Lucas Terrier vs Alopekis - Breed Comparison | PetzLover

The courageous Alopekis is said to have run with and fought with bulls. To this day they escort bulls in Greece. They were used by the Greeks to contain the vermin populations, guard the chickens and ducks, and assist larger dogs in working with sheep. At one time it was thought that they originated from breeding of dogs and foxes, but this proved not to be true. It was also once considered to be the same breed as the Small Greek Domestic Dog, but it has since been declared its own breed.

The Alopekis is not a recognized breed with any of the current national or international dog organizations. The Kennel Club of Greece will recognize them once their population is large enough. They cannot be recognized by the AKC, IKC, or International groups until they are a much larger group.

The Lucas Terrier is a rare breed which hails from England, originating there in the late 1940s. Today it is considered a purebred. It was originally a hybrid dog, bred by crossing a Norfolk Terrier with a Sealyham Terrier.

Sir Lucas felt that the Sealyham Terrier was a bit too big for his purpose so he crossed the Sealyham with Norfolk Terriers to bring about the Lucas Terrier. The Lucas Terrier is a dog which is essentially bred for temperament and companionship and is therefore not aggressive.

The Lucas Terrier has been in the United States of America since the late 1960s and is considered a rare breed.The Lucas Terrier Club is a private, informally run organisation developed to both preserve and promote this dog breed.

The Alopekis is a small, fox-like dog with pricked ears on a head that is wedge shaped. They have large eyes, a deep and tapered muzzle with a broad nose. They are short but have long backs and a deep, wide chest with strong legs and feet. They have a beautiful tail that cures upward and a double coat.

The sweet Lucas Terrier is a small dog breed that stands at between 25 – 30cm in height and weighs anything between 5 – 9 kg.

The chest of the dog is deep and low, the nose black, the eyes dark and almond shaped, the ears medium sized and floppy. The tail is traditionally docked, giving the dog an attractive, solid, compact look to it.

If you want your Lucas Terrier to become a parent, you can expect between 3 to 5 of the cutest little puppies. Spaying and neutering are an excellent idea health-wise if you don’t want your terrier dog to have puppies.

The weather-resistant coat of the Lucas Terrier is fairly harsh and is of medium length. While most Lucas Terriers are fawnish, cream, grey or black and tan, you also get a white one.

He does great with training and socialization and is an adaptable dog too, being happy to settle into life in the city or the countryside.

Temperament:

This is such a sweet, amicable, jaunty little dog, good with kids and always ready for a game. With socialization and training he is ready to get on well with everyone, as well as with other dogs in the house. It is no wonder that he is becoming so popular – he just gets on with everyone, and is eager to please.

The Lucas Terrier is generally well behaved as well and being quiet, gentle and calm indoors. Because he is a Terrier, he likes to bark quite a bit, but training and socialization can help with that. Training won’t be difficult as he is intelligent.

Children – fine once socialized

Special Talents - These are herding, watch dog, loyal and brave dogs.

Adaptability – They are very adaptable and highly intelligent.

Learning Ability – Alopekis are highly intelligent and very trainable.

Lively, playful, social and animated – the Lucas Terrier is such a pleasure to have around and will bring joy into your home. He is full of enthusiasm and will always be ready for a game or for a walk.

They are dogs who just love being around their human family, forming close bonds with them. They’re adaptable too and slot into different situations with ease.

Gentle, calm and obedient, once you let one of these sweet dogs into your home and heart, you’ll never want to be without such a loving friend again.

The Alopekis is an endangered species of canine due to a variety of factors. Traditionally this has been a healthy gene pool and the breed has been an example of the evolution of small canines. Factors such as farm pesticides, urbanization and cross breeding have affected the breed’s future.

This is made worse by the fact that the female Alopekis only breeds once a year, the litters are small, and the puppy mortality is high. In addition, the dogs are regularly neutered as part of a program to control strays, despite their status as an endangered species.

Your Lucas Terrier is such a robust, jaunty, feisty little dog and with excellent care from you he may be able to push two decades. With a healthy diet and exercise, you shouldn’t have to be at the vet often with this dog.

There are however, always common dog illnesses that even the most healthy dog can succumb to – ear infections, eye infections, bloat, cancer, hip dysplasia and others.

Skin Allergies:

Skin problems may seem mild, but they can bring a whole lot of frustration and pain to your pet. You’ve got to be careful because sometimes skin problems may be indicative of other health issues. Probably the most common cause of skin problems in dogs are allergies from parasites like fleas.

Bacterial skin infections are caused when your pet is bitten by a flea for instance and then he scratches and licks, breaking the skin and bacteria gets in, infecting the wound.

Yeast infections for instance could be found in the ear canal and around the anus. Infections like this occur in damp areas and also when other conditions are right. Yeast infections cause itchy skin with hair loss.

Skin infections are not to be taken lightly. They can bring a whole lot of discomfort to your pet and you will most certainly need to get him to the vet.

Feeding the Puppy

This is a high energy dog and the puppies need to be fed a high-quality puppy food. Feed about 1/3 of a cup twice a day.

Feeding the Adult

Feed high- quality dry dog food and dog treats to this active dog. Feed about ¼ of a cup twice a day – more if below average weight and less if overweight.

Points for Good Health

Keep them active and away from pesticides if possible.

Games and Exercises

This is a very active dog that needs a lot of exercise, games and if possible – a job.

Exercise:

This little dog isn’t a high energy dog but he will need to have a daily walk over and above the games you provide him with. Giving him a walk will be stimulating for him too as it gives him the chance to see different things and sniff around a bit.

Grooming:

The Lucas Terrier is looked upon as a low maintenance breed and a low shedder. You will need to brush him twice a week to keep the coat lustrous and to remove loose hair. Hand stripping is a method used for grooming his double coat but some people prefer to have him professionally clipped.

Diet:

Feeding a dog should be a simple affair. All dog breeds appreciate a simple but nutritious diet as this avoids digestive problems.

The Lucas Terrier relies on quality food full of vitamins and minerals to ensure his health and longevity. True, commercially manufactured foods aren’t a wonderful choice, but there are some good ones and they do offer a tremendous amount of convenience.

However, you don’t just want to put a bowl of dry kibble in front of your pet night after night, so to add some tasty variety, boil chicken and brown rice or pasta along with some cooked or raw vegetables and add this to his dry kibble from time to time. It makes like a delicious kind of stew to add to the dry kibble.

You’ll see, your Lucas Terrier will have bright eyes, a wet nose and a wagging tail. He’ll thank you for sticking to a simple style of feeding that doesn’t come with unpleasant surprises to upset his stomach. Make sure he always has a bowl of fresh cool water constantly available.