Patterdale Terrier

The Patterdale Terrier originated in Lake District called Patterdale in England. It is a relatively new breed developed by Brian Nuttall in the 1960s. The breed was bred to be a tough and hardy dog capable of working and protecting flocks against predators. Instead of flushing vermin and fox from their dens, like most terrier dogs, the Patterdale is trained to exterminate the prey and is small enough to burrow into holes.

Patterdales were first brought to the United States in 1978, where they were highly-valued as hunting dogs for badgers, boar and racoons. The Patterdale Terrier Club was later established in America in 1993. In 1995, Patterdale was recognised by the United Kennel Club in 1995, but until now The Kennel Club in the UK has yet to accept the Patterdale Terrier as a breed in its own right.

Although mainly bred as a working dog, the Patterdale is kept more as a companion dog and family pet for its loving and energetic nature.

The Patterdale Terrier is an active working breed with a compact and balanced appearance. Its small size and compressed chest can easily burrow into small holes underground to follow its prey. Patterdales weigh 15 to 30 pounds and stand 25 to 40 centimetres. They have robust and powerful wedge-shaped heads that are well-proportioned with the rest of the body. Eyes are set nicely apart and should match their coat colour showing lively and alert expressions, typical of terrier dogs. They have triangular ears that fold neatly above their heads and black or brown nose.

The Patterdale boast of a well-muscled neck, shoulders and chest covered with a smooth or rough coat that comes with a dense undercoat. Rough coated Patterdales have longer guard hairs that are coarse to the touch and can be slightly wavy. They also sport prominent eyebrows, a beard and moustache. Coat colours include grizzle, red/tan, chocolate, black and tan, liver (dogs have a red/brown nose). Patterdales always wear white paws and some white on their chests regardless of coat colour.

The Patterdale, unlike most terrier dogs, are not the yappy sort. It is a laid-back dog that likes to work but at the same time will be happy curling up with its owners. Although its small size qualifies the Patterdale Terrier as a toy dog, major kennel clubs (except The Kennel Club) value hunting instinct, tough and fearless demeanour as solid qualifications to belong to the terrier group. The Patterdale is also a useful watchdog and will bark when warranted.

Patterdale Terriers are intelligent and have the desire to please their owners as such this makes them easy to train. However, it is crucial to start its training and socialisation as early as possible to understand their place in the pack and recognise who to look up to for instructions. When properly trained, Patterdales can even take part in canine sports due to its determined natures.

• Senior and less active: up to 590 calories daily
• Typical adults: up to 660 calories daily
• Physically active/working dogs: up to 730 calories daily

The Patterdale Terrier is among the cheapest dog breeds, with a price somewhere around £200 to £300. It's a good thing since the financial journey ahead is long and often winding. When you buy a Patterdale Terrier, be prepared to set aside a significant portion of your budget to food (£20 to £30/month), pet insurance (£18 to £40/month) and veterinary care (£800/year).

It is important that you have considered the financial aspect of owning a dog, so you don't suffer money issues along the way. Although pet insurance is often taken for granted, it is this one cost that may likely save you more money in the future. Anyway, a rough estimate to care for a Patterdale Terrier is around £50 to £80 a month. If you think you can afford that, then, by all means, buy a Patterdale for sale from a reputable breeder.