If you are looking for a real Texan best friend, look no further than the Blue Lacy breed of dogs. Bred to herd feral hogs, this canine is a great all-around work dog, an ideal pet for ranchers, cowboys, hunters, and trappers. Not meant for apartment life, these dogs are an active breed that loves to be outside. Known for their smooth blueish gray coats, the dogs have a yellow or orange eye coloration that makes the breed unmistakable.

Lacys were first developed in the Texas Hill Country by the four Lacy brothers (Frank, George, Ewin, and Harry) who emigrated from Kentucky to Burnet County, Texas, in 1858. According to Texas tradition, as well as Lacy family history, the breed is a result of a mix of Greyhound, Scent Hound and Coyote. Sources also suggest that the Lacy breed was influenced by the writer Fred Gipson, who wrote the classic novel, Old Yeller.

In 2005, Governor Perry signed the legislation, making the Blue Lacy the Official State Dog Breed of Texas.

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