THe breed standard

APTA Breed Standard

GENERAL APPEARANCE

The Patterdale Terrier is a small confident tough, active terrier and should give a compact, well balanced image. Height should be between 10" to 16" measured at the shoulders. Weight should be proportionate but often times are heavier than they appear, presenting neither a frail or "clunky" image.

CHEST

As the elite earth terrier of the world, the Patterdale must be able to follow it's quarry

The size of the chest is one fo the most important measurements for a working terrier

As a general rule, an average sized man should be able to "hand span" the terrier's chest with the fingers of both hands touching.

BACK

The back should be strong and level, with length in proportion to the dogs height.

Too short of a back and it could hinder a dogs ability to work underground.

LEGS

The legs should be straight, with good bone. The feet turning neither in or out.

The rear should have good angulation, with the hocks turning neither in or out. Legs should be well muscled.

HEAD AND MUZZLE

The head should give the impression of great strength for the size of the dog and be in proportion to the rest of the body. The muzzle should not appear snippy. Rather able to withstand the punishment it will receive from quarry.

EYE COLOR

Eye color should be brown/chestnut and in chocolates can be any shade of amber.

TEETH

The teeth should meet in a scissors bite, yet a level bite is acceptable.

Undershot or overshot is a fault.

Teeth lost or broken while working will not be penalized.

EARS

Button ear, with tight fold, and tips of ears meeting the skull at the corner of the eye. Rose ears are to be accepted while full prick ears are considered a fault.

NECK

The neck should be muscular with good angulation and proportionate to the head and body.

TAIL

The tail should be set high on rump. It should not be carried over the back.

docking is preferred to prevent injury during work, no more than 1/4 should be removed. As an adult, approximately a "palm's width" is preferable, should provide a good "hand-hold".

COAT

The coat may be "Smooth", "Broken" or "Rough".
All types should be dense and coarse.

Smooth: Coarse, overall very short, smooth

Broken: Coarse, longer hair on body except for head and ears which is smooth. May be some longer whiskering on muzzel and chin.

Rough: Coarse, longer hair overall, including face and ears

COLOR

Colors include: Black, Black and Tan, Red, or Chocolate,

There can be some variations in the colors.The only registerable colors are those listed here.

Chocolate-colored dogs will have a brown nose.
white on chest and feet is acceptable.

HEIGHT AND WEIGHT

Height may range from 10 to 16 inches.
Weight should be proportionate to the terrier's height. 9 to 23 pounds being acceptable.

Most will weigh more than they look.

DISQUALIFICATIONS

#1 Lack of interest in small animals

#2 Cryptorchid

#3 Shyness or viciousness

Terriers with these disqualifications should not be bred