Patterdale Terrier

[SJFarter]

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?

[quote foxlover47]@SJFarter they are such gorgeous little dogs , I wish mine were as laid back as that one when out , they would be like that indoors but I'm sure outside is hunting time for them
And what a lovely experience for your little one too [/quote]
DD loves dogs. My brother has two older labs, she adores them and they adore her. We want a dog but can't decide what to get. She's good friends with a Sprocker and a Gordon Setter too. I thought (after meeting the Patterdale today), that a Patterdale might be the answer, as they aren't too big but it seems I may have been wrong. This little one we met today definitely wasn't a Twatterdale.

@SJFarter my two boys , their full brother is good on the lead , loves meeting people and other dogs and the other full brother lives with a cat ! I feel very mean to tar them all with the same brush because look at that litter , two breed typical and two not so maybe it is a case of getting them from a pup , seeing that the parents are good in the home etc , I know for one thing that as much work as my two are , they are very very loving to my 9 year old and I would be lost without them

@Bettalife

I have a rescue Patterjack (Patterdale x Jack Russell). She is amazing with the kids and very loyal. But she can be quite vocal and is often a nightmare out and about. She’s not keen on other dogs, especially if they are big and fluffy and goes mental if she sees anything like a husky, German Shepherd etc. Although we have successfully managed to integrate my partner’s Cockapoo when he visits. She is not keen on seagulls, too many people, too much noise… She has a very strong prey drive and even managed to catch a rat while on her lead out on a walk. She was sniffing in some long grass and the next thing I knew there was a bloody rat in her mouth 😵 She is very stubborn. I now know why they are nicknamed Pattertwats. But despite all her downsides I wouldn’t change her for the world. She is highly intelligent, she’s been pretty easy to train and her recall is mostly pretty good as long as I can anticipate potential triggers early enough (mainly other dogs). She is great fun, loves a snuggle in the evening (especially if it involves being wrapped up in a blanket). She adores the kids and they adore her too. Would I get another one? Probably not. But she’s part of our madcap family and I wouldn’t swap her for the world.

This! Our rescue turned out to be a Patterdale jrt x and I do feel a bit annoyed that the rescue centre didn't make us aware of this at the time, I wouldn't go for this mix again, especially not as first timers. She pulls on the lead constantly, reacts to other dogs etc. It means no one else wants to walk her as she's so reactive. She's 3yrs old and despite numerous efforts and training sessions she hasn't calmed down yet. Despite this she adores the kids, spends all evening on the sofa and loves cuddles and greets everyone so excitedly, even if they've only been out 5mins!

This little one we met today definitely wasn't a Twatterdale

But it was only a puppy - too young to tell what it will be like as an adult.

Yes - it may be one of those odd dogs that doesn't fit the breed stereotype but that's a huge gamble to take.

Patterdales are notorious for being very hard work with very high energy levels. Their prey drives mean that letting them off the lead is almost impossible which in turn means that giving them enough exercise is also impossible unless you have access to acres of enclosed land.

I live near to where they originated - these are working dogs bred to hunt foxes across the fells. They are bred to to be the ultimate hunting dogs suitable for exceptionally hardy and rough terrain. And they are. They are really not pets.

Another issue is that Patterdales are more of type than a breed. It's is not recognised in the UK as a breed (similar to Jack Russells before they were registered a few years ago).

So you really don't know what you'll get until it's too late.

We met a Patterdale on a visit to a deer herd in the Highlands last summer. She belonged to Colin the ranger and she was a gorgeous sparky friendly dog but she was living a life that suited her I guess out and about on the hillside and hunting rats in barns all day. She was very happy to bestow cuddles on dog loving DD, had no fear of the enormous stags and could jump into the back of a land rover despite her tiny size where she would stand with her paws in the steering wheel. Colin did warn us that she would not be a suitable family pet. He said she only comes back when she wants to and he never takes her near other dogs as she launches herself at them no matter what size they are.

My friend has a Patterdale and she is adorably! Difficult to housetrain though, it’s still pissing and shitting in the house at 6 months old

I’m surprised to read this responses! My friend got her Patterdale after previously owning a Dobermann and wanted an easier dog 😬 hope she isn’t in for a shock with this little Patterdale matures!

We have a three year old Patterdale cross, his mum was a rescue and we've had him since he was 12 weeks old. We (and his vet,) think he's crossed possibly with a bearded Collie or a lurcher. He's about cocker spaniel size.
He has the intelligence, loyalty and high prey drive of a Patterdale, and the sensitive, sweet nature of a lurcher.

He's nervous around some dogs and can be reactive (barking) if some dogs get too close when he's on the lead. Off-lead he's happier as he can move away.

His prey drive is very strong, favourite sport is chasing squirrels in the woods. I wouldn't let him off lead near sheep and he would chase anything small and furry given half a chance.

He has one longer walk off mostly lead every single day and two shorter ones, one of which usually involves him chasing a ball. At weekends the walks are a bit longer. Once walked he snoozes and potters most of the day, he's absolutely no trouble at all.

