I got Mickey my 18 month old patterdale terrier a year ago - he had been dehydrated sleeping rough on the streets and had been baddly treated - I was his 6th owner. I thought he was a cross and have since learned about the working patterdale - mick is purely a pet. I love him to bits and he is an excellent companion - and as long as he gets lots of walks he is quiet and well behaved in the house. The only problem I have is he sometimes bites strangers. Unlike other dogs we have had he has definite preferences in my friends and visitors - some he adores, most he thinks are OK, a few he nips the back of their legs for no reason I can see but is not fearful of them not they him but a very few he is very threatened by and hates - there are two patterns when he bites: a. when certain people loom over at him uninvited - he likes to choose his friends not them choose him. b. he has made a running attack across a room at two middle aged men he behaves as if he feels very threatened - but the men have not done a thing wrong. I can only assume that they remind him of somebody. What can I do to put a stop to his antisocial behaviour.

To start with you'll need to train your friends not to make any moves towards him at all - let him come and find them if he wants to. Secondly, you'll need to teach him that people are allowed to come into your house, and when he behaves correctly it's' nice (by giving him small treats and rewards - most terriers love a game of tug of war!) and if he does't put himself out to be nice, he gets nothing.......

yes thanks - he has responded very well to treats in the past and his behaviour has improved in other areas and i must admit when i have guests my focus is on them and not on the dog.

But having said that I have just realised that the problem is worse when in other people's houses ie the extended pack members like my parents and friends - he goes to my parents while i am at work - and its their visitors that he doesn't like. I don't feel I have quite the same influence over Mickey as i do in my own home, perhaps that is it. But I will take some treats with me in future - thanks!