Do Lakeland Terriers Shed?

There’s no doubt that this quirky little breed boasts a massive personality when it comes to the Lakeland Terrier. 

According to the United States Lakeland Terrier Club, the Lakeland Terrier has a charm and compatibility that are difficult to equal.’

There’s no disputing that the rugged little Lakie packs a massive punch with its larger than life character. 

If you’re considering a Lakeland Terrier as a new addition to the family, there’s one more all-important question that needs to be answered: 

Do Lakeland Terriers shed?

Lakeland Terrier Coat Characteristics

The Lakeland Terrier, like many of its Terrier cousins, has what we refer to as a double coat. Its wiry outercoat – or topcoat as it’s sometimes called – is a product of the Lakie’s evolution as a hunting dog. 

The Lakeland Terrier was bred primarily to protect farmland in the English county of Cumberland. It protected the farmland from a wide variety of vermin and prey. 

The Lakeland Terrier’s wiry outer coat would act as a sturdy defense mechanism against the rough English countryside.

The soft undercoat of the Lakeland Terrier, protects the Lakie from a wide variety of weather conditions. The soft undercoat provided vital insulation and warmth against the commonly wet and wild English climate. It also helped to keep them cool during the warmer months when there was a greater need to control its body temperature and protect its skin from the sun’s harmful rays.

The double coat of the Lakeland Terrier comes in a wide variety of colors, some of which are solid, some of which are not. Lakie breeds can be found with solid coats of the following colors:

• Black
• Blue
• Liver
• Red
• Wheaton

However, they can also be found with mixed color coats, or saddle markings as they are often referred to. Variations include:

• Black and Tan
• Blue and Tan
• Grizzle and Tan
• Liver and Tan
• Red Grizzle

The double-coated Lakeland Terrier is, by its very nature, a relatively infrequent shedder. You may think minimal shedding means minimal maintenance. This is not necessarily true with the lovely Lakie.

In the case of the Lakeland Terrier, a lack of grooming – or improper grooming can have quite a significant impact on their beautiful coat. 

If you put the effort in to maintain and groom them, you will reap the rewards of a handsome hound. But if you don’t, you will face knotted and matted fur and the potential for a faded coat.

But before we delve a little deeper into the best grooming schedule for your Lakie, let’s explore some other advantages that come with this breed.

Are Lakeland Terriers Hypoallergenic?

Should we be asking if Lakeland Terriers are hypoallergenic? We would be better off asking the question, are any dog breeds hypoallergenic?’

And to be completely honest with you, the answer is no. You see, there is no such thing as a truly hypoallergenic dog. But that said, a large number of dog breeds who – while not being 100 percent hypoallergenic – are a very close fit. And the Lakeland Terrier happens to one such breed.

So, what is it about the Lakeland Terrier that earns it the hypoallergenic label?

When considering what makes the Lakeland Terrier – or any other dog breed, hypoallergenic, we have to dig a little deeper to understand the term. And for a dog breed to be labeled as a low risk to those allergy sufferers out there, there are three key factors we have to take into consideration:

Dander

According to the American Lung Association, pet dander is composed of tiny, even microscopic, flecks of skin shed by cats, dogs, rodents, birds, and other animals with fur or feathers.’ 

Dander is known to attach itself to the fur our dogs shed and is the main cause of allergic reactions in humans. The more fur a dog sheds, the more dander is spread around our homes and on our clothes.

Contrary to popular belief, it is the dander that causes allergic reactions in humans, not the dog hair itself. Short-haired dogs and dogs that shed less fur spread less dander. These are more commonly referred to as hypoallergenic dogs.’

Saliva

We’ve all seen images of the classic drooling dog. Tthe Lakeland Terrier just doesn’t drool that much. As a result of this, your house and clothes will be slobber free. 

You’ll also have the bonus of dramatically reducing the amount of allergens in and around your home. This is because your Lakie produces considerably less saliva than many other notable dog breeds.

