When I started breeding the beautiful Lacy dogs I was thrilled to see beautiful, healthy litters, even though my female Annie Oakley was determined to be an overachiever by throwing 14-15 puppies at a time.  She never a an ounce of trouble nursing the puppies but I did help out with those large litters.  I would divide the puppies and put half on a heating pad in a basket and half with her and every 2 hours for 2-3 weeks I would trade out those pups.  She would let me know that I had divided up puppies a little too long by crawling into the clothes basket, even though there wasn't really enough room  for her and the pups and turning on her back,  nurse those pups upside down. 

 Anyway,,,my first three litters were all blues. Beautiful, born with the stripes which threw me for a loop in the beginning, but as all of us do,  I called my friends, Marlo and Tom and they calmed me down.  I was worried she had found a Bengal Tiger or Zebra and bred with them in the beginning. 

 The first litter that produced a puppy with white on the head really scared me.  Here was this gorgeous litter, from my tri female Calamity Jane and this tri puppy had a beautiful blaze down her head.  Again, I'm calling Marlo and Tom and they assure me that occasionally this happens.  OF course this puppy does not meet breed standards.  You do not want a Lacy to have white on their head.  I know that a lot of breeders of different breeds of dogs do put down puppies that are not breed standard.  But I don't really think that the Lacy family would have put down a dog that would still be capable of working on the ranch for some inappropriate white. They just wouldn't breed that particular dog back into the Lacy line. 

The point I'm making here, or "trying" to make, is that the Lacy breed is a rare breed.  There are not many registered Lacys in the USA.  So,  a good working Lacy is just that.  A good Lacy. 

I sold this tri puppy with the white  blaze to a couple in Missouri. They were interested in a Lacy which they would get spayed, so I knew she would have a good home.  BUT,  they have excelled with their "pet" Lacy.   They named their puppy  "Lacy",  which is confusing, but she now has her Canine Good Citizen certificate.  (CGC)  and she's been accepted into the Touch program run by Support Dogs, INc.  Once thru those classes and when she passes the final exam, she will begin to visit elderly communities, rehabilitation centers, children's hospitals, etc.  Touch dogs are trained to be pet assistants for therapy.  TOUCH stands for Therapy of Unique Canine Helpers.

As you can see,  this puppy that might have been put down is an outstanding citizen and makes the Lacy breed proud.  Yes, she has white on her head.  Linda gets stopped all over St Louis and has to explain what breed she is and that they usually do NOT have the white blaze, but how intelligent they are, etc. 

This Fall,  I had another puppy from another female with a white blaze.  Guess who was ready for another Lacy????  Yep,  she was shipped to St Louis also. 

Sierra will go the same route as Lacy.    I'm very proud of both dogs and I think they really are an Ambassador for the Lacy Breed. 

 

 

 

---

http://dstexaslacydogs.shutterfly.com/
806 675-6181

"Liars need to have good memories."

Those are gorgeous dogs, even if they don't meet the standard.  I'm so glad you didn't put the pup down because her colors were "wrong".  No dog deserves that. 

Here is our Dooley and his boy.  He has white on the top of his nose too and his skin is pink so we have to sunscreen him in the summer. He's not perfect but we love him!

 

Warren was asking if both litters had the same sire? 

---

Brenda Sturman
Alvin, TX
blsturman@live.com 281-914-5635

Now this is promoting our breed!  The Delta Society in San Antonio and Austin offer this same certification.  I certified a Rottie back in the 1990's.  I'm sure they still offer the same course today.  Sandy this is awesome!

---

TLGDA Breeder

You aren't wealthy, until you've experienced something no amount of money can buy
(979)557-6334 or (979)557-6264

Sandy I agree with you 1000 percent. I have (Culled) before but Will NEVER!!!!!!!! do it again, I hate this . Then one one day I realized It's my choice and their are better ways to deal with (out of standard) Pups. After all its not their fault they were born with a little more white than is acceptable. I treat them the same as all the others. In my mind Spaying or neutering is the better way to handle this problem. After all we are the ones who engineered the Cross. Ive found there just as good a dog as the ones that meet our Standers..... I don't sell them but do require there owners to Spay or neuter........

Tom

---

TLGDA Chairman of the Board
Tom Graham
Cameron, TX

In answer to the question about the sires?   Lacy, the tri female came out of D-S Deek and  I didnt make that cross again, because I didnt want the white to show up.   Sierra, the smaller female is out of Tuff,,, who has sired 4 litters before with NO white on heads.  So,  breeders, just be prepared that its not if a pup with white on the head shows up in a litter,  its when.  Be prepared to make a decision.  but know that there are outlets out there for good Lacys, no matter. 

