What is the State Dog of Texas?
Texas is a state located in the south-central United States. The state has an area of 696,241 sq km and a population of 28,304,596, making the second largest US state in terms of both area and population. Texas is among thirteen US states that have an official state dog. The Blue Lacy was chosen as the state dog of Texas in 2005.
History of the Blue Lacy’s Breed
Described as a mix of English Sheppard, greyhound, and wolf, the Blue Lacy is named after the Lacy family who moved from Kentucky to Texas in 1858. The Lacy family bred the dog to help hunt and herd hogs on their Texas ranch. Although first described as a "true Texas breed" by the state senate in 2001, the Blue Lacy was officially proposed as the state dog through Housing Concurrent Resolution Number 108, introduced by Representative Joaquin Castro. Adopted by the Texas House of Representatives on March 15, 2005, the Blue Lacy was declared as the official state dog by Governor Rick Perry on June 15, 2005.
Physical Characteristics
The Blue Lacy is a medium-sized dog with a proportional body structure that is complemented by a good height to weight ratio. Dogs of this breed have yellow or light orange eyes and thin triangular ears that are rounded at the tip. The average Blue Lacy has a height of between 18 and 25 inches and a weight of between 30 and 50 pounds. The breed has a distinctively smooth and tight coat that is either red, "blue" (actually grey or charcoal), or tricolor, which is a combination of red, blue and white.
Temperament
The Blue Lacy breed is very active, bold, alert, and gentle. However, young Blue Lacy dogs are often too active to be appropriate for young children. The breed is also intelligent and highly trainable. Additionally, the Blue Lacy is described as a driven and determined breed, which made it useful for working on ranches.
Health and Maintenance
The breed is easily adaptable to various types of weather and can thrive in rugged topography. The Blue Lacy's high energy levels require frequent physical activity in order to vent excess energy. Although generally healthy, the breed sometimes experiences food allergies and skin problems. The Blue Lacy can live for up to 16 years.
Conservation
The Blue Lacy population has declined significantly due to the decreased prevalence of ranching. As a result, several conservation efforts have been introduced since 1975 to protect the breed's dwindling population. Increased breeding of the Blue Lacy in Texas and encouraging residents to buy the breed are among the conservation initiatives.
