Lucas Terrier

Lucas Terriers

Typical Lucas Terriers
Origin	England
Traits Coat Fairly harsh, double, medium length Color Tan or with combinations of tan, black, white or grey Life span 12–17 years
Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris)

The Lucas Terrier is a small breed of dog of the terrier type which originated in England in the late 1940s. The breed was named by Sir Jocelyn Lucas, 4th Baronet and all living Lucas Terriers in the UK can trace their ancestry back to a small number of his original Lucas Terriers.

It is a sturdy, symmetrically built, working terrier like an old-fashioned Ilmer Sealyham type, created only by crossing an existing Lucas Terrier with a Norfolk Terrier or with a small Sealyham Terrier. A latter-day Norfolk Terrier mated with a latter-day Sealyham Terrier does not produce a Lucas Terrier because it will not trace back to the original Lucas Terrier lines. All true Lucas Terriers have a direct connection to Sir Jocelyn Lucas's original Ilmer Kennel based Lucas Terriers. The Lucas Terrier is bred primarily for temperament and companionship, and so should be friendly, with no aggressive tendencies towards people or other dogs, and not fearful or nervous while retaining the usual terrier traits. The coat should be fairly harsh, weather resistant and of medium length. It may be coloured or white, but the majority are tan, black and tan or saddle and tan. Dogs should weigh 14–20 lbs (6–9 kg) and bitches 11–17 lbs (5–8 kg).

Sir Jocelyn Lucas, 4th Baronet, a long-time Sealyham breeder in the first half of the 20th Century, bred the first cross between a Norfolk Terrier and one of his own Ilmer Sealyhams. Ilmer Sealyhams were smaller than the mainstream show Sealyhams of the time. He found the mix produced an intelligent and feisty dog with an excellent temperament, suitable for use as a working terrier but equally happy as a domestic pet, and so named the cross after himself. Several distinct lines of Lucas Terrier were bred from the late 1940s, and these are still unbroken today.

In later years his extensive kennels were managed by the Hon Mrs Enid Plummer, and she ran the breeding programme for him as he became older and less involved. Sir Jocelyn died in 1980. Just prior to that, in the late 1970s, Enid Plummer moved to Cornwall with some remaining Lucas Terriers and continued breeding there until she died in 1986.

Miss Jumbo Frost took on the task of growing the breed from Enid Plummer, who she knew well, and her dedication, foresight and personal generosity carried Lucas Terriers through until she too died in 2009. During that time she oversaw a transformation in the fortunes of the breed, formalised the breeding by establishing the Lucas Terrier Club, was instrumental in widening the gene pool and in setting a number of standards which are still followed today.