 And Tom,  thats why we all love you , you big ole Teddy Bear!!  

 

---

http://dstexaslacydogs.shutterfly.com/
806 675-6181

"Liars need to have good memories."

Best post of the new year if I may say so, it touches on so many aspects of being a responsible breeder , the standards of the breed, working ability and all the choices we must make as TLGDA breeders.

Myself like Tom have culled in the past , I did alot of it with my Catahoulas but have yet to cull a Lacy. I do not plan to cull like I did in the past but search out other opportunities for any Lacys they may not meet the standard .

Sandy you are a good breeder and it shows in the Lacys you have produced and also in the way you go that extra mile for the breed. In the past 5 to 6 years there have been many good & bad that has gone one in the TLGDA , the true Lacy Game Dog Association made up of people from all walks of life. All having a purpose for the breed, some of us hunt , some of us do not but the respect for the breed is no doubt right here at the TLGDA.

We have weathered some storms and weeded out those that have selfish views and tunnel vision as to what the Lacy dog really is, there is no talk of openly crossing the breed to another because breeders here do stand behind the code of ethics they signed as a breeder. You have the strength and pride to breed for the best of the breed, you offer information for those that ask and we are all the heart of this association.

Keep it up for we are growing dailey and the breed is in good hands here, thank you all .

 

JJ

---

Jesse James
Vice President TLGDA
Lacy Breeder
912-610-4584

While we're on the topic of breed standards, my pup has absolutely no white markings.  Does that mean he doesn't meet the standard?  I know the standard says "minimal to full white markings", but he doesn't have a blaze or any markings on his feet.  Maybe just a few stray white hairs in the tail.

Some Lacy do have minimal white markings.  Pull his paws up and I bet you see white hairs between his toes or right above the pads on the bottom side at least on one foot.  Also on his chest down between his legs, you might see a couple white hairs there.  Some Lacy's do not have a full blaze on their chest. 

The only reason the pups with the white that pops on the head are not placed as breeding quaility, is due to excessive white can mutate on to the body area in the offspring.  It's due to the white spoted gene Lacy posses.  If Lacy's had a body structure different from other breeds, such as the Gray Hound, then this would not be as important.  Being the Lacy is very simualar in body structure as other breeds, maintaining a solid appreance is needed to be able to distingish a Lacy from another breed. 

Lacy that have the white on the muzzle and head still are valuable to the breed as a whole.  These pups can be placed in home that had planned to spay and nueter anyways.  Which in turn means, more breeding quaility pups staying in the breeding program. 

If a Lacy has minimal white to hardly visible white markings, he/she will still throw offspring with markings on chest and toes.  It is funny how the white spotted gene works.  There are many websites you can get more informaiton about the white spotted gene if you are interested in researching why some dogs have white markings on the chest and toes.

---

Breeder/Pups for Sale Administrator
TLGDA Board Member
210-681-1301
bluelacydogs@sbcglobal.net

Sandy don 't feel bad Lulu throwed white on some of her pups also. I must say though I have never seen a tri color with a stripe on their nose. I have studied the white on the nose thing for a while and think it has some thing to do with how high the white on there brisket ,neck area is on both the male and female also they always would have a  white tip on their tail. little stripe little tip. big stripe big tip. great post Sandy  Darren

Great posts.

Other than coat color and markings, what are some other traits known to be passed on genetically? Do some specific lines produce dogs more suited to tracking, or others that create incredible herders? Or is it less predictable than that? 

Jesse, do I remember correctly that you try to hold onto, at least for awhile, a couple pups from some of your litters to make sure the pairing works as you hope? And what characteristics are you looking for? Do some of you other breeders do the same or track the pups as they grow to see if the strengths of the sire and dam carry through?

Another note: I am very grateful that this group of good folks (and the association) have welcomed Talley and I despite the fact that the only job Talley has is tormenting the cat (a job she excels at, I must say.) I appreciate you all being supportive of Lacys in the many ways their instincts manifest, whether as hunters, herders, trackers, or as all-around good companions. That reminds me . .  "Talley, where are you? Get back over here and lay on my feet–they're getting cold!"   ---dena

 

 

---

Dena E. Brown
TLGDA Editor
news@lacydog.com

Hello there

I'm

Hello there

I'm

new

Sorry about that I must have hit something on the laptop.  Anyway I was going to say that if you have dogs that may not meet the "standard" always keep in mind that there are hunters out there looking for great tracking dogs regardless of standard.  I myself decided to find my tracking prospect from the local Pound, hoping to save a life as well as get a potential tracker.  So far I'm happy to say that he seems to be doing well.  Anyway my point is there are avenues you can pursue in lew of "culling" out the ones which dont meet the standards.