Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Patterdale Terrier

167 replies

SJFarter · 22/01/2022 21:06

We met a lovely little 12 month old Patterdale today. Instant best friends with DD and he was a friendly, funny little dog. We are planning on getting a dog and a Patterdale would seem to fit the bill. Anything I need to be aware of?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
25
CeleriacOfTheNight · 22/01/2022 21:09

We had a Patterdale cross, and whilst I adored that dog, I wouldn't get another Patterdale cross or full breed.

IMO they are not domesticated enough to be family pets.

tattychicken · 22/01/2022 21:13

Fantastic dogs but a very strong prey drive. I admire them but would not have one myself. And I'm a Jack Russell girl so used to terriers, but Patterdales are in a different league IMO.

JayAlfredPrufrock · 22/01/2022 21:14

Fab dogs but not pets.

wetotter · 22/01/2022 21:16

They are usually very high prey drive, and are definitely at the stubborn end of terriers (many types of terrier are not recommended for first time owners because of the amount of training you need to put in)

Firesidefox · 22/01/2022 21:17

No. My grandmother had a Patterdale and it was VILE. Despite Granny knowing all about dogs, having had millions all through her life, the dog was dreadful - vicious, unfriendly, unlikeable. It attacked a PUPPY when I was walking it in her village, and my husband was bitten trying to get it off the poor puppy and had to go to hospital for stitches in his hand.

I would rather have a cat than a Patterdale, and I bloody hate cats!

BeautifulTulips · 22/01/2022 21:19

If you like terriers look at Jack Russels. Had them all my life and I love them, or maybe border terriers?

Original poster
SJFarter · 22/01/2022 21:20

I wasn't expecting this. The one we met today was definitely energetic but had a lovely temperament.

OP posts:
Original poster
SJFarter · 22/01/2022 21:21

We were thinking cocker or sprocker but then we met this Patterdale pup today and fell in love.

OP posts:
mrsbyers · 22/01/2022 21:22

We have a patterdale he’s 8 - Henry

He is very hard work at times but very loving too , loves long walks but is now slowing down at last. Loves to steal things , over protective , barks at air , hard to train.

I love him to bits but I don’t think my next dog will be another patterdale - they are nicknames twatterdales for a reason , they are not wired up correctly

thismeansnothing · 22/01/2022 21:23

We have a Patterdale. He's 12 now and had him since a pup and he was our first dog.

But the first 2 years he destroyed everything. They need to be stimulated ALOT they are working dogs. They need plenty of exercise. Like 2 60 min walks isn't always enough. They are fecking stubborn even with alot of proper training. They have selective hearing despite being able to hear a packet of cheese being opened when they are in a different room and he has a High prey drive. We did lose him once on a walk for half an hour as a random deer walked past. He reappeared very non plussed wondering what all the fuss was about. He's not agressive but he isn't keen on some breeds of dogs and random stuff will freak him out and start him yapping while on a walk. It's usually something that will move suspiciously. Think kids on skateboards/scooters. But we know him, know what will set him off now and how to treat him.

But he is fab with my 2 kids who we had after we got him. Very protective over one of them. He's no lap dog but will know when something's not right and will come and sit on you and the house would be very empty without him. He's mad as a box of frogs and I love him to bits. Would I get another one though?! I'm torn.

halfsiesonapotnoodle · 22/01/2022 21:23

Border terriers are wonderful OP. Much more suitable for you than a Patterdale.

Tinkles78 · 22/01/2022 21:25

My parents had a patterdale along with a Labrador when we were teenagers. She was very loving when she wanted to be, and loved lying by the fire for hours. But if she came across a scent she would be away like a shot and very hard to recall - we could never let her off the lead or trust her around other animals. She would snap if a younger child annoyed her, they aren't a tolerant breed.

Very fast and very unpredictable at times!

wetotter · 22/01/2022 21:27

If you want a good-natured, friendly, less-stubborn terrier, try Norfolk, Norwich, Border or (slightly more full-on) Cairn

I think terriers are great!!

