The Patterdale Terrier Standard
The Patterdale Terrier Standard
The Patterdale is a working terrier, bred originally to go to ground and
kill or bolt vermin, this requires a small active, game terrier, and must be
judged as such.
general appearance: A sturdy, tough, active little terrier, not too big in
the chest as a working terrier has to be capable of squeezing through very
small passages under ground to follow their quarry. ("A big terrier can also
cut off their own air supply.")
Measuring between 11" and 15" at the withers ("I try to keep mine between
11" and 13", I have not a dog over 13" in my kennel.") Should present a
compact balanced image, with straight legs.
Weights between 10 and 17 pounds, as this terrier always weighs more than it
looks.
head: Head and muzzle should be strong and powerful. Scars received working
quarry should not prejudice a dog's chance of winning shows.
ears: Ears should be of moderate size, not too big nor too small, and folded
to the sides of the cheek.
mouth: Strong teeth, level mouth, teeth broken or incisors lost while
working should not prejudice a dogs winning a show.
neck: Of moderate length, strong and muscular. A strong neck helps as much
as a strong jaw in killing vermin.
coat: Smooth to broken coated. Smooth coated dogs should have a dense coat,
not fine like a whippet. A good coat is important to protect them against
the wet underground also briars. ("I have dug several bad coated terriers
out dead, that have worked till they have gone into shock in the cold, wet,
earth".)
tail: Set high, length in proportion to the body, usually about 5 to 7
inches long. ("The tail is sometimes the only thing to pull a terrier out of
an earth when you have dug down to him. I dock mine by removing one-third of
the tail.")
color: black, red, liver (with a red nose), grizzle, black and tan, bronze
(chocolate). 95% of the breed will be black colored but the odd dog of all
colors will come with white feet and chest. ("Some of the best ones of the
breed are marked like this.")
body: Giving an active appearance, not too big in the chest--capable of
being spanned behind the shoulders by average size hands. The back should be
strong, straight, and in comparison to the height ; not too long, but not
too short as in some fox terriers. Too short a back in proportion to height
makes them awkward underground.
male terriers should have both testicles fully descended into the scrotum.