Patterdale Terrier Dogs

History

The Patterdale Terrier comes from the Lake District region of England. They were first bred during the 1960’s as a working dog. The breed was used by farmers to protect newborn lambs from foxes. They were also capable of hunting foxes and digging them out of their dens to dispatch them. They are skilled hunters of all types of vermin.

Behaviour

Patterdales are fearless and active dogs. They enjoy playing and get along well with respectful children and even other dogs. They are ok with cats if raised with them from an early age, though this varies from dog to dog. Some will simply not get on with their feline counterparts. They are usually ok with strangers, though like with many other breeds they will need early socialisation to get them used to different people being around them. Getting out and about, introducing them to other dogs, people and landscape will all help them get used to the idea of change and prevent a shy, drawn-back dog in adulthood.

The Patterdale has a strong hunting instinct that can never fully be quelled. They will try to chase after anything that moves, this includes birds, cats, bikes and even cars. Strict training will be needed to prevent any unwanted accidents, as this breed seems to be quite good at getting into trouble. They can be mischievous and sneaky in order to get their own way, but their fun personalities outweigh their naughtiness. They love being around people, though they aren't over demanding of said attention and will happily lie down on their own after a walk. Agility, Flyball and Terrier racing are all good ways to keep them both physically and mentally active.

Patterdales are loyal, happy dogs who will enjoy a good cuddle session on the couch or a play session out in the garden. They are generally quiet in the home. They also like being warm when they sleep so they will seek out the snuggest place to sleep in, usually your bed. Bear in mind that these are dogs that were bred for hunting and working, they need the physical exercise that reflects this. A quick walk around the block won't satisfy this dog, ideally they should have a chance to run about and explore. All this being said, make sure that they are in a secure area when off-lead, as if they spot anything that they think they can chase down, they’ll be off. Recall is only good when there is nothing more interesting going on around them. They are a greedy breed, though you can use this to your advantage by using food rewards during training to get better results out of them.

Their coats are short and require little maintenance, a few brushes per week to remove dead hairs will be enough. Their claws, however, can be a problem and will require regular clipping otherwise they’ll grow too long. Be sure to get your dog used to having its paws touched from a young age to save yourself a lot of effort later down the line.

Temperament

Patterdales are a fearless and friendly breed. They may fool you into thinking that they're soft by cuddling up next to you on the couch or in bed, but this can soon change when they switch to hunting mode. They are typical Terriers and have all the traits that reflect this. They are good enough with strangers but not so good with unfamiliar animals.

Health Problems

Patterdales are a healthy breed that rarely suffers from any major health concerns, though due to the fact that they always seem to have their head in something, eye conditions such as conjunctivitis can be a problem.