Sir Jocelyn Lucas and his Lucas terrier

Most breeds of dog have a modicum of mystery about their beginnings and any discussions on these breeds will begin with comments such as "It is believed.........." or "It is generally accepted.......". The Lucas terrier, being a relatively modern breed has no such mystique, the fact that the breed began by mating Norfolk terriers and Sealyham terriers together is well documented. However, the fact that the make-up of this breed is known does not make it's history any less interesting.

The breed has been described to me as 'merely a crossbred', the strong inference being that it is of no consequence in the world of dogs, and terriers in particular, (an attitude found mainly amongst breeders and judges of Kennel Club registered terrier breeds), however, it is amazing how many of those who purport to dismiss the breed have the most to say on the subject! There is a curiosity amongst those who have somehow stumbled across the breed as to why fanciers of the Lucas have never pursued Kennel Club recognition and, then, there are those who own them and would never have another type of dog.

The Lucas terrier can be described as a 'pleasant' dog. However, this gives an impression of blandness that is far from accurate. The Lucas not a quarrelsome dog, he mixes well with other animals, and is in his element when in the company of people, particularly children (if the children are well behaved in the company of a dog, of course). However, he is possessed of the typical courageous terrier temperament and will defend himself if the need arises. The Lucas is of average intelligence, alert and eager to please. He is easily taught to be obedient and will learn party tricks with alacrity. He responds well to positive motivational training (most are chow hounds, so food reward is a stress free way of modifying and reinforcing behaviour) and do not react well to the heavy hand. This breed is not as vocal as some terriers, tending only to bark for a reason, a visitor coming to the door, for example.

Other points in favour of the Lucas is his absence of 'doggy' smell so long as he is kept well groomed, and, he does not cast his coat - a definite boon in these days of central heating which encourages some breeds to lose hair the entire year round.

"An unexaggerated sporting terrier" is a phrase used by Sir Jocelyn Lucas to describe the breed he named after himself, and perhaps to better understand the breed it is prudent to look at the man.

The exact origins of the Lucas terrier are well documented and not a matter of conjecture, as is the case with many breeds of dog. Simply, the Lucas terrier was produced by Sir Jocelyn Lucas and his kennel manageress/business partner, the Honourable Mrs Enid Plummer, by crossing a Norfolk dog with Sealyham bitches (but it has to be said at this point, not just any Sealyhams). There is some question regarding whether this was a deliberate act on their part or a fortunate mistake, but the answer is of little consequence.

Major Sir Jocelyn Lucas, MC, KBE, MP was born in 1887. He was the second son of the third Baron Lucas and his family had connections with engineering and collieries. It seems he had an interest in dogs from a young age and as a boy had hunted a trencher-fed pack of smooth fox terriers. Before going to war in 1914 he bred, trained and exhibited cocker spaniels and flatcoat retrievers. He was educated at Eton and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst and served during the First World War as a pilot with RFC then later was given a staff appointment with 4th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He was wounded during the First World War at the 1st Battle of Ypres and, subsequently, captured, spending three years in a Prisoner Of War camp. In 1918 he was transferred to Holland where he met, and became close friends with, Lieutenant Daendels of the Dutch Hussars and his wife. An article from the 1920s tells how he managed to 'enjoy a little sport, introduced the Daendels to Sealyhams and actually organised a dog show.' He and Madame Daendels imported a number of the Sealyhams to Holland which they showed in partnership under the 'Cerne' affix. They campaigned four dogs to their titles in Holland, including Ch Belle of Cerne, Ch Hadley Hustle (gained 15 Challenge Certificates) and Ch Diana of Cerne. Sir Jocelyn had held this affix in 1912 when he lived at Cerne Abbas in Dorset where he bred Sealyhams, Labrador retrievers, spaniels and kept a pack of beagles.

On return from Holland Sir Jocelyn began to build up his kennel once again, with the help of Miss Moira Shedden, a wire-haired wheaten terrier breeder and W. J. Cecil Hayward, Secretary of the Fox Terrier Association. He acquired fox terriers from Olcliffe and Notts strains, Parson Jack Russell terriers, which he described as having been carried on without interruption by a few breeders ever since the death of the Parson some fifty years earlier and whilst there had been outcrosses and fresh blood the type and characteristics remained the same.

In 1919 Sir Jocelyn bought twelve small Sealyhams from Captain Jack Howell, Master of the Pembrokeshire Foxhounds. Captain Howell described these little dogs as his 'ferrets' due to their small size and the manner in which they worked hedgerows. Later Sir Jocelyn acquired the stoat hunting Sealyham pack of the late Mr Gladdish Hulke and the foundations for the Ilmer Sealyhams were laid.

