The Official Lacy Dog Standard

General Appearance:
The Lacy is a medium-sized dog with a light, balanced yet powerful build. Correct Lacy movement alludes to great speed, strength and dexterity. The body is square with a level back and deep chest that extends into well-sprung ribs. The front shoulders should be well laid back and muscular while the haunches have a tight, slightly rounded croup. Their legs are straight and medium in length with firm, cat-like feet. The coat is short and close fitting. Lacys should be evaluated as a working dog, and exaggerations or faults should be penalized in proportion to how much they interfere with the dog's ability to work. Scars should neither be penalized nor regarded as proof of a dog's working abilities.

Characteristics:
Intelligent, intense, active and always alert. Originally created to be hog dogs, the Lacy was developed into an all-around working breed for ranchers, cowboys, hunters and trappers. Accordingly they display incredible drive and determination to work. Bold and tough with tremendous heart, they have enough grit to stop big game and control difficult livestock. They should be silent on track but loud and brave at the bay. They are easily handled and trained, should show great confidence in their owner, but are naturally territorial and may be wary of strangers. Though they make excellent companions, these dogs require a job for proper physical and mental stimulation.

Head:
The head is medium in size. Powerful, keen and carried with pride.

Skull – Moderately long, medium in width and well built. Slight median line extending back over the forehead with a moderate stop at the foreface.

Muzzle – Of equal length or slightly shorter than skull when viewed in profile. Foreface should be moderately tapered but not dished, disproportionately short, or overly houndish or bully in appearance.

Jaws – Strong with even white teeth meeting in a correct scissor bite. Lips cover the jaws completely but are neither loose nor drooping.

Ears – Medium in length. Thin and hanging with a tight construction. While alert yet relaxed, top of the ear should sit level with the top of the head. When held flat against the cheek parallel to the muzzle, the tip of the ear should align approximately with the eye. Excessively long ears extending more than one-quarter inch past the eye or extremely short, pricked ears are a serious fault.

Eyes – Sharp, alert, and bright. Similar to a wolf in appearance and intensity. Colors range from bright yellow to rich brown. Should be round and set well apart.

Neck:
The neck is slightly arched, strong, very well muscled, and of moderate length. Set well into the shoulders.

Forequarters:
Shoulders should be well laid back and muscular. Legs are straight and medium in length.

Body:
Strong, balanced, built for speed, agility, and endurance. Body should be square or just slightly longer than tall. Back should be well-muscled, level, and of moderate length. Deep, moderately broad chest extends approximately to the elbows. Combines with well-sprung ribs to provide plenty of lung space. Abdomen should be small, narrow and moderately tucked-up at the loins.

Hindquarters: Haunches should be balanced and muscular with a tight, slightly rounded croup. Proportionately angulated stifles lead to straight, low hocks.

Feet:
Cat-like feet are firm, compact, and arched with webbed toes and thick pads.

Tail:
Tail is medium set, reaching approximately to the hocks, and should be carried showing confidence.

Coat:
Short, smooth, and tight. Excessively long or rough coat is a disqualification.

Color:
Though they are often called blue Lacys, there are three permissible color varieties. Blues are any shade of gray from light silver to dark charcoal. Reds range from light cream to rust. The tri combines these colors with a blue base and distinct red markings as appropriate for trim. Blue shading or trim on red dogs is not permitted. White should appear on the brisket and may stretch from chin to groin. White should also be present on one or more paws. Excessive white is discouraged and markings on the face or above mid-line are a disqualifying fault.

Height and Weight:
Lightly built but proportionally balanced within height-to-weight ratio. Height at the withers should be between 18 to 21 inches. Because the Lacy is meant to be medium in size, dogs measuring more than an inch above or below these standards will be disqualified. Dependent on height and working condition, weight should be approximately 30 to 45 pounds for females and 35 to 50 pounds for males.

Gait:
Effortless, nimble, and quick. Their gait is light and free but still powerful. All movement should allude to reserves of strength and dexterity.

Disqualifications:
Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Extreme aggressiveness or shyness. Incorrect white markings. Colors besides blue, red and tri. Albinism. Dogs measuring more than one inch above or below the height standards. Overshot or undershot bite.