We are slowly but surely losing our faithful patterdale dog, he's 14 and been diabetic for 6 years, he has surpassed all exectations that the vet had in terms of life span but we have to come to terms with the fact that he is not with us for much longer.
We also have a young patterdale bitch (12 months), and my question is do we get another dog or would a bitch be a better bet?
Has anyone had any experience of keeping 2 bitches, I have seen a lot written about the pitfalls of keeping 2 dogs but nothing about bitches.
I do love a dogs personality but in many respects I find a bitch easier to live with.
Your thoughts would be much appreciated.

Two bitches most people find is 'interesting' to say the least - my last two combinations have been two bitches - firstly an 8 year old Lab cross BC bitch with a puppy ESS x BC - the older dog gave the baby a severe beating up when she was about 10 weeks old, and they tolerated each other after that, till the old lady died aged 14 last year. In the new 'vacancy' I got a pure bred working type ESS from a rescue..... After about 10 days the two of them had about 3 set too's over a weekend, and have been good buddies ever scince. It wasn't easy seeing them go for each oteher, but I had a feeling if I didn't let them sort it out I would have perpetual problems...... Having siad that - my vet had to seperate his two Weineramer (sp?) bitches because they just couldn't get along........ :-(

Hi there,
My favorite gender to have are spayed females.... no muss, assertive, watchful and smart, well sometimes too smart. I've had up to three at one time, BUT they were all different breeds. My 10 year old Yorkie did not like having a puppy around, but she tolerated it for 3 years until she died. Always gave each their own separate space. They both liked the "middle" bitch and she connnected them together. I had to be very watchful when the younger had something that the "old lady" wanted. The pup learned to crawl for the next three years under the sofa to keep her chewie away. The Yorkie was stone deaf and couldn't hear the growls of possessiveness. She thought it was ok to take, when it wasnt'. If you want to know more about my "girls," I have a current description posted on the "Travelling in England with dogs" in the General Category.

I like having females for the smaller breeds because when --picking up a dog after being outside-- and rubbing tummy...well, -- no worries about wet hand in the first matter. Very asthetic for the second ;-)
There are definite hierarchies at work. From what I understand, having same breed females can cause the biggest strife for even experienced handlers. I had two Beagle littermates for two years---never had any problems, but it could have been the naturally social breed or that they had always been together.

I know that you'd have to be slightly more creative introducing another female to yours than a male. Most males will subordinate themselves to the female.... But not knowing what a Patterdale --terrier, hound, or other? I have no idea on the breed personality. Please educate me :-) I'd love to know. Perhaps the fact that she's still young will make it easier.
Toodles :-)

Hi eoghania,
Thank you for the reply and all others too they make for interesting reading, I can see that we may be in for some interesting moments if decide to get another bitch!
You were asking about the Patterdales these are terriers which are I beleive a Lakeland terrier with some Staffordshire Bull terrier blood in them,as far as personality go's well from what I have seen and read about the breed I think we have been very fortunate.
D. Brian Plummer a well known authority on Patterdales and other terrier breeds says in one of his books that if the Patterdale were as big as a Rottweiller then the streets would not be safe to walk! You have to remember that these dogs are bred for working foxes underground and are a very powerful dog for their small size, these dogs need a lot of excercise or worked and plenty of things such as chews / toys to keep them from being bored, as an example of this dogs power and dertimination when my dog was only 6 months old I had to leave him alone for approx 2 hours, when I returned he had made his way through a brick wall to the extent that I could get my head inside to examine the cavity. But if you can provide plenty of excercise and toys then they make excellent pets which can be very rewarding.
Fortunatly ours have lovely temperaments but I have personally come into contact with others on my travels that have been absolute lunatics where other dogs are concerned.
I hope this helps.

Hi.
Are you getting another Patterdale ?
If you get another bitch, remember you already have a young bitch and you may have conflict with them being of similar ages as they start to mature.

I have 3 male Border Terriers, all entire, without problems, but there is a 2yr gap between the 1st and 2nd, and a 4yr gap to the third. I think with you knowing the breed you will make the right decision and decide what is right for you.
Hope it goes well.
Dawn B

I can't comment with first hand experiences only that I walk two Patterdale bitches for an old lady. She has had both these sisters from 8 wks old and now they are eight yrs. She says she has never had any problems with them only that they don't sleep together now (they get irritable if they do). One sleeps on the dog bed and the other on a chair and everyone's happy.

iv got a 17 month old bitch and last week bought a 6 week old puppy (bitch) and i have to say they have got on brilliantly (better than i expected) the first day i got my new dog the older one wasent quite too show of it but now shes got used to it she mothers the pup to death constantly cleaning and playing with it. dont get me wrong if the pup steps out of line she quickly puts it back in line. when i got my new dog i thought there would be a problem with the older one being jealous but she couldent have been better

What is a Patterdale? I have never heard of that breed.

