I have a black patterdale 12-13 mth old , who will despite all my efforts, not stop pulling on the lead.

Also hes very agressive towards other dogs. i no what this breed of dog is used for (foxing etc) and alot of it is in his nature etc etc, but is there anyway i can stop the pulling??????

if there are no other dogs around he will come back and sit etc, but if he see s or hears another he goes well giddy and obedience goes out of the window!!!

please advise

Hi

As you know a Patterdale Terrier named after a Cumbrian town also known as a Black Fell Terrier is of course a hunting dog. Quite often you find with certain hunting dogs particularly if he/she is dominant they will pull like a train normally in anticipation.

I have explained in full how to stop a dog pulling on the 5/6 2003 under main heading Behaviour and the post heading the same "Behaviour" go to this posting as I cannot reproduce it as that is against forum guidelines.

With regard to the aggression Dominance could be the key at thirteen months he is approximately 16.5 years old in human terms. all that 7 year bit is just an old wifes tale it 15 for the first year 10 for the second and 5 for every year after.

You know what teenagers are at that age NIGHTMARES Freddy Kruger incarnate so you need to put in place a dominance reduction program and start worrking on control of the lead and basic obedience.

Best of luck

Doglistener

thanks for the info,
i will look

mr P!

Hi Mr Patterdale,

It is not true that dogs used for hunting are by nature more aggressive toward each other. This is a myth that I think was propagated by terrier fanciers of old who used to want their dogs to "spar" in the show ring (even though I know Patterdales were never show dogs.) Dogs that were bred to work and live in packs, like Patterdales, obviously could not be naturally agressive toward each other and work as members of a team.

Regards,

Stacey

Sorry I have to disagree on this one, unfortunately due to their very reason for being bred Patterdale/Fell Terriers are naturally aggresive to other dogs.

They were never bred to live in a pack and everyone that I know who has them has to be very careful who is kennelled with whom.

They were bred to face foxes underground and have very short fuses, if the body language of another dog is wrong they are ready willing and able to defend themselves. Whilst working I have seen them when sparked up and frustrated turn on their kennelmates with very little provocation.

I suggest you visit one or two Working Terrier Shows and see what they are like in the company of other dogs. We regularly run Terrier Racing at Game Fairs and guess which breed are the most likely to start a fight?????

I have know one or two who have settled very well into a pet environment, but to be honest not many are suitable. They are working dogs first and foremost. In my mind they equate with the Working Sheepdog and if not used for what they were bred for can get very frustrated.

To Mr Patterdale

I think you can possibly with perserverance train him not to pull on the lead, but the aggresion is natural to him and you have to be aware that at all times he is likely to want to start trouble.
Enjoy him for what he is, I doubt he will ever be your average family dog.

thanks for the info,

well its a yes and no to what you have said, i do work him but not as often as i would or even he would like.
i never bought him as a family pet realy although it has to said he is very good with people and children, albeit a little over excited and giddy!!!
but hes also a very affectionate dog which supprises me.

Sounds to me as if you have got it right then, if you work him he will appreciate it, its what he was born to do!!

They can be very good with people and and love attention.

Best of luck with him.

Jayne

Hi Lady,

Guess I checked the wrong Web site with regard to Patterdales! I read they were worked in packs. Sorry spreading incorrect info. I should know better, considering some of the nonsense I've read about Cairns on the Web.

I would love to attend terrier events, btw. Not to see who starts fights, of course. Would you please tell me where I could find information?

Stacey

The best place to find where and when terrier events are going on is in "The Countryman's Weekly", which can be got at a lot of larger newsagents, or I'm sure your local one could order it for you.

Jayne

Thanks Jayne, I will try to find a copy.

Stacey

Hi

I have a Patterdale Terrier, he is nearly one years old. He is terrible with regards to pullingon the lead. I have to say though, he is excellent with other dogs, he pulls like mad to go over and say hello, if he doesnt get to say hi, he whines.

He is getting better on the lead though, now. I have to disgree with pervious posts, maybe its just my dog, but they do hunt in packs, well, working ones do. Mine is very sociable.

Hope this helps in some small way

Regards

Ben

Don't think anyone would suggest they were much different to any other dog when it comes to the behaviour toward other dogs, some are good, some are not. If the problem you are having with him pulling is getting better, you are no doubt doing the right thing. You have to teach him he must not run up to other dogs, particularly those on the lead. If he is allowed to continue such behaviour he will be gone for sooner or later and then you will be blaming the other dog. It matters not that you know your dog is friendly, the nervous dog he bounces up to may not wait to find out and bite. Think one of the problems with most terriers is to teach them to be calm when that is what is needed, calm is not what they do best, but for the sake of others calm is what they have to learn.

Returning to your other post I would not get another until you have this one under control.