stories.

Other events included snake avoidance training, trapping, and hog baying.

As always, new friends were made and the bar was set for future NLDA tracking events. We are grateful to everyone who joined us. The success of the NLDA depends upon the gracious support of the working dog community. We strive to provide activities for skilled dogs and their owners to partake in and be recognized for exceptional performance.

Results of the tracking challenge:

Junior Tracker

1st – Ron Jones & Allison
Score 93.0
Time 1m 56s

2nd – Arnie Alexander & Slate
Score 75.0
Time 6m 37s

3rd – Jimmy Brooks & Gracy
Score 67.0
Time 6m 47s

Senior Tracker

1st – Jamie Wilhelm & Rein
Score 100
Time 3m 13s

2nd – Robby Leek & Colt
Score 58
Time 12m 26s

Master Tracker

1st – Ron Jones & Allison
Score 92
Time 4m 02s

2nd – Betty Leek & Lucy
Score 90
Time 7m 33s

3rd – Marty Thomas & Bagley
Score 82
Time 6m 30s

4th- Jim Rogers & Stormy
Score 72
Time 12m 20s

5th- Robby Leek & Ben
Score 72
Time 13m 06s

Lucy and 2nd place Ribbon for the Master Trail

Get your 2012 Lacy Dog calendars!

2012 Lacy Dog calendars are here! Thanks to everyone who submitted images for our consideration. It was difficult to choose 12 pictures out of all the great entries we received. Get your copy today at the National Lacy Dog Association online store! NLDA Calendars and cards make great gifts for the holidays!

NLDA Blood Tracking Challenge: August 12th-14th

Working trials demonstrate a dog's performance in the field.

The NLDA is excited to announce our first official field trial where  dogs will have the opportunity to be evaluated by a judge, earn a tracking certificate, and compete against other dogs for working titles.

The idea came about as a way for breeders to determine a dog’s suitability for a particular use by obtaining a title, however, these contests are a great way to give handler and dog some off-season action and a chance to take home a trophy. In this blood trailing trial, three simulated blood trails will have varying levels of difficulty.

This event, which is open to all breeds, will be conducted at the beautiful Oak Knoll Ranch in Menard, Texas. Lodging and meals will be available for registered guests beginning Friday night. Trials will begin the following morning at 8 am.

We hope that this tracking competition will be the first of many NLDA-sanctioned shows where dogs are judged for performance in blood trailing, hog hunting, bay pen work, cattle herding, and trap lines.

For details, including registration, please go to www.nationallacydog.org/bloodtracking.pdf and download the form.

Oak Knoll Ranch near Menard, Texas

Snake Breaking

Snake avoidance conditioning has proven to be extremely effective.

The life of a hunting or ranch dog and the nature of his work is inherently dangerous. In the outdoors, domestic dogs are exposed to the elements and always at risk of a venomous snake encounter. Snake avoidance conditioning is often referred to as snake proofing or de-snaking and is very effective at teaching dogs to steer clear of snakes.

I put my first lacy puppy through a snake avoidance class when she was about a year old. Four years later she will still alert to the smell or sight of most snakes which is not only beneficial for her, it lets me know that a snake is present.

During a snake avoidance class, the instructor uses an e-collar as an aversion tool. Defanged snakes are placed on the ground and the dog is given an opportunity to wind the snake and make visual contact. Timing is important and a good trainer knows how to read a dog’s curiosity and body language and apply a high level of stimulation at just the right moment to divert the dog away from the snake. In most cases it only takes one incident for the dog to learn. After the initial experience, the dog is led down wind to a concealed snake to ensure he recognizes it by smell alone. Ideally, the dog should learn to identify snakes with all three senses, sight, sound, and smell.

Sometimes the instructor puts the snake in between the dog and handler and asks the handler to call his dog. This is to confirm that the dog has learned to give snakes a wide berth. When tested in this manner, my dogs will dig their heels in and refuse to move any closer, even if led toward the snake.

It’s important to note that not all species smell the same to a dog. Though rattlesnakes are most often used because they are most likely to bite and very deadly, snake avoidance trainers will usually bring a cottonmouth and a copperhead to give the dog a full range of smells to identify. According to Harlen Winters, a trainer from Burnet, Texas, rat snakes, coral snakes, or dead rattlesnakes will not produce the identical smell that the dog has learned to avoid. Just last week, however, my dogs alerted at the smell and sight of a fresh snake skin in the yard. I don’t know if they were going by scent or sight but they avoided that particular area for two days. Harlen also recommends a yearly refresher course and most trainers will do this free of charge.

Despite all our efforts to keep our dogs safe in the woods, accidents do happen. Sometimes a dog will inadvertently step on a snake. If a dog does get bit by a venomous snake, immediately administer Benadryl at 1mg/pound and take the dog to the nearest vet for a round of antibiotics and fluids. Antivenin is expensive and many vets don’t keep it on hand but it is beneficial if given within 24 hours.