Patterdale Terrier: description of dog breed and maintenance

The Patterdale Terrier is a representative of hunting dog breeds. It was introduced in Great Britain in the mid-60s of the last century.

In those days, in the small village of Patterdale in the north-west of England, the inhabitants were faced with the problem of protecting livestock from predators. The herds, which needed to be protected from numerous foxes, consisted of defenseless lambs, who needed a quick and brave guard. The available dogs did not do the job very well due to the mountainous terrain.

Local dog breeders went to work, and as a result of crossing Lakelands and Bull Terriers, they developed a new breed. Initially, it was not considered separate, but only a subspecies. However, then this particular combination of genes was distributed more and more often. The breed turned out to be really interesting, and when other breeders were involved in the process, the process went more actively.

This breed cannot boast of outstanding body size, but for the tasks assigned to it, this is exactly what is needed. It was enough for the animal to cope with the fox and all the predators of this size, no larger was required. Besides, The Patterdale Terrier is athletic and therefore incredibly hardy. Its body size can be described as compact, however, the body itself is powerful and sturdy.

Strong jaws allow the dog to win in a fight with another predatory creature. The eyes of these dogs are set wide and often repeat the color and even shade of the coat.The ears are not very large, but they can perfectly catch rustles, have a triangular shape, half have cartilage, then hang down.

However, in this situation, a thick and durable tail comes to the rescue, for which you can pull the animal out of the burrow by hand. Feet - to match the structure, also strong but flexible.

The coat of a Patterdale Terrier is usually of different types. It is either hard and rather sparse, or thicker and softer. Such a cover performs a protective function, due to which the terrier is not afraid of either thorny plants or moisture. In addition, the dog is protected from the cold, as it has a fairly dense undercoat.

The common coat of the Patterdale Terrier is black and tan. But there are many different shades that can delight the owner, from pure black to chocolate, wheat and even a pleasant rust color. If we talk about standards, then this is a solid black, all variants of brown and red. The presence of a large amount of white in a dog indicates mixing with another breed.

As we noted earlier, the Patterdale Terrier is not very large, the height at the withers does not exceed 38 centimeters. If we talk about the minimum value, then 25.4 centimeters can be considered an acceptable minimum. The Patterdale also weighs quite a bit - from 5.5 to 10 kilograms. This is influenced by the development of muscles and, of course, nutrition.

If we talk about teeth, then it is a working breed, and therefore, even at the exhibition, these parameters do not affect the overall assessment. The dog is characterized by its endurance, and therefore it perfectly survives cold, and heat, and moisture. Potential health problems of this breed were bypassed. Such a four-legged friend can live up to 14 years old, in some cases even more. Even in the presence of injuries and abrasions, these dogs still die a natural death. Genetics on the side of these dogs their health has almost no deviations.

The Patterdale Terrier is characterized by a special body structure - strong and muscular. Such a physique is especially good in action, which implies active activities, be it hunting, walking, traveling or playing sports. Accordingly, it is very difficult to keep such a pet in a small apartment. He will need long and tiring walks.

Only when the muscles are working and all the energy is used up, the dog will be happy and kind. The breeders noticed that the more you walk with the dog, the calmer and healthier it is. It is better not to have such a dog in the absence of your own site.

The character of the Patterdale Terrier is very strong-willed, even a puppy will always be distinguished by courage, intelligence and loyalty. However, the dog possesses such qualities only in relation to its owner. Since this breed has always been a protector and hunter, such qualities are manifested in everyday life. And if you have not accustomed your puppy to friendship with other dogs, then, most likely, the terrier will not get along with them. He will see in other dogs the very predator from which something or someone needs to be protected.

If you try very hard, then you can make friends with such a dog with domestic cats. But rodents will never interact with such a dog. Since hunting for such animals is an instinct for the breed, you should not expect mercy from dogs in relation to a domestic chinchilla or rat. Separately, it should be said about the dog's grumpiness. If the Patterdale Terrier becomes calm and kind from active walks, then if the dog is kept motionless for a long time, it will become irritable and angry.

Similar breed perfect for a connoisseur of physically developed dogs, as well as a lover of an active lifestyle. Whether you play sports, travel or just take long walks, the Patterdale Terrier is a great companion. You will be especially pleased with the "cooperation" with the four-legged friend on the hunt - after all, this is his "element". If you are not ready to spend a lot of time raising a dog and do not have a large plot, you should take a closer look at another breed.

For the activity of the Patterndale Terriers, see the video below.