Jug vs Blue Lacy - Breed Comparison | PetzLover

The Lacy brothers came to Texas in 1858, and this breed is named after them. They wanted a strong, robust working dog. It is a working/herding dog breed that originated in Texas in the mid 19th century.

It is interesting to note that in June 2005, Governor Rick Perry brought about legislation adopting the Blue Lacy as the official Dog Breed of Texas. The breed is also registered by the National Lacy Dog Registry and the Animal Research Foundation.

Today the Blue Lacy is considered to be the perfect all-around dog, with the Lacy family history noting the breed to come from a mix of scent-hound, greyhound and coyote cross. There are theories around the scent hound used, with some believing it could have been an Italian Gray Hound, but whatever the case, the Lacy brothers established this breed under the guidelines required to develop a recognized breed.

The Jug is a crossbreed – a mix of a pug and a Jack Russell Terrier and they were bred in England with the idea to keep the basic features of a pug but just with a longer nose.

Details on the origin of the dog are not altogether clear but the dog was developed so that it would reduce the breathing problems that pugs and other flat-faced breeds are known for.

This isn’t an old breed and development started around the 1960s. It is one of the most recent breeds to be registered by the American Canine Hybrid Club.

Lithe, Sleek and Agile to Look At

The medium-sized, well proportioned, muscular and lithe Blue Lacy stands at roughly 46–53cm. He has a coat which is smooth and short and in an attractive gun-metal gray color which can be classified as blue or almost black. Other shades are also available such as cream, yellow, reddish and you also get tri-colored Lacy’s.

Pure Blue Lacy’s have some white markings on their brisket. Whatever color you have, these clean-looking dogs with their low maintenance coats are referred to as Blue Lacy’s. Their brown eyes are bright and alert, they have long tails and their ears hang down.

A Wonderful All-Round Dog

The American Blue Lacy gives one the sense of speed, agility and endurance. He is intelligent, active and alert, being an all-round dog who can adapt to being among ranchers and cowboys and then become gentle with children and his family.

With socialization, he is also tolerant of other dogs. Because he is so intelligent he can be quickly trained, and training and socialization will be recommended for him to ensure he is the perfect all-rounder he was designed to be. His alertness makes him an excellent watch dog.

The Jug will usually end up having a round head with the typical short muzzle of the Pug. He may be somewhat lighter in build than the Pug, taking more after the Jack Russell in this regard.

The way the dog turns out will depend on which dog the puppy takes after. He is a small breed dog standing at between 25 to 36cm at the withers and weighing 5 to 7kg.

When it comes to coat color you'll find they can vary between fawn, black, apricot and sometimes a blend of two colors. While pugs come with smoothish coats, the Jack Russell can either have a smooth or rough coat and your Jug could inherit either a smooth or rough coat.

He could inherit the Pug’s flat, somewhat wrinkled face while others may have a slightly longer muzzle. The eyes are large and the ears are floppy. The legs are short and the tail will no doubt be left long these days and be slightly curled.

Temperament:

The tenacious, fearless, intelligent nature of the Jack Russell Terrier mixed with the entertaining, amicable nature of the pug has brought out the Jug dog with a whole lot of excellent qualities of both dog breeds.

They are loving, loyal dogs and when they are trained and socialized they get on particularly well with both pets and children in the the home. He is intelligent and will be able to learn some simple commands such as sit, stay and lie down.

Your Blue Lacy is such a low-maintenance, easy dog to have. Remember to have your puppy vaccinated from distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza. These vaccinations start from 6 - 8 weeks of age. Also, because different areas have different regulations surrounding the rabies injection, check with your vet about this one.

A socialized, trained Blue Lacy makes such an awesome pet but you have responsibilities towards him. You need to know precisely what is required to keep him healthy and happy.

This is a versatile working dog who is intelligent and alert but also sensitive to being mistreated. Treat him decently and in exchange you’ll have a loyal, devoted canine family member.

Jugs are wonderful little dogs and they make a good choice for first time dog owners as they don’t come with any difficult characteristics.

They’re playful, intelligent, energetic and amicable and just love to please their human family. Because of his small size, he is also an adaptable dog, being able to settle down in the city or the country, as long as he is given enough mental- and physical exercise to prevent boredom and frustration.

Provide the right environment for your Jug and you’ve got an awesome canine friend for life.