I am no expert on the breed, but have met just the one, doing agility!

They are basically working dogs, I think for ratting or foxes(?) but someone will put me right if i am wrong here :)

They are medium sized terriers, usually a dark colour, very active and maintain a very strong working instinct.

Believe they come from the North East but may well be wrong here :D

I expect others will know more :)

LIndsay

Hi,

Follow this link - the info on the Patterdales is about a third of the way down.

HTH

Fiona

Hi, we have three bitches, all live in house, two rotties, one akita,eldest is 6, middle 2 and pup 18 weeks, all have different personalities but will share the same bowls quite happily. We had a 14 year mongrel old who died last Easter, she was the boss but since she has gone no one is really dominant. Even when we had 4 pups running around they were all brilliant with them, the eldest washing them all the time.

Good luck

Lorraine

Have three males at the moment and have no trouble, if one has been away there is some posturing and grumbling under the breath when he comes back in, but after a little while they are back playing again and I don't interfere as I think they are just sorting things out again between themselves. At one time I had 3 bitches along with 2 males and whilst the older 2 bitches tolerated each other the younger 2 had no end of fights after the youngest had her first season, before they got on OK. Even when the eldest of the fighting bitches tried to give way to the younger, she the youngest, would not stop and would have killed the other if we had allowed, she had to be rehomed and is now happy as an only dog. Jackie H

sorry jackie- ive forgotten, or didnt know, but what breed do you have? :)

I have elkhound bitches, same breed as Jackie! They are ongoing generations from my first with about 3 years between. The oldest is officially the boss among them, but I am top bitch! They all have different characters, Oldest, self important attention seeker, her daughter pacifist but take no nonsence, and her daughter probably the most dominant character but allows her gran to retain her position as that what I expect of her, she will be the one to push for affection and monopolise visitors, and is the one that stands her ground most if being challenged by an aggressive dog, until I releive her of the responsibility, she also cocks her leg. I suspect that when the oldest goes, that she will be highest ranking, and her Mum will let her! When her own daughter came back to stay she was the hardest on her and insisted on due deference!

ive just started off breeding over the last 5 years, so ive not had the pleasure of watching them interact yet. although ive seen a touch of it on bringing casey back home , as her mother last saw her at about 14 weeks, it must be fascinating watching generations anmd how they mix,. a friend of mine at one time had about 14 rotts, a mini pin and a couple of german spitz all living together, it was a real eye opener watching them and their places in the pack -it really was fascinating,

Hi we have 2 borders 1 of each we often spend time visiting the breeder who is a close friend,
who has 3 bitches sometimes we have to leave the dog with the in-laws (when bitches in season)
althougth he is castrated he gets very dominant & agrresive towards them any of them including his
partner

karl

The 2 bitches who fought were not related, and I think the younger one was just one of those 'difficult' dogs, she was obedient and very loving toward people but seemed to snap when she saw the other bitch. She went back to her breeder who also tried to sort her out to no avail and in the end I had to carefully re-home or PTS. I was very honist with the people who rehomed her and they were able to assure me that they would have no other dogs and would take care when out walking. It could have been that it was just between the 2 bitches in my household, as she was OK with the older one and fine with the dogs. I am told by her new owners that she will have no truck with the other dogs in the village, so may be she was just a very very bossy bitch who is lucky to have fallen on her feet. Oh and she was very carefully breed and from stock with good temperment. Jackie H.

bullmastiffs.I have Alice . her daughter babs and I look after babs daughter ruby while my daughter is working so three generations , all getting on fine . and a 14 yr old collie . no spats at all . .now I looked after my other daughters yorkie and pug when she was on hols . murder :D not the bulls fault, theirs ,they went for them at every chance. Iwas glad to see the back of them when peace reigned once more. MARI

Hi Penny,
I'm sorry it's taken me so long to reply but I have been away.
Patterdale is a synonym for the Lakeland terrier.
These dogs were and in some cases still are used to hunt various quarry such as rats, foxes, badger, otter, coypu, mink, and rabbits.