How long does a Lancashire Heeler live?

The listed lifespan for a Lancashire Heeler is 12–15 years.

How tall is a Lancashire Heeler?

The listed height for a Lancashire Heeler is 10–12 in.

Is a Lancashire Heeler good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Lancashire Heeler is 5 out of 5.

When is a Lancashire Heeler full grown?

The growth size band for a Lancashire Heeler is 8–12 months.

Herding Group

Lancashire Heeler

Lancashire Heeler is a small dog in the Herding Group. Adult weight is 9–17 lb, height is 10–12 in, and the listed lifespan is 12–15 years. AKC describes the temperament as Intelligent, Versatile, Affectionate.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Lancashire Heeler dog — Photo: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan12–15 years

Weight9–17 lb

SizeSmall GroupHerding Group

Height

10–12 in

Energy

4 / 5

Shedding

3 / 5

Grooming

1 / 5

Trainability

4 / 5

Good with kids

5 / 5

The breed record

Across 45 single-size small breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 13.5 years is about the same as the 13.6-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 13 lb is about 3 lb lighter than the 16 lb average for those small breeds.

The listed origin is Unknown. The coat is described as double, short. The AKC energy score is 4 out of 5, close to the group average of 4.1 for the Herding Group. Shedding scores 3 out of 5. Grooming scores 1 out of 5, so home brushing covers most weeks. Trainability scores 4 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 5 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 5 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 190 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in 8–12 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): very small dogs reach maturity at 8-12 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Primary Lens Luxation (PLL) - DNA Test and Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA, CH) - DNA Test. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

Frequently asked