Patterdale Terriers: English Hunting Dogs

Some dog breeds remain officially unrecognized by the International Cynologists Federation but are gaining more and more popularity. One of them is the Patterdale Terrier. The breed was bred in the 17th century in Great Britain, today it is distributed throughout the world.

History of the Breed

This type of terrier was named after the village in which it was bred – Patterdale. The main purpose was hunting. Local residents of the vicinity of Great Britain earned their living by catching foxes, badgers, whose fur is valued to this day. The hunting terrier breed helped them in their work. The dogs perfectly suited the needs of local residents, they were hard-working, while they were small in size, ate little, did not require special care. There was no emphasis on appearance, the breeders needed not a decorative, but a practical, working breed.

Several centuries later, the first exhibitions of the breed began to appear. Despite their relatively unpresentable appearance, the Patterdale Terriers are loved by the public. Due to their intelligence, character, abilities, they are spread throughout the world.

Appearance

The size of the Patterdale Terrier is small, which fully corresponds to the purpose of its breeding. They are harmoniously built, with well-developed muscles. When breeding, the main attention was paid to working qualities, therefore their appearance is still distinguished by a variety. Here is a short description of the breed:

• The height of the dog at the withers – 30-38 cm
• Dog weight – 6-9 kg
• The head is regular in shape, wide, with a flat forehead
• The muzzle is not very long, but wide, with powerful jaws
• The nose is always black
• Ears are triangular, hanging
• Eyes are medium, expressive
• The body is compact, well-muscled
• The breast is small.
• The paws are powerful, wide.

Coat and Color

The Patterdale Terrier is available in both smooth-haired and wire-haired. To date, several colors are recognized:

• Black
• Chocolate
• Ginger
• Wheat
• Black and tan
• Redhead with gray hair.

Despite this variety of colors, most of the Patterdale Terriers, about 95%, are black. You can easily verify this by looking at the photos of these dogs.

Personality

The dog is temperamental, a little stubborn, but at the same time, it has high intelligence. He is a good team learner and must be trained by experienced owners or professional trainers. You need to start training from an early age, otherwise, the dog will grow up poorly controlled. The Patterdale Terrier is best suited for outdoor enclosures. For an apartment or house, he is too active.

The dog requires increased attention, she loves to be aware of all events. Being alone, he gets bored, depressed. If you do not give them an outlet for energy, she can “deal” with all the things that fall under her teeth, begins to dig the ground in the aviary. In hunting excitement it is easy to get lost, if you walk a terrier in the city, he can run away and not answer the call of the owner.

Care

Care for the Patterdale Terrier- it’s more than simple. It is recommended to comb it with a wide-toothed comb several times a week. Bathing the terrier is necessary as it gets dirty. It’s also important to check your ears regularly and clean them. Ear disease is best diagnosed early, so veterinarians advise getting checked weekly. The Patterdale Terriers are excellent in all weather conditions. However, in case of severe frosts, the dog, especially a small puppy, is best taken into the house. It is important for a pet to know that it has its own corner. If he lives on the street, he is rarely at home; all the same must be bedding, personal items.

Feeding

You can feed a puppy, an adult dog in different ways. Today, most owners prefer to switch to purchased feed. The advantage of such food is that its manufacturers take care of the presence in the composition of all the substances necessary for the normal development of the dog. However, it is important to use only quality feed.

If you decide to cook yourself, then you must follow these rules:

• the basis of the diet (about 50%) should be meat, only low-fat varieties;
• meat can be cooked, but it is better to give it raw, after pouring it with boiling water;
• several times a week the menu should include dry offal;
• be sure to feed the puppy with raw vegetables, first you need to determine which ones he likes best;
• when choosing cereals, variety is needed.

Health

The average life expectancy of representatives of the breed is 12-16 years. Some diseases common among Terriers can reduce this rate:

• bursitis;
• enterocolitis;
• upset stomach;
• hepatopathy.

Cynologists note that this breed has excellent health. Despite the presence of some common ailments, in comparison with other hunting breeds, they have good health, strong immunity.

Conclusion

The Patterdale Terriers have an interesting history. This is a working breed that is not very attractive and has won the hearts of many dog ​​lovers. Despite the lack of official recognition, the breed standard dictates the rules that breeders adhere to. These hunting pets get along with people, are distinguished by devotion, intelligence, endurance.