The border country of northern England and southern Scotland is a unique area that has given birth to several breeds of earth working terriers. The fell terriers history can be traced back 200 hundred years to England, where it was used to go underground to roust out game sometimes 3 times its own weight. The fell terriers are also known as the little black dogs from England and also the Patterdale terrier.
The terrain is rugged, the weather harsh and the people tough. Life is primarily on remote farms with sheep being the main farm commodity, and for centuries, they have been protected from fox predation by aggressive hound and terrier work. Dogs suited to this inhospitable climate have weatherproof coats and may be larger than their southern cousins. There are two types of coat. One is smooth, thick and usually black, although there are red and chocolate. The other coat type is broken or wire of the same colors. The average fell terrier weighs about 15 lbs. and is 12 inches tall at the shoulder,the tail is always docked.
Patterdale terriers are native to the Lake District of northern England where
the tall, bare and beautiful hills are called Fells. The weather is cold, wet
and windy. The fells are steep, rocky and filled with foxes.
Even
20th century farmers depend on organized fox-hound hunts to diminish the numbers
of foxes that prey on their sheep, and the fox-hounds depend on fell terriers to
extricate foxes from deep crevices in the rock. The Fells are so rough that
horses can not be used for hunting, so the Huntsman, his assistants, the hounds
and terriers may cover miles walking on a mountainside in a day. The Huntsman
and the Whipper in each, keep a pair of terriers at their side to be instantly
available when the fox goes to ground. Only the toughest of terriers can keep up
all day, then go to earth and rout out a hill-fox under the worst of
conditions.
The Patterdale is that type of terrier. They are all of working terrier
lineage and have a definite stamp of type. Fell and Patterdale terriers are well
known as hard-bitten terriers, willing to work any place, at any time. They are
loyal companions, but are rarely kept strictly as pets (there is work to be
done)! People who admire these terriers do so because of their working talents.
They are quiet indoors or out and are not usually dominant with people. They
tend to ignore other dogs and to be rather aloof. As experienced working
terriers, Patterdales may find den trials and artificial earths a bore and
refuse to enter. However, in the field it is an entirely different story. The
interest of local breeders ensures it survival. The breed is not easy to
obedience train. The Patterdale should not be trusted with non-canine
pets.
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