Humans love their pet dogs in a similar way to how they love their children, and our dogs love us right back.
When it comes to choosing your pet, there is a breed out there for almost everyone.
Whether it’s something small and portable like a Yorkshire Terrier or a pug, or something lean and fast, like a greyhound or Lurcher, there is a dog out there for everyone.
For those who prefer a sturdy and energetic breed, there are many options.
Two popular breeds to choose from are the Pitbull and the Blue Lacy. We’ll look at each and consider also the pros and cons of a cross of these breeds.
What is a Pitbull?
Pitbull dogs are descended from the Bull-and-Terrier breed of dog that was bred in the UK in the early 19th century.
They were developed for dogfighting and rat baiting. It is the result of the cross-breeding of the muscular Old English Bulldog, and the more athletic Black and Tan Terrier, both of which are now extinct breeds, alongside the Bull-and-Terrier.
Requests to initially recognise the breed were rejected, but in 1935 the American Kennel Club in the states accepted pit bull-type dogs under the new name of Staffordshire Terriers.
In the same year, the UK’s The Kennel Club also recognised a closely related breed as the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
In 1972, The American Kennel Club renamed the variant in the states as the American Staffordshire Terrier to avoid confusion.
In the UK, Staffordshire terriers are not considered Pitbulls.
All Pitbulls are illegal to own in the UK and many other countries, due to their reputation as fighting dogs and a string of high profile media reports on attacks by such dogs.
In the USA, the term pit bulls or Pitbulls can be used to describe the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Bully, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the American Bulldog.
Pitbulls are available in a variety of colours. Different colour patches across the body are not uncommon.
They have large, square heads and muzzles, and clearly defined muscles, giving them a powerful appearance. Their ears are normally rose-shaped or half pricked.
Two popular variants of the American Pit Bull Terrier are the red nose and blue nose variants, which have a liver coloured coat and a silverish coat, respectively.
Their coats are short, smooth and shiny. The tightness of the coat helps to enhance the look of their muscular frame.
What is a Blue Lacy dog breed?
The Blue Lacy dog was bred in Texas in the mid 19th century to help with herding, hunting and ranch work. They are not recognised by any major kennel club.
Despite this, it has been adopted as the “official State Dog Breed of Texas” by the Texas Senate.
As you might expect, most of this breed can be found in Texas, but as they gain in popularity, breeding populations are appearing across the country and even into Canada and Europe more recently.
It is a breed of working dog and is strong, fast and lightly built. It loves to have a job to do and to be able to run around in open space. Despite the name, Lacys can come in red or tri-coloured coats.
How big would a Blue Lacy pit bull mix be?
The breeds that come under the label “Pitbull” in America are all very similar in appearance.
The American Pit Bull Terrier for example is typically 17-21 inches in height, whilst the American Staffordshire Terrier is 17-19 inches.
They weigh in at 30 to 65 pounds for the Pit Bull Terrier and 40 – 70 pounds for the Staffordshire Terrier.
The Blue Lacy have a typical height of 18-21 inches and 25-50 pounds.
Given this, a crossbreed of the two is likely to have a height of between 17-21 inches, with a male tending towards the upper end of that range. The cross should prove to be lighter than a pitbull and somewhat slimmer at the shoulders.
What type of personality would a Blue Lacy mix have?
It is important to know what you are getting when it comes to buying a dog, and that is especially true for both Pitbull and Blue Lacy.
The Pitbull is a powerful dog with a, perhaps undeserved, fearsome reputation.
Most Pitbull fans will advocate that the dogs are not aggressive by nature and studies have shown that they are 5-6% less likely to become aggressive compared to the popular Collie dog.
Pitbulls are extremely good with children and will love to play with and be engaged by them.
The Blue Lacy breed is naturally intelligent and has boundless energy.
They are strong-minded and need to be kept engaged to avoid any negative tendencies.
If they get bored, they are liable to begin destroying your home. They are easy to train with positive training but will react badly to negative reinforcement methods, such as shouting.
As both breeds are energetic and capable of running all day, any crossbreed is to also have boundless energy.
It is important to note that both breeds are poor with other animals and can be fiercely territorial of their owners. They are likely to have the urge to attack any smaller animals they encounter.
The Blue Lacy in particular can be quite aloof when meeting strangers. A cross may well prove to be a good guard dog if well trained.
Safety concerns
Given the above, consider carefully before buying a Blue Lacy Pitbull mix.
They may prove to be great guard dogs and working dogs, but the Blue Lacy influence means they might play rough.
Although both breeds are generally good with children, they are powerful creatures and it would be hard to recommend them in a household with young children as they may be knocked over or accidentally hurt from rough play.
Do not get this breed if you plan to keep cats and other small animals that may trigger the high prey drive of both breeds which will no doubt be present in any crossbreed.
Training
If you do decide that this cross is for you, begin training your puppy early.
Socialisation is extremely important to ensure that your puppy grows up comfortable around other people and is not overly protective of you or prone to shying away from other people, as this can lead to defensive behaviours when encountering strangers.
Because of the Blue Lacy legacy, ensure that you use positive reinforcement such as clickers and treats to encourage the behaviours you wish to promote.
Professional training can certainly be considered.
Are there any specific health needs for a Blue Lacy pit bull cross?
As both breeds are energetic and capable of running all day, you are going to get a crossbreed that also has boundless energy.
You will need to take multiple walks per day and consider other forms of exercise, such as playing fetch to ensure they are running and burning off some of that energy before you take them home.
Both breeds are prone to Elbow and Hip dysplasia, which is similar to most breeds in later life.
This is not life-threatening, but it can be very painful and may require medication to ease the pain. They are also both prone to skin diseases, although these can be managed easily with medication.
The Pitbull breed can develop Cerebellar Abiotrophy, which causes damage to the brain and subsequently the dog will lose some balance and coordination.
Blue Lacy’s are generally hardy, but they can be prone to hypothyroidism and food allergies.
As such, any crossbreed is likely you have the same elbow and hip dysplasia and may have some or all of the associated problems with both breeds. However, it’s worth noting that crossbreeds are typically more healthy than purebred dogs.
What if you’ve made a mistake in buying a Blue Lacy Pitbull cross?
Buying either of these breeds should be carefully considered. The same is true for buying a crossbreed. As a working dog, both animals would run for days and are easy to train and happy to work for rewards. Whilst the media portrays the Pitbull as a threat to families, the majority of owners swear that they are gentle and well engaged with children, even going as far as to nickname the breed “the nanny dog”.
It is better for you, and the animal itself, to be sure that you are happy to have a Blue Lacy Pitbull cross in your home, but If you discover that your dog is not suitable to be with your family, there are a wide number of agencies and rescue homes across the United States what will work with you to rehome your bully dog.
Conclusion
Crossbreeds are inherently more healthy than purebred dogs, as the genes that have been selectively bred into an animal are then mixed back out into a wider gene pool. Physically you will gain a dog with a mix of attributes from its parents, but in terms of temperament, it is quite possible for your dog to borrow more from one side of the family than the other. However, in many ways, the Pitbull and Blue Lacy appear very similar in personality and therefore it is likely that you are going to receive a playful and energetic, family-friendly dog that loves attention from you, but is not tolerant of other animals. We would recommend only housing such an animal with a family that has older children and make sure that socialisation occurs early to ensure that the breeds reach their full potential as your pet.
