Patterdale Terrier — breed guide
A working fell terrier bred purely for grit, with no show standard worth speaking of. One of the hardest small dogs alive — not a pet terrier.
At a glance
- Group
- terrier
- Size
- Small
- Weight
- 5–6 kg (11–13 lb)
- Life span
- 11–14 years
- Coat
- Smooth, broken or rough, dense and harsh
Living with a Patterdale Terrier
- Very high energy — built for work and long days out.
- Almost no grooming.
- Light shedding.
- Trainable with consistency.
- Vocal when there is a reason.
- Can do well with children, with care — easier with older kids than toddlers.
- Not always easy with other dogs — introduce carefully.
- Not a safe bet with cats — this is prey drive rather than a training problem.
- Not well suited to a flat — space, exercise need or voice works against it.
- Better with previous experience behind you.
- Average heat tolerance.
- Handles cold well.
Temperament
Hard · Fearless · Driven · Tough
Health to watch
- Patellar luxation
- Lens luxation
- Conjunctivitis
Owner-logged information shared via Leash Life is not veterinary advice; ask your vet about screening for these.
Questions people ask
Is a Patterdale Terrier good with kids?
With care. Patterdale Terriers generally do well with older children who already know how to behave around a dog; with toddlers, supervise every interaction and give the animal somewhere it can retreat to.
Is a Patterdale Terrier good with cats?
Usually not. This is prey drive rather than a training problem — a cat that runs can trigger it in a dog that is otherwise impeccably behaved.
How much exercise does a Patterdale Terrier need?
Hours — this breed needs a job or a long day out.
Can a Patterdale Terrier handle hot weather?
About average — use normal hot-day sense.
Leash Life keeps a Patterdale Terrier's day — walks, meals, meds, weight — in one shared feed for the whole household, and warns on the walk weather this breed can't take. Free to start.