'Meerkat Manner' - A Lancashire Heeler Breed Trait

Lancashire Heeler Molla, an International Meerkat whatever the weather! Owner Marjo Kullberg What is it about Lancashire Heelers that makes them different from other breeds? This is a recurring question to editors of this site and the answer given varies, of course from person to person and also from day to day depending upon what our four legged friends have been doing that day! Healthy, energetic and very intelligent the Lancashire Heeler has a range of antics and traits that begin by endearing and then overwhelming a casual observer as it becomes clear that the character is irresistable. There are also some unmistakable character traits as described on a number of pages on this site and not only the famous smile.

Here we highlight a less well known but regularly occurring trait - The Meerkat impersonation. A regular occurring stance of the Heeler and one that captivated Peter Jones and led him to get his first Lancashire Heeler, Pip. On visiting a farm in Staffordshire his first sight of the breed was to see a bitch and her puppies outside in the farm grounds. The bitch, he recalls had an incredibly feminine head and stood upright like a Meerkat. He had visited the farm in the course of his job...he came home with Pip - one of the puppies.

Send us your pictures for our 'Meerkat Manner' Gallery.

Janice Jones

Meerkat Manner Photo Gallery

"Ponny" (Ch. Harmony Way's Little Big Man) in his scouting position - on his hindlegs. He uses this to sniff into the air, when he thinks there might be something interesting - like a deer or moose - nearby.
Here's my dog "Ponny" (Ch Harmony Way's Little Big Man) doing a meercat "sit stay", which he can hold for endless amounts of time - if he thinks there is something to gain. Which it always is, in form av a treat or a ball, since nobody can resist him doing this! He has two versions of this; this is the one where he supports himself by the tail, so it's a bit kangaroo inspired...