If you are thinking of adopting a dog, be sure to conduct your research first. Decisions can best be made when you know the history of the breed in which you’re interested. Rescue groups confirm that dogs often come to them simply because the dog was doing what it was bred to to do, but that the owners didn’t educate themselves on those particular traits beforehand. Patterdale terrier rescue groups will say that this particular breed will often require a new home for several reasons that are better understood when you know the history of the breed. This breed, although rare, is gaining in popularity, and potential adopters will find there is a lot to learn.
These small dogs are usually about one foot tall (a few are taller) and weigh between 11 and 13 pounds. They were bred in the United Kingdom to be a working dog, protecting sheep from wild prey. They could work all day bringing down foxes and even wild bores. Therefore, they require a great deal of exercise and/or need a job to do in order to stay out of mischief. Patterdale terrier rescues are needed because these dogs are high energy and may not fit well into some family homes. They are not recommended as pets if you live in an apartment, are a first-time pet owner, or for the average pet owner.
They make a good watchdog and are very tenacious. Since these dogs do not tire easily, patterdale terrier rescues recommend agility training, which gives them the mental and physical exercise they need to ensure proper behavior. Training your dog in agility can be a great activity for the whole family. If agility training is not an option, they need to have long, brisk walks every day. Patterdale terrier rescues will tell you these dogs are excellent diggers, both inside and outside. This unwanted behavior is mitigated when they have a job to do. They do want to please their owners while working, so make sure their job is a productive one.
Although they tend to be aloof around other dogs, they were bred to attack ground mammals. A patterdale terrier cannot be trusted around other animals and will hunt anything with fur. Therefore, they would not be a good fit if your home has cats, bunnies, guinea pigs and the like. Patterdale terrier rescues will confirm that the breed is willful and hard to obedience train. You must be a strong and confident master in order to avoid potential behavior problems. They can be laid-back indoor dogs as long as they get their needed exercise and mental activity outdoors. Patterdale terriers can be a good choice, provided you have done your homework.
