Blue Lacy Care

The Blue Lacy (also called the Lacy Dog, or just Lacy) is a medium-sized, highly energetic breed that originated in the U.S. state of Texas. This is a dog with a strong work ethic, and is equally good at herding, hunting, ranch work, and even makes a great family pet! Blue Lacy care will take a moderate amount of work, and will need to include a lot of daily exercise and some early training and socialization.

Below you'll find details on caring for the Lacy Dog including puppy development, exercise needs, and shedding/drooling tendencies. For answers to your questions about this hardworking breed, read on!

Blue Lacy Breed Development

As a medium-sized breed, Blue Lacy development typically spans 15-17 months from birth to full maturity.

Physical Development: Lacy puppies grow rapidly in height and length for the first 7-8 months, then those growth rates slow while the adolescent "fills out" some with muscle and fat. These dogs normally reach their full adult size (an average of 21 inches in height and 40 pounds in weight) at 10-11 months of age.

Social Development: Lacy pups reach adolescence at about six months, sexual maturity at about nine months, and full mental maturity by about 16 months.

For further details on Blue Lacy puppy development, see the chart below.

Dog Age	Development Milestone
2 Weeks	Eyes/ears open, begins walking
2 Months	Old enough to be separated from mother, housetrained, introduced to solid food; obedience training and socialization should begin at this early stage
3 Months	Can begin exercising; vaccinations/de-worming needed
6 Months	Adult coat growing in; adolescence begins, characterized by increased independence, fear, disobedience, hyperactivity; training/socialization important during this stage
9 Months	Sexual maturity; can be transitioned to adult food; can begin "adult" exercise regimen
16 Months+	Adulthood

Blue Lacy Exercise Needs

Blue Lacy exercise requirements are pretty extensive. Breed members will need a wide variety of activities that both condition them physically and stimulate them mentally; they make good bicycling companions, and are best suited to homes with large, fenced yards.

Adult Lacys will need 90 minutes or more of proper exercise each day. You can start exercising your Lacy puppy at three months old by taking it on short walks.

Precautions to consider:

No hard exercise for puppies
Leash is required
Outdoor areas should be securely fenced

Exercising your Blue Lacy every day is an absolute must. Without consistent activity they'll become destructive, disobedient, and completely unhappy in general. A few Blue Lacy exercise ideas:

Walking/Jogging/Bicycling: Two 30-minute walks (or 20-minute jogs or bike rides) per day is a good target
Fetch/Frisbee: These dogs will chase a ball, stick, or Frisbee for hours
Tug-of-War: Good indoor activity; use a rope or old towel
Swimming: Lacys usually love the water; start swimming with the dog when it's still a puppy
Canine Sports: Lacy Dogs can excel in obedience and agility trials, flyball, and other events
Dog Park: If properly socialized, Lacys usually enjoy the company of other dogs; be sure to use a leash
Hiking: Excellent bonding activity; bonus if you can find a remote area where the dog can be off-leash

When indoors, it's good to give the dog access to balls or toys that will allow it to burn excess energy. It's also recommended that owners have a regular exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks, jogs, or bike rides after breakfast and dinner and a play period in the afternoon.

Blue Lacy Maintenance

In terms of shedding and drooling, these dogs don't need a great deal of care. Blue Lacy shedding is seasonal--fairly light for most of the year, but heavier during the twice-yearly shedding seasons. Drooling isn't much of an issue.

Lacy Dogs have short, smooth coats with only somewhat of an undercoat. Most of the time, the coats don't shed too much, but the shedding can be heavier if they blow their undercoats in the spring and fall. Owners only need to brush their Lacys weekly with a bristle brush to keep the shed to a minimum. Hair cleanup--vacuuming the floors and lint rollers on clothes and furniture--will be needed only occasionally. (Brushing and cleanup may be required more often during shedding season.)

And a Blue Lacy might drool a little in anticipation of food or after drinking water, but the drool won't be heavy or frequent. If your Lacy Dog is drooling excessively, it might be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care is needed.