Patterdale Terriers are cute looking high energy hunting dogs that were bred in the North of England. Today, let’s take a look at the breed and consider whether a Patterdale Terrier is the right dog for you.
The Origins of the Patterdale Terrier
Patterdale terriers come from a place called Patterdale in the Lake District, Cumbria. They were used as hunting dogs to flush out Foxes and Badgers. Nowadays, since fox hunting is banned in England, they are primarily used by farmers for ratting and also for to protect game birds. It’s no surprise that the Patterdale terrier is a feisty and energetic breed.
Appearance
The Patterdale is not a Kennel Club registered breed, but a mix of English terrier types and so there can be variation is Patterdales. However the most popular colours are Black and Brown. You can also get distinctive colour Patterdale coats including Red, Liver and Chocolate. The approximate height is around 12 inches and they reach around 6-7kg in weight. Being a small size, this also makes the Patterdale a very cuddly lap dog.
Temperament
The Patterdale terrier temperament is a combination of high energy with loving loyalty.
They are an active breed who will need at least two walks a day, often extended walks in the countryside for a couple of hours. They are intelligent and so respond well to dog puzzles and scent trail games. Due to their background they have a strong prey drive and so should not be running free where there are rabbits or foxes – if they are not trained hunting dogs it’s possible to lose them down rabbit holes which can be fatal if they get stuck.
Patterdales and loving and loyal towards their owners and will want to sit with you rather than stay in their own bed! This means that they are great for companionship. They can be protective of their owners.
Patterdale Terrier Training
Patterdale terriers are good with other dogs and children provided that they have been trained and socialised from an early age. They should be with their mother up to around 12 weeks and after that they should be with people most of the time and socialised with other puppies and well behaved dogs.
A Patterdale that is not trained, socialised or exercised sufficiently can become aggressive out of boardroom or protectiveness of their owner. It is important that a Patterdale terrier goes to a training minded household with someone who can be at home for with them or the majority of the day.
It is important to start obedience early. You will want to teach your Patterdale the basic commands such as ‘sit’, ‘down’ and ‘stand’. Once your dog has grasped the basics you can move onto more exciting party tricks like ‘spin’ and ‘roll over’. Patterdales are food motivated and eager to please and so they are a great dog to teach tricks to. Patterdales should practice recall from a young age and only be let off in an area that you are familiar with. Positive reinforcement and clicker training are great for Patterdales. Follow this link for more information on Patterdale Terrier Training.
Summary
If you are retired or working from home and an active person who enjoys the outdoors then the Patterdale could be for you! When you are home chilling out and watching TV, he will be sure to keep you company and not leave your side!
You may also be interested in reading 10 Great Dog Breeds For Families With Children.
