Lancashire Heeler chat General Chat

I have a beautiful Lancashire heeler, had them all my life. Eyes are the biggest problem for these little dogs - they can now be tested for PLL (primary lens luxation) and CEA (collie eye anomaly). I actually think, now that I have a better understanding of PLL, that my last doggie suffered PLL at a very late age; sadly she passed away aged 18 years and 4 months. PLL can only be detected by an eye specialist, so not something your average vet would be able to detect. With my new dog, Bailiie, we have been recommended to have eye tests each year from around the age of 3 years so next year we will start that. Dogs can be tested as clear, carriers or affected. Bailiie is a carrier and although she shouldn't get this problem, she could later on in life. In most cases, if monitored, the problem can be helped with drugs but in some cases the eye needs to be removed because it is apparently very painful. My last old lady, Molly, was on metacam and diuretics to reduce swelling and ease pain as it was suggested she had glaucoma. When detecting PLL, glaucoma is often suggested but you must advise your vet about the PLL. I will keep posting about this after the eye test next year, a long time off yet but I don't know of anyone who has had a test done....
Molly was black and tan, Bailiie is liver and tan and we go to training school for obedience and agility. Bailiie loves doing agility but we don't have time for competitions or anything - I want to enjoy her as a pet and take her on nice walks etc though we are going to a Lancashire heeler gathering on 23 June 2012 - a working trials day at Lathom! See below:

The Lancashire Heeler Club

Invites you to an

Introduction to Working Trials Day

Saturday 23rd June 2012

10am

Ring O Bells Inn, Ring O Bells Lane, Lathom, Ormskirk,

Lancashire. L40 5TE



Please come along to find out more about the sport of Working Trials and have a go! Participants will learn about all aspects of trials: agility, control and nosework (including an introduction to tracking)

Places are limited, so please book early. £10 for Lancashire Heeler Club members and £15 for non-members. Spectators very welcome (discretionary donation advised) to watch, or just catch up with heeler-friends in the pub / have a walk along the canal.

The Ring O Bells is a dog-friendly pub, serving lovely food all day on Saturdays. Caravan sites and B&B available locally. The Ring O Bells is just under 1 hour’s drive from the Blackpool Show Ground and 15 minutes from J.27 M6.

No previous experience necessary. To book, ring Margaret on 01704 822 775 or
e-mail mokane71@tiscali.co.uk

I hope this info is of some use, and people have an understanding of Heelers and health issues...
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My little Bailiie.....
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They are more commonly refered to as Ormskirk Heelers around here (West Lancashire) and temperament varies from reasonably placid to very reactive and driven!

I don't know anyone who actually believes the whole Manchester Terrier - Corgi story! I suspect it was made up by the people who got into the breed following KC recognition and wanted to somehow link them to breeds already recognised. If you think about it: it makes no sense at all. 'Heeler' is a generic term that refers to the style of working and hundreds of years ago, there would be dogs performing this role all over the the UK. In fact, the older Observers books refer to corgis as 'Welsh Heelers'.

The main thing about heelers is that they make you absolutley with their antics - especially as most of the time, they are 100% serious about what they are doing! (unless they choose to be silly and soppy - but only in private amongst close friends, you understand;-) )

A heeler is the most effective car security system known to man - in fact, they are the best security system ever! They are typical farmers in that they love a good old nosey around everyone else's yard and make it their business to find out what is going on......but you enter their yard at your peril (unless you ask nicely, in which case you are honoured with a lick on the nose and maybe even a heeler tummy to tickle)

Just wanted to add - Polarbear, have you actually booked your place at the Ring O Bells, or are you just coming along to watch? Places for participants are filling up fast and I can't remember actually taking your name, so please, please get in touch and I will make sure you are on the list

Hi Kanie,
On this occasion we are just coming along to watch - we've never been to anything like this before so thought we'd come and take a look, see what goes on. And, we'd love to see some more heelers too; I think over the last two years we've only met 2 Lancashire heelers whilst out on our walks and I'd love to see more like Bailiie and all in the same place. Looking forward to our heeler day out....
By the way! I completely agree with your statement about protecting the car and their property - Bailiie has now frightened the windowcleaner away and that's from the inside!

Look forward to seeing you & Baillie there!

mrgreen: is there nothing I can say to persuade you to let Baillie have a go at the training?! We've no liver and tans signed up yet......It's restricted to 10 dogs taking part and all very informal and everyone is a complete beginner....)

Bailiie is a little shy in huge groups and with people ,so one of our reasons for coming along apart from to see what goes on and to see Lancashire Heelers all in one place, is to help boost her confidence. On this occasion we won't be entering her to take part but who knows what will happen in the future.....;-) Sorry Kanie.....
We are still looking forward to our day out and being surrounded by our favourite breed of dog

It will be lovely to meet him anyway! We are now fully booked and everyone is raring to go and keeping fingers and paws crossed for good weather (although for that authentic working trials feel - we really need horizontal rain ;-) )

I have no idea why we don't see more heelers in dog sports. I know with Working Trials they aren't any good for someone aiming to get past UD - but realistically, how many people get to the top with their first dog anyway? At least if you start with a heeler, you are guarenteed loads of fun and you definitely have room at home for something bigger (if you still feel the need after working the world's best little doglet )

If anyone who has minimal interest in heelers is reading this out of pure curiosity (as oppose to the already converted) what's not to love about a dog with the drive and intelligence of a good GSD 017: :twisted: without actually defining what makes a 'good' GSD because we're all busy!!!) that can travel in a cat carrier, thrives on whatever you feed him and takes up less room than a cushion?

