Up until "themildmanneredstalker"'s post, I've never have heard anything bad about a Lakeland Terrier. As Cesar Millan would say, "Although certain breeds and mixes have unique inherit personalities, regardless of the breed or mix, a dog is only as good as it's owner and generally is a direct reflection.". I have never owned a dog of any kind, not even remotely, until I got a purebred Lakeland Terrier. I couldn't have asked for a better breed. Intelligent, curious, fun, good natured and with a lovingly heart, they are one of the best breeds of dogs you could possibly have. That being written, WHEN I WAS LOOKING FOR A DOG, I did the "Cesar Milan Approach": Look at your life realistically and then find the breed that fits it. I think that's were people fail the most when it comes to getting a dog for their family. They get a low-energy dog when they are a athletic family, or one that doesn't do well with kids when they have some or some will come over or the worst, a high-energy dog when they are a bunch of coach potatoes. When I was accessing my lifestyle AS IT WAS AND NOT WHAT I WANTED IT TO BE, I realized that I was looking for a dog that was small but not little as I can't stand "Rat Dogs" and my house is not that big nor is my back yard. However, I still wanted a dog that would not be limited by its size as I wanted a dog that could play and fetch as I knew I would enjoy those activities with a dog. I also wanted a dog that was naturally healthy and would have a long life as I didn't want to start this process again anytime soon nor did I want to have to keep a special "Medical Fund" for my dog as it got older than two years. I needed a dog that knew how to encourage me to get off my buttocks and go to the wonderful dog park just two miles down the road but knows when to chill and become a good lapdog when it's extremely cold and windy outside because I knew I wouldn't be that dedicated of a "Dog Walker". With all of the friends and family that come by my house, I needed a dog that would be naturally friendly and good natured with kids. Also, a dog that didn't shed and those who are allergic to dogs wouldn't have a reaction to this one was a must (There is no such thing a "Hypo Allergenic Dog". However, Lakeland Terriers do NOT produce the type of dog dander that 90% of people who are allergic to dogs have a reaction with. Keep in mind, someone you know that are allergic to dogs may fall within that 10%).
When I was looking for a dog that fit all those parameters, at first the closest one I found was a Welsh Terrier. However, they had some inherently bad traits that I didn't like such as excessive barking when no one is around and was not all that friendly to children. Ahh...so close. However, at the end of the description on the AKC site I was on when looking for a dog was a link that said, "if you are looking for a more mild temperament type of dog that fits closely to a Welsh, perhaps you would like a Lakeland". They were correct. It fit all of my needs. When I got the eight-week puppy I feel in love instantly but knew I had NO idea as to what to do with the thing. I then did more research and took it to some classes as soon as it was healthy enough to socialize it. That's when I learned that any Terriers, especially Lakelands, can be difficult to train at first, meaning the first four months it's around you. That's when they analyze you and it's surroundings. That's when they "test your limits" and size your position in "The Pack". If you let it get away with things because it is "cute" and you do whatever the dog wants when it wants it, you're done. Recovering from that is tuff. However, if you know that, then they are easy to train. When it barked to bark, there was a firm "NO BARK". When it tried to start the digging habit, "NO DIG". When it tried to go out the front door, the one that is dangerous, there was a "NO STAY". I did this every time. I set up a dog bell that could be rung from the door that lead to the backyard via his nose. When it was properly used, I would reward him. Any good behavior was rewarded and any bad behavior was disciplined with harsh consistent words such as "NO" and "BAD DOG". Nothing physical and everything consistent. I also socialized him with other kids, people and dogs consistently as soon as it was healthy to do so. I also would touch him on his paws, nose, ears and back as much as I could so that he would not get fussy with a child or the Vet. However, I know that there are limits such as I most certainly wouldn't have had or have gotten ANY kind of rodent or small animal while I owned him as Lakeland Terriers are vermin exterminators, not hunters or gathers, exterminators. Also, while young, THEY WILL CHEW, PERIOD. What you can control is what they chew so when he started chewing the walls or the furniture, there was a firm "BAD DOG" and then there was an immediate replacement with a toy that was appropriate to be chewed on and did not look, smell or feel like anything that I didn't want to be chewed on. You must understand what is instinctive to a dog and a Lakeland Terrier keeping in mind that at best you might be able to manipulate that instinct but you will never be able to control it. I wasn't perfect though. Seven years later, I still have issues with him trying to steal food from my plate because I thought it was convenient when he was little to eat the food that fell down when I was eating from the couch. I didn't get him neutered so marking in the house is an issue (It's a guy thing. I should have had my wife just simply take to the Vet and had it done when I wasn't home.). Outside of that, I have the perfect dog that does everything I was looking for a dog to do. He fits my life wonderfully. I fit his as well as I never forgot that I had a "Lakie" and therefore, small exercise such as a three block walk per day and the dog park with serious fetching once-per-week is a must. If the weather or time is not accommodating to going outside, at least fetching and tugging and dog "Mind Games" indoors for about an hour.
If this all seems like you and the dog that you want, then you need a "Lakie". If not, get something else. I much rather you get the dog that fits you than for you to have a "Lakie" that you can't train properly where other family members want to put it to sleep because it's "mental".