A small but sturdy, powerful and energetic working dog, either black and tan or liver and tan, with a weather resistant double coat and a natural tail that is carried in a slight curve. Courageous, happy and affectionate, the Lancashire Heeler is very alert and, due to its heritage, has instincts to work as a cattle drover and also as a hunter of rabbits and rats.

As the name would suggest, the Lancashire Heeler, also known as the Ormskirk Heeler, originated in Lancashire, Northern England. It is believed that the founders of the breed resulted from crosses between visiting Welsh Corgi’s, that were escorting herds to local markets, and the indigenous Manchester Terriers of the region. Lancashire Heelers have historically been used for rounding up cattle and sheep on farms by sharply nipping the herd’s heels, as well as being prodigious ratters and rabbit hunters. This short, black-and-tan-coated breed is uncommon outside of Northern England and rarely found outside of the United Kingdom where it attained formal recognition by the Kennel Club in 1982. The American Kennel Club first listed the breed on their Foundation Stock Service breed register in 1999.