history of the lucas terrier

MAJOR Sir Jocelyn Lucas, KBE, MC (27 August 1889 – 2 May 1980)

Sir Jocelyn Lucas, a well-known 20th century English hunter, author, and dog breeder of small Sealyham Terriers under the Ilmer Kennels signature, decided that the Sealyham had grown too big to work efficiently because of exaggeration due to demands of the show ring.  In the late 1940’s, he bred one of his Ilmer Sealyham Terrier bitches with a Norfolk dog, creating the breed which now bears his name. This cross was a deliberate—and successful— effort to create a bright and pleasing terrier still small enough to be suitable for work, many decades before the contemporary ‘designer dog’ craze.

Some of the Lucas Terriers whelped in these first litters were brought to the United States in the early-20th century by Americans who had encountered them while visiting Britain.  Lucas’ longtime kennel manageress, the Hon. Enid Plummer, oversaw many of these transactions.  Later efforts by longtime UK Lucas Terrier Club (LTC) Chair, Miss Anne ‘Jumbo’ Frost, LVO, ensured the future of the breed.  Today the LTC continues its support of the breed through the leadership of Chair Leslee Holderness-Rumsey and Honorary President Thomas Frost.