Dog breed · England
The Lucas Terrier is a small breed of dog of the terrier type which originated in England in the late 1940s. The breed was created by Sir Jocelyn Lucas at his Ilmer Kennels in Watford, Hertfordshire. All living authentic examples can trace their ancestry back to a small number of his original Ilmer Sealyham dogs, and resulting Lucas Terrier progeny.
History: Sir Jocelyn Lucas, 4th Baronet, a well-known huntsman and Sealyham Terrier breeder in the first half of the 20th century, was disappointed with the direction the Sealyham Terrier was headed since its appearance in conformation shows, especially large heads and heavy shoulders. At his Ilmer kennels in Hertfordshire, he decided to cross one of his own Sealyhams, considerably smaller than the mainstream Sealyham bitches found in show rings at the time, with Norfolk Terrier dogs.
Lucas' kennels were managed by Enid Plummer, who continued the Ilmer programs as he became less involved in the 1950s. Jocelyn died in 1980, and Plummer moved to Cornwall with some of the remaining dogs in the late 1970s, where she continued the breeding program until she died in 1986.
Jumbo Frost took on the task of managing the breed effort from Plummer, and succeeded in expanding the breed with her dedication and foresight, until her own passing in 2009. During that time she oversaw a transformation in the fortunes of the breed, by setting the breed type, formalizing the breed standard, and establishing the Lucas Terrier Club (UK).