Firesidefox · 22/01/2022 21:28

It was a Patterdale, or Patterdale X, that attacked and killed that poor seal in London.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/03/24/owner-dog-attacked-freddie-seal-not-responsible-act-deliberate/

I love terriers - I recommend Jack Russells, Borders, and Norfolks - but can't understand why anyone would get a Patterdale unless they were farmers looking to control vermin etc.

wetotter · 22/01/2022 21:30

They have selective hearing despite being able to hear a packet of cheese being opened when they are in a different room

So true, but aren't most dogs like that?

userxx · 22/01/2022 21:33

Don't do it!!

CeleriacOfTheNight · 22/01/2022 21:33

@mrsbyers@thismeansnothing

your dogs sound lovely, my boy was too. But such hard work!

He adored me, but his over protectiveness became an issue. His recall went to shit when he got scent of... well anything tbh. Other dogs hated him, like, really hated him. We had so many encounters when owners of the sweetest, gentlest labs and retrievers would apologise profusely and swear they'd never known their dogs react like that before (snarling and attacking)

It was so weird!

Deadwould · 22/01/2022 21:33

If you like the temperament of this one I would consider it. You've met him. You know what he is like. Plenty of dogs are not true to breed. If he is friendly. He is friendly.

We had a patterdale. He was not friendly. He was vicious. I was scared of him. But he would not have come across as friendly to anybody particularly not a stranger. He growled and snapped and lunged and barked at anybody in his line of sight so he does not sound like the one you met.

Bunce1 · 22/01/2022 21:35

We met a fluffy little a patterdale x and considered it for about 5 seconds and then did some research.

I don’t think we were experienced enough owners to be good owners. I think they ate best suited to being a farm ratter.

I recalled a patterdale from when I was a kid. It was a vicious little bastard.

We have a Jack Russell x and she’s lovely. We did training classes with her as a pup and then agility classes. She’s very obedient and calm but also loves to play and needs lots of affection and stimulation.

Forestdweller11 · 22/01/2022 21:35

We looked at Patterdales before getting our Border X. They have a reputation for being phenomenally hard work. They can be the 'worst ' of the terrier types - having the strongest will and prey drive; testing boundaries both physical and mental. Although gorgeous to look at they aren't really standard pet material, still very much a working breed. I'd think that getting a Patterdale is a decision akin to deciding to get a Malinois! If you'd decided that a spaniel was the best fit for you previously then a Patterdale is at completely the other end of the spectrum.

Janeandjohnny · 22/01/2022 21:36

Unfortunately used by fox and badger baiting so awfully crazy desire to fight. I would definitely not have one.

Wombat98 · 22/01/2022 21:39

Yep, we own a Patterdale x and they are pretty hard work. She's still faster and brighter than my other dogs, despite being older now. I used to have to enlist help from strangers to catch her in the park, have seen her disappear and still watch her in the garden, in case she takes off...

I pretty much have ptsd from keeping her safe and am definitely hypervigilant. She needs happy pills to get her through November.

Bloody love her to bits but yeah, maybe read the terrier rescue page top tips. Wish my in-laws would, rather than be judgmental. :-)

Rescue

I personally wouldn't ever get a spaniel either. I never realised breeds were so different to each other until I became an experienced dog owner.

Neighneigh · 22/01/2022 21:40

Fox terriers are another good alternative, we have a smooth (mil is Mrs smooth fox terrier, bred them for years) but I prefer the look of wires. They are excellent with children, mine hasn't had much training (ahem) but he won't touch food left within reach, or get grumpy at the children, ever.

Wombat98 · 22/01/2022 21:41

I agree about the farm ratter being their best life. Mine is a great ratter, the few times she's found one, notably in my neighbour's garage. Long story...

RandomMess · 22/01/2022 21:45

I have heard so many tales of patterdales and how they love to stick the Vs up at their owners and do as they wish!