The partners were showing from Ilmer Farm, Princes Risborough and the first dog carrying their new Ilmer affix in the Stud Book is Ilmer Impression 1135AA. This dog was a son of Hadley Hullaballoo, which had won a second in Open Dog at the Bucks and District Championship Show under the great terrierman Sid Bowler. In 1925 the partnership ended and the affixes Cerne and Ilmer were discontinued. In 1929 Sir Jocelyn re-registered the Ilmer affix and by the 1930s was concentrating on Sealyhams, of which many were show dogs but all worked as a pack.

Lucas decided to use his Sealyhams in a less than orthodox fashion - to work as a pack pushing rabbits and old pheasants out of heavy cover to waiting guns. Before he put together his pack he looked at other breeds, including spaniels but found that teams of highly trained spaniels were hard to come by and were apt to chase if not under control at all times. A spaniel with a propensity to chase, he said, could not be kept on one beat as they were too fast and if there were several of a like-mind they would be all over the covert and into the next one too. He also considered using beagles but found that whilst they provided fine shooting in gorse brakes they were useless for covert shooting as once they got on a line they couldn't be stopped.

The Sealyhams, with their short legs, were easy to keep on the beat, they packed well and worked with their master, unlike other breeds of terrier. Ten to fifteen couples were normally taken to a shoot and as they had to be transported together in the rear of a shooting-brake no quarrelsome dogs were tolerated.

The pack was invited by Sir Jocelyn's friends, Agricultural Committees and farmers to hunt difficult areas of land. Once the pack had settled they would work every clump of bushes or bramble, no matter how thick, with Master in the middle and beaters at each flank to carry game and keep the line. They could get rather lively when rabbits began springing from the undergrowth (accounting for up to 3,000 rabbits per annum) but would come back immediately to a voice, whistle or horn. Sir Jocelyn admitted that long heather or bracken did not suit the Sealyhams' short legs but they really came into their own when working rhododendrons, thorns and gorse.

Few of the Sealyhams gave tongue on scent and some were even mute on the view, so he added an old-fashioned short-legged cocker which gave tongue like a hound and a couple of beagle/cocker hybrids. They mixed well with the Sealyhams and the extra music helped push the rabbits to waiting guns.

Sir Jocelyn stated in his publicity material, 'You should buy an Ilmer Sealyham because, unlike the purely show dog, every Ilmer Sealyham is bred for brains as well as looks, and looks as well as brains ........There is nothing to stop a congenital idiot becoming a show bench champion...... No adult is kept and bred from unless it is intelligent, bold and friendly.' He also stated that 'Captain Lucas is prepared to back a team of not less than 10 couples or more than 15 of his pedigree Sealyham Terriers underground to badger, in water to otter etc. on land to stoats, rats etc. against any breed pedigree or not, from one kennel.' At that time his kennels were in Rotherby in Leicestershire and his adverts also gave details of many well known dogs he had owned, bred or were descended from his stock. He also bought in a great number of dogs and puppies for re-sale and inclusion into his pack. One of his best purchases was made when he was living at Peamore, near Exeter, in the 1920s. This dog was Champion Edwalton Chum, a dog which weighed only 16 lbs, at a time when specimens of 27 lbs were finding favour with exhibitors. Then in 1933 he bought a number of Sealyhams from the kennels of the late Colonel Williamson, including Ch Rawnsley Rosaline, Rawnsley Reveller and Rawnsley Rufus but only Rufus would work so the other two were quickly sold on. His own Ilmer Sealyhams began training for work at approximately 5 months of age and any that did not show promise were sold to pet homes. Those that looked as though they would make the grade were incorporated into the pack at a year old.

In 1933 Sir Jocelyn married Lady Edith Kekewich and in 1936, after the death of his father, (his brother Thomas had been killed in France in 1915), he succeeded to the title. At that time he had established the Ilmer kennel at Watford By Pass, renting the premises from Mrs Dixon of the Gunthorpe affix.

Sir Jocelyn was at that time an active member of the Auxiliary Fire Service in London and in 1940 he became Liaison Officer (Welfare), Dominion Forces, London Command.

He represented Portsmouth South as MP from 1939 - 1966 and in 1944 joined the Kennel Club. In 1946 he was co-opted onto the Committee, later to be selected and served until 1975 when he became Vice President. He served on the House Committee from 1946 - 1959 and in 1949 was co-opted onto the Field Trial Committee. He was made an Honorary Life Member of the Kennel Club in 1979.

In the 1950s Sir Jocelyn's wife died in a fire at their home in London. Some years later he married again and lived outside Romsey in Hertfordshire. After the sudden death of his second wife he moved to a nursing home where he died on 2/5/80, aged 93 years.