The Patterdale Terrier is named for a village in Cumbria. The terrain where these dogs are from is full of rock tips and mines, and they needed a dog who would be able to scramble over the terrain and one that was fearless enough to go to ground. These dogs are willing to go after anything with fur, including woodchuck, fox, raccoon and even badger.

The Patterdale Terrier is a tough, active terrier and should give a compact, well balanced image. Height should be between 10" to 13" measured at the shoulders. Weight should be proportionate to their height. You should be able to "hand span" the terrier's chest with the fingers of both hands touching. If the chest is too big, the terrier will not be able to follow it's quarry through small tunnels.

Their coats can be either smooth or 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. Both types should be dense and coarse. Their colors can be Black, Red, Chocolate, or Black and Tan. Chocolate-colored dogs may have a liver-colored nose (red nose). Grooming is fairly simple for these dogs-bathing, ear cleaning and nail trimming as needed.

These are not dogs that should be "just pets," they are working terriers that do best when they're working. They do well with other dogs, however if they are not used for working they may pick a fight out of boredom. The Patterdale Terrier is also gaining recognition as an excellent companion dog by being considerably more laid-back and manageable than some other working terrier breeds.

The Patterdale is extremely affectionate with their families. They do demand a lot of play time and exercise, and will need to have a fenced in yard so they don't run off in pursuit of quarry.