The Blue Lacy is generally a healthy breed, but just like with any other dog breed they will be prone to some health conditions. Blue Lacys can also suffer with the likes of hip or elbow dysplasia and hypothyroidism.

Hip Dysplasia

This is a disease of the hip where the ball and socket joint is malformed. Hip dysplasia is when the hip joints don’t develop normally. It needs to be watched as it can result in loss of function of the hip joints. The disease can often begin when the dog is still very young.

Hypothyroidism

Some breeds are genetically predisposed towards hypothyroidism, but environmental factors and certain medications can trigger autoimmune reactions. Not only that, a tight collar can also cause thyroid damage. The symptoms of hypothyroidism are weight gain, skin problems, dislike of the cold and even hair loss and then it’s time to get your pet thyroid-tested.

Your jaunty little Jug can live anything from 12 to 20 years when looked after well.

Just like with any other dog however, he can become ill, and then you will need to get him to the vet as soon as possible. Allergies, breathing problems, bloat, primary lens luxation, skin disorders, deafness, cardiomyopathy and obesity are just some of the common dog diseases that your Jug might have to deal with.

Breathing Problems:

Because one of the dogs used in the development of the Jug is a Pug, as a brachycephalic breed, they could suffer with breathing problems. The Jug which inherits the shorter muzzles can suffer from a condition known as Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome.

Eye Problems:

Some Jugs can have the large, protruding or bulbous eyes of the Pug. With an eye problem known as Entropion, the lid of the eye can turn inward so that the eyelash pushes into the eyeball, causing lots of redness, discharge and irritation. This can lead to an infection in the eye. You may notice your Jug constantly pawing at his eye.

Obesity:

This can be a real problem for your Jug and the extra weight will put additional strain on the dog’s heart and other organs and also affect his overall health and wellbeing.

Exercise

Typically of working breeds, the Blue Lacy is going to need a firm owner who provides guidance and leadership, and who is responsible with providing the Lacy with plenty of exercise. This dog was created for work, so they will be totally at home on a farm. If not, they will require long walks every day with lots of ball games too.

Grooming

Care for the Blue Lacy doesn’t take much effort. He isn’t much of a shedder and therefore has low grooming requirements. He’ll require being brushed twice a week to get rid of loose hairs. If you start early with this grooming routine, he looks forward to this ‘bonding’ session.

Routine maintenance will require nail clipping and teeth cleaning as plaque can build up and leave your pet with dental problems and gum disease. Ask your veterinarian about dental care because there are special dog-designed toothpastes and brushes. Also check for ticks and fleas in and around the ears of your dog.

Food

Your Blue Lacy is a high energy working dog so he will require a balanced diet to cater for his energy levels. He will certainly require some raw meat from time to time to avoid skin problems. Home prepared meals are also good and these can include rice, meat and vegetables.

Remember when in any kind of doubt, speak to your vet about dog food which meets the requirements of your dog, his age, his breed and his activity levels. Always have a bowl of clean, cool water available to him around the clock.

Exercise:

Small he may be, but the Jug is an energetic little dog who will require exercising to keep him content. Toys to chew on are good and you can take him for walks too. Throw a ball for him or let him tug on a rope.

Diet:

To keep your little Jug healthy and happy, you want to be sure that his diet is made up of a balanced mix of vitamins and minerals. If you feed him a commercially manufactured food, make sure that its one of the best ones free of toxic colorants and preservatives.

Check on the packaging for portion sizes for your pet. Give him some home-made food too such as cooked chicken, rice, pasta and vegetables and try to also include some raw meat mixed into his kibble from time to time. Fresh, cool water should always be included day and night.

With healthy food, your Jug can make it to 17, 18, 19 or 20 years of age even. Remember that anytime you get a pet, you can check with your veterinarian for dietary recommendations.

Grooming:

The Jug can shed quite a bit, particularly if he inherited more of the Pug coat. Make sure you brush his coat at least twice a week to rid him of loose hairs. Brushing also strengthens the bond between you and your pet.

General:

Recognize the signs of an ear problem. These can be redness or swelling, ear scratching, head shaking or ear discharge.

To keep his teeth and gums healthy you can provide him with safe, appropriate toys to chew on as well as dental chews recommended by your vet.

Check your dog’s eye health. Signs of an eye problem are eye discharge and redness. Take your pet to the vet as soon as possible and try and remove hair around the eye that could be causing irritation.