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?

I've got a three year old patterdale cross and seriously he's hard work and put me off ever having another dog again!
His energy and prey drive are off the scale and he's just so stubborn.
They are not the easiest breed for a pet and definitely not for beginners.

As it sounds like you have taken on board they are not generally a first time dog or one for the average town dwelling family. Absolutely great family dog if you live rurally, work at home or out on the land and the dog can spend its day flushing out rats etc, although my friend lived in this situation and lost her dog on more than one occasion where he'd got stuck down holes so that's not fail safe either. The person that described them as Jack Russell to the power of 10 is spot on. There's a reason such a beautiful dog isn't owned by many families in your situation. They are good in that they tend to be very person friendly which is the snapshot you saw however they grew

Sorry hit post by accident. They frequently grow to be dog aggressive especially if they aren't getting to use their instinct in daily life. You'd not be able to leave them in most average fenced gardens as they can clear a surprising height and you'd potentially lose them in a second if a cat appeared. A spaniel of any kind certainly doesn't have the same sort of prey drive. They are a totally different type of dog. A spaniel is a retriever, it's in their make up to come back to you and bring you things. The terriers job is alone - something moves and they chase it. They don't need to return it to you and when as I call it 'terrier mode' is activated they tend to go dead and blind, hyper focussed on the chase. This can rarely be trained out. You'll definitely have a more relaxed dog owning experience with something anything else.

They are working dogs not pets. Don't be fooled by their size or cuteness. They will tear cats and other small animals to shreds.

They are NOT family dogs

We have a Patterdale. Have had her for 14 years. Terrific with the kids. Amazing lovable pet. Love her to bits. She has energy when needed but also knows when to chill.

@liveforsummer yep his lurcher side definitely balances out his terrier traits. I work from home and he has a habit of climbing on my knee mid-meeting, wrapping his neck around mine and falling asleep. Maybe he's also part cat!
You're absolutely right, if he's on the trail of a squirrel in the woods, he goes into what we call red mist, he simply cannot hear us or respond to the usual recall cues. He completely zones out, and I'd be surprised if that instinct can be trained out.
We've had 90 minutes off lead this morning in the woods, park and field and a good run retrieving his ball - now he's flat out on his back with his legs in the air.
His mum (rescue) has a lot more Patterdale in her and she's definitely more reactive with other dogs and not as reliable off lead. Also known for escaping from her garden and legging it on walks.

@HeckinMiffed @Cantdecidewhere love your pics, thanks for sharing! Gorgeous pups

Reading these comments with a wry smile - my first dog was a Patterdale and my God I adored her, and her me. I think we had a trauma bond. 🤣

It was 12 years of hell. Of course there are exceptions, SOME are sweet and gentle and SOME are reliable, but ours - and my MILs one before her, and another relatives one before that - were basically feral.

They are working terriers from working stock and aren't really made to be pets. Ours started off working and was manageable as long as she ran for 7 hours a day, but when she had an accident and couldn't work any longer she couldn't cope. She'd had puppy socialisation training but she loathed all other dogs from 10 weeks old.

She saw 5 trainers in her lifetime including a clinical vet behaviourist. We lived a complex life behind a carefully managed series of doors to ensure she did not escape and hurt someone or attack another dog, or bite anyone else (I got bitten and she got past me once and bit someone on the doorstep). Nobody could come in the house unless she was contained, and even people she knew were warned not to speak or make eye contact with her, and certainly not to try and touch her.

We eventually let her go when the pain from her old injury was no longer manageable, and she nearly got a chunk out of the vet even then. We cried for weeks and weeks, we loved her very much even though she caused nothing but problems in her little life.

We have a border terrier now - all the fun and loveability of a Patterdale with less of the drive and aggression. To get a reliable Patterdale with a good temperament you'd have to be very careful when you got the puppy - most are "backyard bred" from working stock and could have any number of undesirable traits. Not all though, granted!

I used to know a Patterdale breeder who wouldn’t let them go to pet homes. Most of his dogs went to local farmers for rodent control. He had a real passion for them, but said they weren’t for the faint hearted and pet homes wouldn’t be suitable because they’re a high-energy working breed that remains true to it’s working roots, retaining their tenacity and independence, rather than having the strongest traits bred out to suit pet homes like many modern breeds.

Aesthetically they really appeal to me and I’ve met a few perfectly delightful ones, but I wouldn’t have one myself. For a pet home with young children I’d look at Border, Norfolk or Norwich Terriers.

I have two. The first one is getting on a bit now. I had him before the kids. He's amazing with them. So long as he's had good exercise regularly he's great. My second one is more difficult. He's protective over me, it has to be managed. He needs a good hour off lead in his younger years. Mine are great at recall, very loyal and loving. But I know many who cab never be off lead. I don't know how people wear them out enough

My first does have border terrier in him. My second came from a stables.... So it depends on how much of a working dog it is

@SJFarter puppies are very easy to fall in love with-but they don't stay puppies for long.

