Oh what to do, I feel I have no choice...:(

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toffeeyummy

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Sigh....fighting patterdale again. Things were going so well. But now we are having increased attacks on the labs and now he's also started on my aging terrier. 90% of the time my pat is good as gold and none of the attacks happen when I'm there as I can sense any rising tension and one word will make him back down. But I'm not always there. The attacks mainly happen when my partner is there or just now my daughter let him out of his kennel and he flew out and went for the lab who was innocently sniffing about outside. It takes a good kick to get him off too. Hes now full time kennelled outside and in a crate in the utility room at night with the other dogs. He is well exercised and loved but I feel this isn't the life for him. Being kennelled he has little human comfort which he adores. He loves my aging terrier but now I can't trust him so he's seperated from his friend. What do I do? I think I'd rather pts than rehome but this dog is in the prime of his life (2yrs) and has the loveliest, loyal temperament but these attacks are just not nice and what if the children get caught in the middle? Sorry for the ramble, advice please...
 
Could you get him a working home? I would def hang onto him until well after the Christmas period.

In the meantime it will take all three of you to be very vigilant (esp around doorways, elevated surfaces, around food and toys etc) and if you are worried keep the children out of his management if you cannot trust them to be strict or you cannot trust him not to scrap around them.

While I would normally say rule out something medical because of the sudden escalation, but a lot of terriers are just scrappers. If he enjoys the game/the scrap and he keeps being allowed to self-reward, he may well just keep doing it.
As you say, it needs to be broken up before it happens.
 
Thanks, I just can't understand the trigger for it most of the time. I think he just doesn't like being a multi pet household. He would love a working home he is an extremely efficient ratter and loves to be out and about with you all day.
 
toffeeyummy said:
....... I think I'd rather pts than rehome but this dog is in the prime of his life (2yrs) and has the loveliest, loyal temperament ... advice please...
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toffeeyummy said:
........ He would love a working home he is an extremely efficient ratter and loves to be out and about with you all day.
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I don't understand the apparently opposing views above. I'd suggest that finding yourself an experienced "Terrier man" would be the ideal answer to your problem. At two years of age, to put him down now would mean that his life to date has been for nothing, and I think that it would be a bit wasteful, to be truthful. The one thing that I wouldn't do, under any circumstances, is hand him in to a rescue centre.

Just as some cats live to catch mice, some greyhounds to chase hares, so some terriers live to fight. That you're able to stop him now may only be a temporary thing. Hard terriers, and yours sounds to be one, as they mature can and often will achieve minds of their own, and they go beyond the age of "stopping them"!

I'll be honest with you, he sounds like a very smart little man and would be welcomed and cherished by those who would use him. If you are serious about placing him in a good working home, which it sounds as if he'd love, then PM me and I'll make some enquiries in your area, and perhaps head you in the right direction. If it's any consolation, I have a love hate thing with terriers. The last one that I had was 30 years ago, and reading your post reminds me why!!

Good luck.
 
Thanks Alec, to clarify I would rather he was pts instead of being in a rehoming centre but if I found him a decent working home then I would consider it. He is a hard terrier, last year he ran at a car which was doing 40mph it ran over him both front and back tyres and he walked away without a scratch or a bruise. He had a fight with a very large and aggressive feral tom cat and walked away without a scratch (the cat survived by the way) and the only time I've seen him in pain is when he ran at full pelt into a concrete did which impaled him on his shoulder (needed surgery). I have another terrier which I think is a cross patterdale and even with his quirks he has never given me a days trouble and is the most wonderful dog, that's why I got another and although I thought I knew what I was getting into with a pure patterdale, perhaps I wasn't. Please could you pm me with your email as my pm on here don't work.
Many thanks
 
I have a patterdale and I have to say he was the most difficult dog up until a change when he hit around 3 years old. Has your dog been neutered? We had several bad attacks on the other male (also neutered) dog in the household. He has also bitten 2 people I am ashamed to admit.
They are a very serious owners breed and not for the feint hearted and they need very strict rules. People (experienced terrier men) laughed at me and my anguish with him - their words were that 'Patterdales should come with a warning - they come in kit form 2 parts a) and b)- they get the body first and it takes until they are 2 years old before they get their brain and listening ears'. Do you know those have been the wisest words. My Pat is now the most loyal dog - he is so obedient now it's untrue.
My advice - perservere - my one stopped the attacks on the other terrier (a skipperkee) as he grew up. just be careful giving chews or toys as these become subjects to fight over. Use the crate as necessary and keep a famers stick (we do) in the dogs area. We use it like Nanny McPhee if there is any nonsense and they know to stop as it won't be tolerated. Good luck!

