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Discover the forgotten history and revival of solid black and blue Lakeland Terriers, from early shows to modern preservation efforts.
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The earliest pictures of Lakeland Terriers included self-blacks. Most any color was acceptable, except white, so black, blue, black and tan, grizzle, red, and liver were represented.
The Fell hound packs were predominantly white, and perhaps that was why the non-white terriers were favored, as they could easily be distinguished among the hounds. Most likely, the bravest, most hardworking terriers, of whatever color, in the rugged terrain were favored, and therefore, became the “best colors” for tackling the fell fox.
When the time came for deciding on a “standard of perfection” for this working breed to be represented at dog show exhibitions, the colors in the population included black, blue, black and tan, blue and tan, liver, liver and tan, grizzle and tan, red grizzle (born black and tan, with the saddle eventually becoming completely tan at maturity), and self-red color from birth.
When dog shows became more sporting events in their own right, there evolved standards of perfection for each breed, and eventually, dog shows evolved beyond the comparison of hunting dogs, or working dogs, to what is fairly universal today—dog shows where every form of canine anatomy may be observed; with a historical purpose, or merely as a companion of humans.
There is purported to be some crossing in the background of the Lakeland with the Bedlington. That would not be surprising, as the Bedlington x Greyhound cross was not uncommon to produce a lurcher—not a breed but a larger purpose-bred animal—when it was desired to bring a larger dog on a varmint hunt to dispatch larger quarry. Such a dog would be useless in the rocky dens of the fell fox, which was not about to be rousted out of his secure rocky fortress.
My purpose here, however, is to trace the evolution of the self-black and self-blue Lakelands into modern times. Their journey to the dog show limelight has often been as rocky as the Lake District hills, and to say that there has been extreme prejudice against solid blacks and blues is an understatement.
The first black Lakeland exhibited in North America, in 1969, was Sea Elf Black Menace, owned and shown by Molly Rudolf at the USLTC Specialty in Chicago. Ms. Rudolph was refused entry into the ring (the steward mistaking him for a Kerry puppy), but the judge also denied him access, at first, as not being eligible. When it was pointed out that “black” is a color allowed in the Breed Standard, the dog was reluctantly allowed in the ring, gone over, and awarded a 1st place ribbon. But after the Specialty was concluded, the judge declined a request to have a picture taken with the dog and his 1st place ribbon. Really tough on the exhibitor!
Fast forward a dozen or so years, and a serendipitous event brought solid black Lakelands back into the gene pool. The color had died out everywhere except Sweden, and there was only one active breeder of black Lakelands still breeding, Ms. Ylva Glimfeldt. (The blue coat color was in no danger of extinction, as it was still found occasionally in blue and tans, although most dogs appearing in the ring had their saddle died or chalked black. I was fortunate enough to see a blue and tan—au naturel—at the first dog show where I’d ever laid eyes on a Lakeland, in 1963. I had always loved Wires and Welsh, but that blue and tan Lakeland stole my heart. I didn’t own my first Lakie until 1970, but I never forgot that lovely blue saddle.) But I digress.
Mrs. Geri Kelly, renowned breeder of black Miniature Schnauzers, was at a pause point in her breeding program. Congenital Juvenile Cataract had made its way into her beloved breed, and the only way to root the problem out was through test breeding, so she paused activity in the show ring while her stock could be tested. In a conversation with Peter Green, he said, effectively, “If you miss being in the ring with your dogs, why don’t you get black Lakelands?” (When she related this, I thought, what? Peter always expressed to me that he thought black Lakelands were an abomination?) But Geri took him at his word (thankfully, for my breed!) and sought out the only source of solid black Lakelands in Sweden, purchasing a male, Glim’s Freya Black, and a female, Glim’s Janna Black. The two were bred in the US and became the progenitors of the solid black color (and hence, also solid blue) in the US, and probably, the world.
(A word here about genetics: the self-red in Lakelands is an epistatic phenomenon; that is, all dogs have, at one place on one chromosome, a gene for black pigment, or a gene for brown pigment. Black is dominant, so if a dog has one of the gene pair that codes for black pigment (the genotype would be BB or Bb), the hair will be black. It takes both genes of the pair at that locus to code for liver color (bb), and if so, then the haircoat will be chocolate brown. Red/wheaten, on the other hand, is a gene that is epistatic; that is, it prevents the expression of a gene at another locus from affecting the haircoat. It is designated E. Therefore, a dog with EE or Ee will be able to express either black or liver color in the haircoat (and nose and eye rims). If the dog’s genetic make-up is the recessive ee, pigment of the nose and eye rims will correspond with the gene for black or liver (BB, Bb for black; bb for liver) but the haircoat will be some shade of red (wheaten all the way to Irish Setter red). But I digress.
When Geri bred the black Lakies and the pups began appearing, her friend, Gunter Behr, was furious; claiming the Lakeland breed would be ruined, that solid black color should not be preserved, etc. When she told him that Peter Green had suggested she get the black Lakelands, Gunter was astounded, contacted Peter, and ranted about why he did such a thing! Peter’s reply: I was joking! I never thought she would get black Lakelands!
Geri, we in Lakelands are so glad you did. You preserved a part of our history, and black and solid blue Lakelands are beautiful! Understandably, Geri’s heart was with her beloved Mini Schnauzers, as the Lakelands’ heritage is a much “higher octane” prey drive. She ceased breeding Lakies, but those of us who love the breed are very grateful for her efforts, which have preserved solid black and blue Lakelands for posterity! May you live long and prosper!
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