He's delightful and we wouldn't be without him. Patterdales aren't for the faint hearted and obv each one is different, but we find him very trainable, very affectionate, very eager to please and a brilliant companion to our whole family

Obligatory pic

@Pikaso

I’m surprised to read this responses! My friend got her Patterdale after previously owning a Dobermann and wanted an easier dog 😬 hope she isn’t in for a shock with this little Patterdale matures!

Oh dear

Did your friend read up on Patterdales at all before she got one? A quick Google will tell you they're not for the faint-hearted!

Too many people see "small cute terrier" and don't stop and think about what they were bred for.

Too many people see "small cute terrier" and don't stop and think about what they were bred for.

Guilty as charged 😂.

@fairylightsandwaxmelts no apparently her husbands mum has one and they liked it 😬

She is adorable at the minute, feisty little thing, holds her own against the Dobermann 😂

[quote Pikaso]@fairylightsandwaxmelts no apparently her husbands mum has one and they liked it 😬

She is adorable at the minute, feisty little thing, holds her own against the Dobermann 😂[/quote]
She will be feisty - she was bred to hunt (and kill) badgers and foxes on the Lakeland fells.

My Mum rehomed one from a rescue place (it should never have been given to my Mum tbh as she knew nothing about the breed and as an elderly, retired lady, absolutely didn't have the right lifestyle. It was bored, destructive and bolted one day and was found miles away. It had to go back to the rescue place for a more appropriate home.

Patterdales are high-energy, demanding dogs best suited for people with lots of time on their hands and the ability to give very long walks.

I'm from Cumbria and grew up in the south of Cumbria, so I think part of the appeal is that they are Cumbrian dogs. However, I need to be realistic, although we have a decent size garden, we live in the suburb of a city. We can get out for long walks in the country at the weekend but during the week it will be morning and evening shorter walks plus doggie day care / dog Walker on the 2-3 days a week I'm in the office. Also, walking in a suburb will mean on lead walks during the week.

I have a 13yr old Patterdale. I love him to bits. He loves all humans. (Excpet the postman) When he was young he also loved other dogs. However my life got very busy when he was around 3 or 4 and I had less time to give him the exercise he needed and he became very reactive towards other dogs. His recall is also very unreliable. It's basically my fault. Otherwise he'd be perfect.
Bottom line is,
Patterdales can make great house dogs very loyal and loving with heaps of personality. However they do need proper training.
There are some Facebook pages for Patterdale owners. When I got mine there was no information on the breed.

@SJFarter

I'm from Cumbria and grew up in the south of Cumbria, so I think part of the appeal is that they are Cumbrian dogs. However, I need to be realistic, although we have a decent size garden, we live in the suburb of a city. We can get out for long walks in the country at the weekend but during the week it will be morning and evening shorter walks plus doggie day care / dog Walker on the 2-3 days a week I'm in the office. Also, walking in a suburb will mean on lead walks during the week.

Honestly, I don't think it sounds like a good idea.

Limited walks with such a high energy bred would be a disaster - you'd end up with a dog who is bored, destructive and reactive.

They're also not dogs that are especially suited to group walks as they couldn't be off-lead and are known to be reactive to other dogs. They'd need solo walks or access to a secure field so they could have a good run.

If you like the size and look of Patterdales, why not consider some of the calmer terrier breeds? Cairn Terriers, Border Terriers or even Fox terriers could fit the bill?

Obligatory pic!

If you like the size and look of Patterdales, why not consider some of the calmer terrier breeds? Cairn Terriers, Border Terriers or even Fox terriers could fit the bill?

I think I might be going back to my original plan of a show cocker / sprocker.

We have a patterdale x , he was a rescue puppy and the choice was him or a staffy so we chose him . He’s absolutely fantastic , it’s taken lots of time and effort on my part but he’s well trained , goes offlead in areas with no wildlife otherwise it would be carnage but has excellent recall , knows hand signals etc . He tolerates well behaved dogs when offlead , on lead he can be a bit reactive with certain large dogs . He is 11 now and still plays indoors with his toys like he did as a puppy. He loves people and everyone he meets loves him . His ambition is to catch a cat . I would absolutely have another one in the future .

Obligatory photo

@SJFarter

If you like the size and look of Patterdales, why not consider some of the calmer terrier breeds? Cairn Terriers, Border Terriers or even Fox terriers could fit the bill?

I think I might be going back to my original plan of a show cocker / sprocker.

Like Patterdales, sprockers also have very high prey drives as they're a cross bred specifically for work. Very cute but pretty intense and need a lot of work.

Show cockers are calmer and don't quite need the same intense level of exercise.

@Pikaso

I’m surprised to read this responses! My friend got her Patterdale after previously owning a Dobermann and wanted an easier dog 😬 hope she isn’t in for a shock with this little Patterdale matures!

Well if by easier she just meant smaller then that should be ok. 😆 Otherwise she might be in for a shock. Doberman's are typically calm and extremely trainable. Nether can be said for the Pat

@Gherkingreen

Obligatory pic

He's fantastic. The lurched side is likely a gig advantage to his chill time on the house