Here is a video of him 'playing with the horses tails' - he loves to swing off them or be chased. No comments please - I had all the wise words of advice last time I posted this and he is my dog with my horses and he does not do this with any other horse!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFel_XSa-jo&feature=c4-overview&list=UUN3KicX6aYmkGqnSHQSl13A
 
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If he is 2 I would try for another 6 months and then see. If he isn't neutered I would do so.
Most working terriers are kennelled, they would get up to all sorts if left out, so a working home will not necessarily mean out all day with his owner. We have been given about 8 18 month/2 year old patts over the years and most have worked well and it is what they are born and bred to do but they are generally tricky dogs and more strong willed than any other terrier I have ever met. That was when my OH was a hunt terrierman.
 
Ha love the video, I see he's got the same swagger as my pat! He is neutered was done at 6 months and so is the other terrier. Tbh I wouldn't worry so much about the attacks on the labs as they're my partners gun dogs and either with him or kennelled so out the way. It's the attacks on my old boy, probably because he can sense him getting older and losing his grip on top dog. My children would be broken hearted, he has never shown aggression to people and loves everybody. I certainly won't do anything til the new year but I've said to the family that I will do dverything with him now as he doesn't dare attack when I'm there. Love the nanny McPhee stick, might be an idea for the kids..,,,,!!
 
toffeeyummy said:
Ha love the video, I see he's got the same swagger as my pat! He is neutered was done at 6 months and so is the other terrier. Tbh I wouldn't worry so much about the attacks on the labs as they're my partners gun dogs and either with him or kennelled so out the way. It's the attacks on my old boy, probably because he can sense him getting older and losing his grip on top dog. My children would be broken hearted, he has never shown aggression to people and loves everybody. I certainly won't do anything til the new year but I've said to the family that I will do dverything with him now as he doesn't dare attack when I'm there. Love the nanny McPhee stick, might be an idea for the kids..,,,,!!
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The best of the horse tail pulling trick is that if he doesn't get a response he whizzes around the front end and yaps and then back to the tail again. Yes mine does swagger!! He reminds me of a yob just bursting for a fight. People would never believe me when I walked him on the lead and we had 2 incidents where he just launched because someone let their dog come up to his face off lead ;-( He really has changed now though and I can recall him - I have twice recently had incidents where firstly 2 dogs came onto my paddocks via the sheep fencing - they were small enough and he came away and straight to me on call. Then he went up the land where there was a black lab loose and again he came back to call - I was just so proud. He really is the most loyal companion and I love him to bits. I wouldn't ever get another, just because I know of the pain of the first couple of years.
 
Yes yob about town that's the one! And definitely don't think before they speak. We always say my pat has no social etiquette skills! That's great on the recall, he will come away if he's near enough and I can do a deep serious 'here' but if he's locked on, no chance. Luckily I just walk him on the farm these days, if we go public I muzzle him. Now that's a whole different story on the reaction I get for that.,,,
 
We have a patterdale at the yard which is the sweetest little bitch you could meet - I adore her. But she is smart, and wiley and although I've never witnessed it, she has turned on some of the other dogs and did a fair bit of damage. She's also killed livestock and is a great ratter.

She can be quite jealous with other dogs and will snarl and if not handled correctly would have a go - surprisingly good with cats though.

Sounds like your guy could find a perfect home as a working dog.

Our little yard dog has made me fall in love with the breed but that said, I don't think I could ever own one - very strong willed dogs!!
 
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