You see, the saliva produced by dogs contains certain proteins that can be the cause of allergies in some humans. 

The more the saliva produced, the higher the chance of an allergic reaction in anyone sensitive to pet allergies. 

Thankfully, that’s something we don’t have to worry about with our relatively drool-free Lakie.

Shedding Fur

Just as we humans shed hair, so do our dogs. Irrespective of its breed, every dog will shed its fur. And just like us humans, the reason a dog sheds its fur is completely natural. So why does a dog shed its fur?

Firstly, the act of shedding removes damaged or dead hair from the dog’s coat. The space created by the removal of dead fur means new fur can grow. And while this is a process, every dog breed goes through naturally, the extent to which different dog breeds shed their fur is wide and varied.

And when it comes to the Lakeland Terrier, this breed benefits from a relatively low level of shedding. Dander often attaches itself to the dead or damaged fur that each dog sheds. The less shedding takes place, the less dander there is spread around your home and on your clothes. And as we learned earlier, the less dander, the fewer allergy triggers.

So, is the Lakeland Terrier a Hypoallergenic Dog? 

Technically, it’s not. 

But, they spread a small amount of dander, produce hardly any excess saliva, and keep its shedding to a minimum. A Lakeland Terrier is about as close as you’re ever going to get to that hypoallergic promised land!

Lakeland Terrier Grooming

As mentioned earlier, you must maintain a regular brushing and grooming schedule to keep your Lakeland Terrier’s coat in tip-top condition.

To get the very best results, your Lakie should be brushed weekly as a bare minimum and, if possible, two to three times a week. 

Given its wiry outercoat, the best brush for Lakeland Terriers for regular brushing is a slicker brush.

Weekly grooming with a slicker brush is recommended. Doing this will ensure that any tangles and knots are gently removed from your Lakie’s coat and will also remove any dirt and debris along the way. 

A slicker brush also has the added benefit of being wide-headed. Being wide-headed means that it will help distribute those all-important essential oils across your dog’s coat evenly.

Regular brushing with a slicker brush will go a long way to maintaining a healthy coat for your Lakeland Terrier. But, regular stripping of the coat will also be needed to ensure the best condition. 

Stripping is a commonly used grooming technique for many wiry-haired breeds. Stripping means removing dead hair either by hand or with a stripping brush.

It’s worth speaking to a reputable groomer for dog owners new to the concept of stripping – or even your dog’s breeder. They’ll likely be able to give you a demonstration or a detailed explanation as to how you can strip your dog’s coat for yourself. 

When it comes to stripping your Lakie’s coat, it’s recommended that this is done professionally twice a year. But if you’re willing to buy a stripping brush, you can up the frequency slightly to suit your grooming regime.

Regular brushing and stripping are the preferred grooming methods for the Lakeland Terrier. You should know that regular trimming and clipping is also an alternative.

Standard clipping and trimming will indeed maintain the health of your Lakie’s coat. Still, it does come with one or two disadvantages.

While regular clipping may be easier and more practical than stripping. Please note that there’s a strong possibility that it will impact the overall color and texture of your Lakie’s coat. 

Color-wise, there’s a good chance it will fade – and as for the texture of its coat, that wiry outer coat may be replaced by a much softer, curlier outer layer.

So, do Lakeland Terriers Shed?

It’s just a fact of life that all dogs shed their fur. It’s just par for the course. Some dogs shed their fur all year round; others shed seasonally. Some dogs shed excessively, while others shed a minimal amount. The Lakeland Terrier falls into the latter category in that it sheds infrequently. When it does shed, it is only minimal.

But if you’re willing to invest time and energy into regularly brushing and stripping your trusty Lakie, you’ll reap the rewards. You’ll not only keep the shedding to the very bare minimum; you’ll also be rewarded with a strikingly handsome Lakeland Terrier. This’ll mean that they’ll have a stunning coat to match its equally stunning personality.