Dachshund vs Blue Lacy - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

The Lacy brothers came to Texas in 1858, and this breed is named after them. They wanted a strong, robust working dog. It is a working/herding dog breed that originated in Texas in the mid 19th century.

It is interesting to note that in June 2005, Governor Rick Perry brought about legislation adopting the Blue Lacy as the official Dog Breed of Texas. The breed is also registered by the National Lacy Dog Registry and the Animal Research Foundation.

Today the Blue Lacy is considered to be the perfect all-around dog, with the Lacy family history noting the breed to come from a mix of scent-hound, greyhound and coyote cross. There are theories around the scent hound used, with some believing it could have been an Italian Gray Hound, but whatever the case, the Lacy brothers established this breed under the guidelines required to develop a recognized breed.

The Dachshund originated in Germany. He was used as a hunting dog with his origins starting way back in the 15th century already. The small dog was developed to hunt for animals that buried themselves deep underground such as badgers. The shape of the dog and his courage and bravery allowed him to take on the badger.

There has been a lot of debate as to whether the Dachshund is a hound or terrier, and it was decided that the Dachshund is a hound that became a terrier, and which displays some of the best qualities of both.

It was in 1881 that the Dachshund Club of England was formed and the German Deutscher Teckelklub was formed in 1888. The small dog gained popularity in America and the Dachshund Club of America was founded in 1895.

Lithe, Sleek and Agile to Look At

The medium-sized, well proportioned, muscular and lithe Blue Lacy stands at roughly 46–53cm. He has a coat which is smooth and short and in an attractive gun-metal gray color which can be classified as blue or almost black. Other shades are also available such as cream, yellow, reddish and you also get tri-colored Lacy’s.

Pure Blue Lacy’s have some white markings on their brisket. Whatever color you have, these clean-looking dogs with their low maintenance coats are referred to as Blue Lacy’s. Their brown eyes are bright and alert, they have long tails and their ears hang down.

A Wonderful All-Round Dog

The American Blue Lacy gives one the sense of speed, agility and endurance. He is intelligent, active and alert, being an all-round dog who can adapt to being among ranchers and cowboys and then become gentle with children and his family.

With socialization, he is also tolerant of other dogs. Because he is so intelligent he can be quickly trained, and training and socialization will be recommended for him to ensure he is the perfect all-rounder he was designed to be. His alertness makes him an excellent watch dog.

Known as Badger Dogs, Sausage Dogs or Doxies, the Dachshund is known for his long body, his sharp, pointed face and the short legs with the large front paws.

He stands at about 21-28 cm while the female may be 20-25 cm and weighing 6 to 15kg. He is the smallest of the hound dogs, with the standard size dachshund being developed to scent and chase badgers and other animals.

There are different Dachshund coat varieties – the smooth coat, the long-haired Dachshund and the wire-haired dachshund. They also come in a number of solid colors such as brown, red, tan, chocolate and black.

Temperament:

The dachshund is an energetic,social little dog with a loving personality. He’ll love to lie as close as possible to you on the couch and be with you wherever you are. Training and socialization is important so he doesn’t become too protective so that he wants to go for anyone who comes near.

He can be stubborn but he is also protective of his human family. Dachshunds are known for their tendency to bark but training and socialization can help tremendously to make him obedient and relaxed around humans and pets.

He is small enough to be a great pet in the city or in the country. He loves to spend time indoors- as well as outdoors. He can become a loving companion and gets on well with children and pets in the house. In spite of his small size, he makes a good watchdog.

Your Blue Lacy is such a low-maintenance, easy dog to have. Remember to have your puppy vaccinated from distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza. These vaccinations start from 6 - 8 weeks of age. Also, because different areas have different regulations surrounding the rabies injection, check with your vet about this one.

A socialized, trained Blue Lacy makes such an awesome pet but you have responsibilities towards him. You need to know precisely what is required to keep him healthy and happy.

