What are patterdales like?

[LegoAcupuncture]

We are currently looking to rehome a dog into our family. We've seen a loveley patterdale boy, about 18 months old but I'm not too familiar with the breed.

Anyone have any experience?

We have a Patterdale X rescue ( but looks Patterdale) we got him from Battersea at 15 weeks and he's nearly 3 now . I don't have small children and I'm not sure he would fit into that type of family as he can be a bit mad and has mouthy moments . He is terrible with anything small and furry or feathery ,catches pigeons and his ambition is to kill a cat . We have a rabbit and have had to dog proof his house. He is very smart and easy to train but I am very careful about where he goes off lead as he could easily get distracted and end up down a fox hole . He is a bit of a Velcro dog and follows me around all day and if I go upstairs he sits at the bottom waiting for me to come down . Mine gets at least 90 minutes exercise per day ,mostly off lead . He is very good about being left alone for a few hours . I think the thing to remember is that Patterdales are typical terriers with all the terrier traits .

Ah Patterdales. I could happily talk all day on the subject. I'm on my second Patterdale. First was a patterdale / Lakeland cross and current dog is all patterdale.

I agree with a lot of what Floralnomad has said. My youngest child was 6 when we had out first Patterdale. I'm not sure how good it would have been if my child had been much younger than that. Not that I think the dog would have harmed the child, but they can be quite boisterous. My first one wasn't mouthy at all, but the current one is.

Agree with comments about furred and feathered things, being smart and being Velcro dogs.

Both of mine have been unreliable off lead. The urge to chase is very strong.

IME they seem to calm down around 2-3 years old. My first dog was a real handful as a pup. he dug lots of holes in the garden and chewed the door frames. He ate the plaster off part of the kitchen wall one day when we were out for a few hours. He would mark his territory by peeing or pooping in houses that he visited. My name, BastardDog, comes from when we first had him and we used to be constantly muttering about the "bastard dog".

Our current dog is a rescue. We think he's about 2 and he is really good even though he doesn't seem to have been trained.

I love Patterdales for their personality. They are not boring dogs and they're very loyal. They'll always be my breed of preference.

Funnily my son calls ours the bastard hound !

I know 2 sets of people with Patterdales - they love them, but they are hard work. Def full on terriers.
One owner commented that you rarely see an elderly Patterdale as they are so fearless (i.e they usually end up dead through some mishap rather than old age). One of the ones I know has terrible recall and the other has to be closely watched around food - he will snaffle any food left lying around, including recently a kebab with wooden stick still in it (an expensive snack had it not been for pet insurance...)
Are you an experienced dog owner?

Forgot to say I also exercise my patterdale for one and a half to two hours a day, although in my case that's mainly on lead. That time reduced with my old patterdale and by the time he was 7+ he was happy with about 40 mins a day.

My old Patterdale fractured his nose so determined was he to retrieve a bit of sausage that had fallen between two paving slabs at a BBQ. He had a permenantly wonky nose after that.

I have a patterdale xborder terrier lovely family dog, loves everyone. Can be unpredictable with other dogs and take on anything, typical terrier really. Had him since dd was two. Would be cautious about that age tescue we have a rescue terrier too we call him bastard dog

Apparently I read somewhere that per head of dog type they are the most likely to get run over because of their habit of running out of open doors , you do need an entry and exit strategy if you have one . I think the bad recall is very common but in a lot of cases just needs better management ie finding suitable places to let them off ,I would never let mine off near any livestock ( chases everything) , wildlife ( kills everything) or ponds ( birds) , so it can be quite restrictive . I think they're ideally suited to live near the coast . Mine actually doesn't ever come back to me but I tell him down and he waits for me to get to him , I think its an independence issue . They are lovely around the house though and very loving. A lot of them aren't good with other dogs though as well.

Hmm, thanks for the comments.

We have three DC, youngest 4 1/2 but the size of a 6 year old, and also two cats. Dog has been around cats though, cats have limited experience with dogs, DC godmother brings her dog on visits and cats sit up a height glaring at it. Maybe not the wisest thing to get I'm.

Most rescue dogs around here are staffies and labs and I'm not keen on either. Would prefer a smallish breed.

Where are you based Lego? Many Tears have loads of rescues in foster all over the country (and the centre is based in Wales). Lots of puppies in too

I'm in the NE. Will take a look at Many Tears.

I'm interested to read about the bad recall, my patterdale x NEVER comes back, little bastard thinks once he is off the lead then he can go just where the hell he likes. I've had dogs all my life, including a rescue rottie with issues and they have all had excellent recall, but this one, forget it, i have stopped letting him off the lead now apart from in the woods.

