_MizElz_
Well-Known Member
Some of you may remember Dexta, the little Patterdale x Border pup we got back in the autumn last year. At the time, I knew nothing about Patterdales - indeed, other than OH's elderly Border terrier (who was PTS the day after Boxing Day 
) I personally knew very little about terriers in general, and would - although I have always loved dogs - have described myself as more of a cat person. Well, Dexta has changed that 
I have read some real horror stories about Patterdales, and for a while I wondered what we'd got ourselves into. But he is an absolute star - he is headstrong, but apart from an occasional inability to drag himself away from a new 'friend' when called, he is wonderfully obedient, well behaved and a pleasure to own He can be left alone in the house without us needing to worry about what he might be chewing/stealing/destroying - which for me, is a real treat. (Our homebred black Lab bitch has managed, over the course of 9 homewrecking years, to blacken my heart towards Labradors...
) He's very sociable - his best friends at the yard are a little Border terrier, two hound pups and his own litter brother (they had a hate-hate relationship for several months, but now they've both had 'the chop' they get on great together!) And although his daddy is, apparently, one of the best killers in the county (!), Dex thankfully seems to have missed out on picking up that particular gene He's killed a couple of rats (only when egged on though!) and has often suggested that playing with my brother's guinea pigs might be quite good fun....! But he co-exists happily with our two chickens and two rabbits; in fact, he is very good at rounding them up into the correct hutch/ark at night time He did manage to catch a pigeon last night, but instead of shaking the living daylights out of it, he just brought it very gently over to me and almost asked, 'What do I do with it?' Something tells me he may not be an ordinary Patterdale....
It's funny; OH warned me that we'd have to be really tough on him and not be afraid to whack him if necessary. But he's been trained almost totally by voice - I don't think either of us have ever really raised a hand to him. He's the most contrite little dog I know - if you shout at him, he drops like a stone at your feet and rolls over - he really does know how to say sorry!
Anyway, as you can probably guess, I absolutely adore this little dog Here's some piccies to show how much he's grown up!
First time I saw him:
Baby Dex!
Meeting the kitty....
Many people thought he was a Lab when we first got him:
Cuddles!
And now, the more recent ones...
Playing with his brother (Dex is on the right), now they've finally made friends. Weirdly, Dex was the only rough coated pup in the litter:
He loves the sea!! Lyme Regis back at Easter:
A rare sleepy moment:
Party trick:
In my car
Favourite game! He's sat on the back of the sofa here:
Handsome lad:
And one of my favourites:
) I personally knew very little about terriers in general, and would - although I have always loved dogs - have described myself as more of a cat person. Well, Dexta has changed that I have read some real horror stories about Patterdales, and for a while I wondered what we'd got ourselves into. But he is an absolute star - he is headstrong, but apart from an occasional inability to drag himself away from a new 'friend' when called, he is wonderfully obedient, well behaved and a pleasure to own
He can be left alone in the house without us needing to worry about what he might be chewing/stealing/destroying - which for me, is a real treat. (Our homebred black Lab bitch has managed, over the course of 9 homewrecking years, to blacken my heart towards Labradors...) He's very sociable - his best friends at the yard are a little Border terrier, two hound pups and his own litter brother (they had a hate-hate relationship for several months, but now they've both had 'the chop' they get on great together!) And although his daddy is, apparently, one of the best killers in the county (!), Dex thankfully seems to have missed out on picking up that particular gene He's killed a couple of rats (only when egged on though!) and has often suggested that playing with my brother's guinea pigs might be quite good fun....! But he co-exists happily with our two chickens and two rabbits; in fact, he is very good at rounding them up into the correct hutch/ark at night time He did manage to catch a pigeon last night, but instead of shaking the living daylights out of it, he just brought it very gently over to me and almost asked, 'What do I do with it?' Something tells me he may not be an ordinary Patterdale....It's funny; OH warned me that we'd have to be really tough on him and not be afraid to whack him if necessary. But he's been trained almost totally by voice - I don't think either of us have ever really raised a hand to him. He's the most contrite little dog I know - if you shout at him, he drops like a stone at your feet and rolls over - he really does know how to say sorry!
Anyway, as you can probably guess, I absolutely adore this little dog
Here's some piccies to show how much he's grown up!First time I saw him:
Baby Dex!
Meeting the kitty....
Many people thought he was a Lab when we first got him:
Cuddles!
And now, the more recent ones...
Playing with his brother (Dex is on the right), now they've finally made friends. Weirdly, Dex was the only rough coated pup in the litter:
He loves the sea!! Lyme Regis back at Easter:
A rare sleepy moment:
Party trick:
In my car
Favourite game! He's sat on the back of the sofa here:
Handsome lad:
And one of my favourites:
He looks so cute! 
