COUNTRY: Great Britain
WEIGHT: 12-13 pounds
HEIGHT: Less than I2l/z inches
COAT: Short and coarse
COLOR: Black, red, chocolate or black/tan
OTHER NAMES: Black Fell Terrier
GROUP: Terrier
Avid terrier people in Yorkshire and the lake districts to this day breed strictly working stock, often generally referred to as fell terriers. As is common with working dogs, they show physical variation, since mating is based only on working qualities and gameness. But one distinct type that emerged is the Patterdale Terrier, named for a village in Cumbria.
These dogs are particularly hard and tenacious. "Many [Foxhound] masters would not thank you for attempting to bolt his [sic] fox with a hard bitten Patterdale, for the dog is more likely to get hold and have a go, possibly kill the fox rather than allow him to bolt. . ." thus spoiling the hunt with the hounds. The fells of the north country, with the protection afforded foxes in borrans, rock tips, mines and scree, created the need for a hard terrier able to scramble over the terrain and fearless enough to go to ground. The Patterdale filled—and still fills—that need.
Dan Russell of Shooting Times and Country Magazine relates the following story of having run a fox to ground in a rough place: "Turning to his terrier, Fury, Joe said 'Thee and me's bin good pals, but t'times come when we mun part, for if tha gaas in here ah'll nivver see thee agen.' In went Fury and soon there were sounds of a terrific battle underground. The fox refused to bolt and after a while Fury came out, badly bitten from ear to ear. The dog was sent to the nearest farm for treatment and tools were sent for. At the end of three hours digging an entrance was made into the borran and there, inside, were ah1 the signs of an Homeric struggle and in the corner, piled on top of each other, were three big foxes."
Further testament to the high esteem in which Patterdales are held is evidenced in the following exchange reported by Nigel Hinch-cliffe: "A Welshman once rang me and asked to buy a black terrier, preferably one fully working. When asked what kind of work, I was told (a bit of ratting on the allotments and the occasional rabbiting in Pembrokeshire.' I declined him, advising him to buy locally, for buying a 'black-un* for such work was like buying a Rolls Royce in which to deliver milk."
The first Patterdales were brought to the USA in 1978. This dog is a laid-back terrier, not as yappy as some, who enjoys "curling up by the heat duct" in the house. Modern owners say he can be kenneled with two or three other terriers, as long as he has enough work and hunting to keep him exercised and content. If stale or bored, he may pick fights with a kennel mate.
They are game and tough when hunting, and hunters often take three or four dogs with them on a jaunt. In the States, these dogs hunt "anything with fur"—woodchuck (groundhog), fox, coon or even badger. An American Patterdale, aptly named "Rocky," a flyweight at 13 pounds, recently drew a 34-pound badger!
An owner says his Patterdales are sensible dogs. When they first enter a burrow, they'll bark and fuss, trying to incite the quarry to bolt. If the prey refuses to budge, only then will the terrier go in for a hold.
The Patterdale has a bit thicker and cheekier head than many of our modern show terriers, suggesting a hint of the Bull Terrier. This may have been what they looked like originally, or this look might have come from a later cross.
WEIGHT: 12-13 pounds
HEIGHT: Less than I2l/z inches
COAT: Short and coarse
COLOR: Black, red, chocolate or black/tan
OTHER NAMES: Black Fell Terrier
GROUP: Terrier
Avid terrier people in Yorkshire and the lake districts to this day breed strictly working stock, often generally referred to as fell terriers. As is common with working dogs, they show physical variation, since mating is based only on working qualities and gameness. But one distinct type that emerged is the Patterdale Terrier, named for a village in Cumbria.
These dogs are particularly hard and tenacious. "Many [Foxhound] masters would not thank you for attempting to bolt his [sic] fox with a hard bitten Patterdale, for the dog is more likely to get hold and have a go, possibly kill the fox rather than allow him to bolt. . ." thus spoiling the hunt with the hounds. The fells of the north country, with the protection afforded foxes in borrans, rock tips, mines and scree, created the need for a hard terrier able to scramble over the terrain and fearless enough to go to ground. The Patterdale filled—and still fills—that need.
Dan Russell of Shooting Times and Country Magazine relates the following story of having run a fox to ground in a rough place: "Turning to his terrier, Fury, Joe said 'Thee and me's bin good pals, but t'times come when we mun part, for if tha gaas in here ah'll nivver see thee agen.' In went Fury and soon there were sounds of a terrific battle underground. The fox refused to bolt and after a while Fury came out, badly bitten from ear to ear. The dog was sent to the nearest farm for treatment and tools were sent for. At the end of three hours digging an entrance was made into the borran and there, inside, were ah1 the signs of an Homeric struggle and in the corner, piled on top of each other, were three big foxes."
Further testament to the high esteem in which Patterdales are held is evidenced in the following exchange reported by Nigel Hinch-cliffe: "A Welshman once rang me and asked to buy a black terrier, preferably one fully working. When asked what kind of work, I was told (a bit of ratting on the allotments and the occasional rabbiting in Pembrokeshire.' I declined him, advising him to buy locally, for buying a 'black-un* for such work was like buying a Rolls Royce in which to deliver milk."
The first Patterdales were brought to the USA in 1978. This dog is a laid-back terrier, not as yappy as some, who enjoys "curling up by the heat duct" in the house. Modern owners say he can be kenneled with two or three other terriers, as long as he has enough work and hunting to keep him exercised and content. If stale or bored, he may pick fights with a kennel mate.
They are game and tough when hunting, and hunters often take three or four dogs with them on a jaunt. In the States, these dogs hunt "anything with fur"—woodchuck (groundhog), fox, coon or even badger. An American Patterdale, aptly named "Rocky," a flyweight at 13 pounds, recently drew a 34-pound badger!
An owner says his Patterdales are sensible dogs. When they first enter a burrow, they'll bark and fuss, trying to incite the quarry to bolt. If the prey refuses to budge, only then will the terrier go in for a hold.
The Patterdale has a bit thicker and cheekier head than many of our modern show terriers, suggesting a hint of the Bull Terrier. This may have been what they looked like originally, or this look might have come from a later cross.