See that's the total opposite to me as woods are one of the places that mine would definitely not be let off as he'd find something to hunt and end up down a hole . On a field he's fine because he's so ball obsessed you can keep his attention.

I'm wondering if poor recall is just an all round terrier thing as I have a Border who pretty much pleases himself. He is ok unless he something catches his eye and he just takes flight. It would be a sight to behold as he looks fabulous in full flight but he is usually careering in an unstoppable frenzy towards dog or person unknown. I am pretty good at managing him but maybe once in every 25 encounters I am not quick enough . I find it easier in woods too as easier to see things before he does as he is usually nose to the floor or bunny hopping over fallen trees.

There are lots of terriers around my way and we have come across a few patterdales but they have all been workers. Seem like lovely energetic terrier though. Don't know if all are the same but the ones we have met have all been (covered in mud!) and very focused on the task in hand. A couple of owners have stopped to stroke my dog and their are far to busy ferreting in bushes to give us even a glance.

Mayflower Sanctuary is near Doncaster, Dogwatch are in West Midlands and have some lovely dogs on their website, Many Tears as mentioned, Second Chance Rescue in Derby, RSDR operate in Bulgaria but can bring to UK, SOS Animals UK in Spain, Desperate Greekies (they have an FB page but you have to join), also Action Aid for Animals work with a wide network of rescuers in Romania. Other people in the Doghouse have adopted from SOS Animals and Action Aid for Animals and have had positive experiences. Good luck in your search!

Mayflower is near me and usually has terriers in. In fact only the other day dh gave me a firm no when I was mooning over a little border/lakeland cross on their P@H display board!

Action aid for animals has lovely dogs

I have an 8 year old Patterdale boy and basically everything everyone else has said ! He's the best dog ever also I have a 15 month old DD who he has been perfect with. You couldn't ask for a better dog around her. Mind you we don't let her torment him or leave them alone together and he has his own space but that's what you should do with all dogs and babies. On the first night we brought her home he worked himself up into such a frenzy of excitement he was sick. He's lying snuggled into me right now. I'd say get one you won't regret it

Meant to add - he is really good around food. Never steals any or mooches around when we're eating. Having previously had a cocker spaniel who would steal food from your hand it's quite a change !

I rescued a patterdale cross 18 months ago and to this day, everyday is a battle. He has seperation anxiety and has to be right beside you if not touching you at all times; he is incredibly greedy so will eat literally anything including his own poo; and hates all other animals to the point where we cannot ever let him off lead unless the space is 110% enclosed, else he would massacre those animals. He is very strong, a ridiculously powerful dog who can pull over even the tallest, strongest men I know on walks if they're not expecting it. For a 7kg 1ft tall dog, he can jump a good metre or so in the air without any warning or running, just straight up in the air. He doesn't always understand when playtime has finished and you have to shut him away to calm down or he gets very nippy. When he is told off for anything, often his first reaction is to find somewhere hidden to wee or poo. He often seems to have no concept of loyalty beyond who has food at the time. He is difficult to train, takes a lengthy time to teach him anything and comes off as being dormous (our nickname for him is dormouse.) As you can imagine, he has a lot of issues. BUT. He is my bestest friend in the world. He can be incredibly clever and he knows when he's doing something either good or naughty. He's the best guard dog we could ask for - barking at every strange noise or intruder-sounding sound. He tells us when he needs a wee, or a drink, or most commonly, breakfast. He trusts me enough to let me pick him up and cuddle him, and more recently, even touch his paws which he used to HATE, for a reason we will sadly never know. He'll take food from my mouth as gently as possible. Every dog is different. Every terrier is a potential nightmare. Every patterdale is a character that I can guarantee once you get to know, despite all his faults, you will fall so madly in love with him, that you'll take all the nips and the inside wees and the barking and jumping up and the hell that having a rescued terrier can sometimes be. There is a hell of a lot to consider. Before you set your heart on it, think seriously about how much you will need to put into rehoming and raising a dog with typical terrier traits and a difficult backstory, you may need to sacrifice a LOT for this little guy and you have to be prepared to stick with it, and slowly work through the issues. Don't go into this lightly because he will fall for you as his new owner, and if you can't handle the pressure of a difficult rescue dog and send him back to the kennels, you'd be breaking his heart all over again. Good luck in getting a new dog; don't be put off by mine because he is an extreme case, but be cautious :)