“A Mans Best Friend”
Jun 5 2009
If you want to take in a Patterdale Terrier as a pet, try to remember these two facts. One, the Patterdale is a very active dog and will always be so you should be ready to live with an eternally moving, running and curious little pet. Secondly, the Patterdale is a natural hunter and is good at that so don’t be surprised if it manifests a dire need to prey upon smaller animals.
The northern part of England is known for unforgiving weathers, infertile land and rocky terrains. This is the condition that the Patterdale grew up with and it developed in him a fearless and determined disposition. Because of its famed toughness, people referred to him as “tough as nails”.
By the time when other terrier breeds were hailed by the whole world, the Patterdale remained undiscovered in the remoteness of northern England villages. It was only in the 1950s that this breed was brought to the attention of the United Kennel Club. Back in the villages, the Patterdale Terrier was an outstanding hunter of vermin such as foxes and rats that prey on unsuspecting flocks and food crops.
The rocky terrain of the north became the perfect place for the vermin to hide from the wrath of farmers. They hid inside deep holes and under the rocks so that no humans can possibly get in to. With the Patterdale terrier, however, no hole is ever deep and no rock is ever unreachable as it chase out and kills the little pests that wrecks its master’s livelihood.
Presently, the Patterdale has reached different parts of the world and many have regarded it more as a pet than a working dog. Its tiny size and love for a cuddle is often misinterpreted as being a toy dog. The Patterdale has never been and never will be a toy dog, however, for the terrier blood runs through its veins no matter where it has been today.
Outdoors, the Patterdale Terrier is an irrepressible hunter for small fury creatures but inside the house, it is tame and particularly quiet. Moreover, towards other people and children, it is sociable, smart and willing to please. When it comes to obedience training, the Patterdale is a bit difficult to teach to but with patience and firmness, you will be able to get very desirable results.
This breed is a descendant of the famed black-and-tan terrier and its size is as small as a regular toy dog. This breed may come out possessing three different types of coats: smooth, broken and rough. The smooth type is coarse, very short and smooth; the broken type is smooth, coarse and long in certain parts of the body such as head, snout and ears; while the rough coat is long all over its body and coarse.
The Patterdale gets bored easily and when this happens, it tends to wreck havoc inside and outside the house. To avoid this catastrophe, it must be kept constantly busy by means of intense activities that will surely release all its threatening energy and curiosity. Daily exercise must also be implemented in the forms of daily walks and other energy-busting dog workouts in order to ensure its health physically and mentally.
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