I just don't get it Heelers rock!

All our fingers, toes and paws are crossed here for fine weather. I guess it usually rains then? Let's hope it'll be sunny
By the way, my little Bailiie is a little girl..... Her collar will give it away if you see her! :mini:

oops! sorry Baillie!

That's ok Kanie, I'll forgive you. Maybe this will convince you... Hope my collar gives me away as being a good little girl....

What do you think?

:mini: she's fabulous! Where's she from? My brother's ex's nan in Halsall used to like the liver and tans, but she'd finished breeding nearly 20 years ago. I remember going to see her in about 1995 and she had boxes and boxes full of records and pictures. She was really cool!

Dill is from the Hodges on Hoscar Moss: they've only got 2 old dogs left now :-(

She's from Portsmouth, bred by Mike Forbes - Rosepip/Doddsline, so we had to go quite a long way to get her but worth every penny. Our last heeler, Molly, came from Woodcock's in Coppull, not a pedigree but just like Dell, perfect heeler in every way. Don't think they still breed; I remember hearing that someone stole their pregnant bitch, but that's a long time ago as we had Molly for just over 18 years. There's some evil people around.....

Hopefully Jackie Reid will bring her little L&T bitch, Doddsline Flora up with her. She's a little diva and very lovely!

I met a lady with 2 oldies in Tarleton today and tried to persuade her to come along on the 23rd. I hope she does... I also spoke to the lady in the pet shop and she's going to pass the invite on to a lady she knows from Preston who does agility with her heeler.

I still see a few on my farm rounds, but mainly oldies again. I'm going to try really hard to persuade them to come along anyway...

It's amazing to think - 20 years ago if you said you were going to go to Portsmouth to get a heeler.....
How times have changed! When I was a nipper, they were just given away at the farm gate

Wow, I'm really starting to look forward to this grand day out, all these different Heelers all in one place. I may even tempt my dad to come with us - he had Heelers when he was a kid and then got some when we were children too; they were Tally & Tiny and I remember coming down one morning and they'd arrived the night before via my Aunty who also has Heelers! They were special dogs, our first encounter and certainly not our last! Roll on the 23rd.....

I'm half looking forward adn half thinking "what have I let myself in for?!!!"


I am hoping so much that because of the location, some of the long-established heeler folk turn up, who loved heelers for what they are long before the KC got a sniff.......and that none of the newcomers who are involved in the official clubs try to tell them about heelers or corner them and bore them to death with modern heeler politics (YAWN!)

I think the day will have been a success if it gives some of the older folk who have had heelers forever the chance to have a natter and a catch up and everyoen can enjoy seeing heelers doing fun things.

We keep going back to the Ring O Bells - just to do more quality control tests before the big day of course!!!

I guess it's a good pub then both for food and drink? Do you take Dill too as we need a good local pub that doggies are allowed.... If you go down south dogs can go almost everywhere, why do we have to be so stuffy and not let dogs in? :-(
Shame I don't know other heeler owners to encourage to come for the day. Is this the first time you've organised this type of day then? I'm sure it's going to be great fun

I used to organise the Ginger Fun Days at Scarisbrick Village Hall for Irish Terrier Rescue, so this is a lot easier by comparission (hopefully!)

The Ring O Bells does do good food:so far I've had fish and chips and Thai chicken curry and bot have been lovely. There's a water bowl outside for dogs and inside there is quite a large flag-floored area where you can get a table with your dog. The chips are really good (big & chunky) We've found the staff really friendly too - apart from one person who seemed miffed we were actually bringing a dog in and made a big point about where we were and weren't allowed to sit - which was fine, but she never even smiled!

I know what you mean about pubs up here being stuffy! They all seem to be designed to cater for the Townie-Moved-Out market who must think being treated like plankton is part of the experience

Maybe we should give it a try before the event, sounds good. Another good pub to try is the Ship, further along the canal. It's very nice inside, has great food (chunky chips there too!) and dogs are allowed as long as you go in the boot room. It's quite small in the boot room but not every man and his dog are in there so it's fine; otherwise, it's outside in the beer garden, as long as the weather's ok.

We went in the Ship last summer when my friend Hanna came over from Sweden (she of the Swedish bloodtracking champ heeler, Elsa) and took Dill in!

Hanna is coming over again this summer. I'm sure she'd love to meet you and Baillie! (and eat more chunky chips!)

Sounds like a nice idea, meeting Hannah & Elsa & you of course, and eating chunky chips!
We'll meet you in a few weeks and take it from there. Would be nice to perhaps all meet up and go for a nice walk or something - all Heelers together
Would be great if all the dogs got on ok. Let's see what happens on the 23rd June.....