This is a versatile working dog who is intelligent and alert but also sensitive to being mistreated. Treat him decently and in exchange you’ll have a loyal, devoted canine family member.

The Dachshund may be small but he is courageous, brave and loyal. He gets on well with children and pets in the home but care needs to be taken because of his long back.These dogs are prone to disk problems so you have to be careful with rough and tumble from children.

Dog experts say that the different kinds of Dachshunds produce different personalities and that the longer-coated one is more amicable than the short-coat variety. Whichever variety you choose, they are guaranteed to entertain and delight you and be a loyal, loving companion.

The Blue Lacy is generally a healthy breed, but just like with any other dog breed they will be prone to some health conditions. Blue Lacys can also suffer with the likes of hip or elbow dysplasia and hypothyroidism.

Hip Dysplasia

This is a disease of the hip where the ball and socket joint is malformed. Hip dysplasia is when the hip joints don’t develop normally. It needs to be watched as it can result in loss of function of the hip joints. The disease can often begin when the dog is still very young.

Hypothyroidism

Some breeds are genetically predisposed towards hypothyroidism, but environmental factors and certain medications can trigger autoimmune reactions. Not only that, a tight collar can also cause thyroid damage. The symptoms of hypothyroidism are weight gain, skin problems, dislike of the cold and even hair loss and then it’s time to get your pet thyroid-tested.

The life expectancy of the Dachshund is 12 to 16 years. With good care which includes good nutrition he can reach mature years. However there are always some dog diseases that are worth knowing about so that you can steer your pet away from them.

One of these is obesity, and the Dachshund is prone to developing obesity. Never overfeed him and ensure he gets his regular exercise which can be walks and ball games. Check with your vet if you’re unsure about how to feed him. Essentially, the amount of food you give a dog depends on the size of your dog, his age and his activity levels.

Be sure to provide high-quality food and monitor his intake. Your vet is always there to advise on the correct food and amount that can help him remain healthy.

Back Problems:

Unfortunately, this dog’s shape – the long back – makes the dog more prone to disc herniation. With some Dachshunds having a gene that creates mineral deposits in the discs in the spine, the risk of herniation is higher.

A large percentage of dachshunds have intervertebral disc disease. Encourage your Dachshund not to jump down off a bed or couch, but rather provide some steps for him to get to out of reach places.

Exercise

Typically of working breeds, the Blue Lacy is going to need a firm owner who provides guidance and leadership, and who is responsible with providing the Lacy with plenty of exercise. This dog was created for work, so they will be totally at home on a farm. If not, they will require long walks every day with lots of ball games too.

Grooming

Care for the Blue Lacy doesn’t take much effort. He isn’t much of a shedder and therefore has low grooming requirements. He’ll require being brushed twice a week to get rid of loose hairs. If you start early with this grooming routine, he looks forward to this ‘bonding’ session.

Routine maintenance will require nail clipping and teeth cleaning as plaque can build up and leave your pet with dental problems and gum disease. Ask your veterinarian about dental care because there are special dog-designed toothpastes and brushes. Also check for ticks and fleas in and around the ears of your dog.

Food

Your Blue Lacy is a high energy working dog so he will require a balanced diet to cater for his energy levels. He will certainly require some raw meat from time to time to avoid skin problems. Home prepared meals are also good and these can include rice, meat and vegetables.

Remember when in any kind of doubt, speak to your vet about dog food which meets the requirements of your dog, his age, his breed and his activity levels. Always have a bowl of clean, cool water available to him around the clock.

The Dachshund is a medium shedder and if you choose the short haired dog, you’re going to have a low maintenance pet.

The long haired Dachshund will require more regular brushing but the short-haired Dachshund is a low maintenance dog that will require a brush once a week.

While brushing him, you can be checking his ears and nails at the same time. All dogs with floppy ears need to have them checked for ear infections. Also, maintain good oral hygiene with your Dachshund by brushing his teeth 2 or 3 times a week.