Lots of good advice on here-I think very telling that lots of ppl who have one would not have another!!

I've got a friend with a Patterdale. She's really hot on the training, so he is ok but VERY hard work. His prey drive is phenomenal. She refers to him as Twatterdale....

@liveforsummer Terrier mode activated is perfect ! The minute they are out they're ready aren't they !
Elvis was born ready , he would love to catch and eat a squirrel , pheasant , rabbit , cat you name
It

We have terriers (border and fox). A Patterdale is a terrier too far for me- potentially very strong prey drive and can be very protective of their favourite family members. Think you may have met an anomaly, they are not a good choice for a family with children

Aesthetically they really appeal to me and I’ve met a few perfectly delightful ones, but I wouldn’t have one myself. For a pet home with young children I’d look at Border, Norfolk or Norwich Terriers.

Same, I'd actually go as far as to say they are my favourite dog, I adore terriers in general but Patterdales are particularly beautiful and in different circumstances I'd have one myself, however living in an albeit very green and dog friendly city with lots of access to the countryside it certainly isn't an option. I've got a Jack Russell instead. Still a huge personality in a little dog and is great fun to have out on walks and is very entertaining to watch darting around , in the house she basically just sleeps. Has never chewed anything she shouldn't, ever. Only barks in the house at the postman as is a dogs purpose. Here she is in default house mode curled up like a pretzel. She also hates going out in the rain, getting wet or dirty and is happy to forego walks in poor weather without any effect on her behaviour. An option unlikely tomorrow be open to anyone with a patterdale 😆. As I said there is good reason such a stunning little dog is not a more common pet

[quote foxlover47]@liveforsummer Terrier mode activated is perfect ! The minute they are out they're ready aren't they !
Elvis was born ready , he would love to catch and eat a squirrel , pheasant , rabbit , cat you name
It [/quote]
It really is 😆. My JRT is the same but in a less intense way. Terrier mode is activated by the street cats who there is an ongoing feud with and by joggers or cyclists that come too close, which they often do with small dogs as they don't bother looking down. She does always come back but not before she's scared the life out of someone yapping at their ankles for a few strides so I can't let her off lead on the cycle paths or in our street. Yours is absolutely stunning. I love that colour.

They do after the day is Done love a cuddle up on the sofa ( it's theirs they let us sit with them ) and prob dream about what they wanna terrorise the next day
I love my boys and will never regret them , however there are days when the dream is to walk and not wanna kill , chase and be reactive

@foxlover47 I love your little pack. I think terriers are great to have more than one of. I'm desperate for another but mine goes to my parents when Im a work so not a decision that affects only me. If the breeder of mine managed another chocolate and tan like my dogs sister that they kept though I don't think I'd be able to resist 😆

I think a Patterdale may be something to look forward to as a retirement project. When I move to Cumbria and walk every day 😂

@liveforsummer ah thank you 😊 I love JRT , try at had cracked me up about the "ongoing feud " joggers are some good Elvis will always try and pull my arms out to go after too 🙈make, female don't matter they really trigger him ! Street cats are luckily not too bad here as I really haven't seen to many but my fear is always if what if a neighbour buys one and the dogs are chilling in the garden and one hops the fence 😳 I've got 6 get fences but as you know the "terrier mode " would be off the scale . They also hate horses I forgot about them and I have to say to my dad and stepmum never stroke curly on the way in , just ignore him ... he needs to walk around you and be ignored , and then he will come and say hello and act like they aren't there ... when my daughter has friends over they go in their bed in the kitchen behind the extra tall stair gate
I think they are harder to manage than any child ( and I've got adult kids aswell as the 9year old )

@liveforsummer oooohhh what a Lovely colour mix 😍

Is it bad that this thread has really made me want a Patterdale?

I won't as they are completely unsuitable for us, but they are absolutely adorable!

Love all your photos of your little terrors terriers 😍

Haha @ILoveToads they are lookers but not easy. Here is my cranky sassy old girl, she went over the bridge 2 years ago.

@DinaDirvla oh she looks gorgeous , her ears aswell 😍I'm sorry you lost her , they are such a huge personality x
@ILoveToads awww they are great if you need a challenge ( and a little drinkie after a meant to be quiet afternoon walk )🤣
Honestly @SJFarte thank you for starting this thread , not only for the gorgeous pics I've seen of doggies but I feel like I've found my "gang" , it can be really lonely being the person with the reactive dogs , always apologising at the off lead dog who wouldn't do any harm etc , and it's so nice to hear all your other feedbacks on your terrorists and what they are like
I feel like I've also learn things so thank you and lots of happy times with the dog you choose 🥰