Patterdale Terrier vs Miniature Poodle - Breed Comparison

The Poodle is no stranger to the dog world and has been a familiar face in Western Europe for hundreds of years. Though they have lived in Europe for centuries, their origins are unsure, with some saying they hail from Germany and others say France.

The Miniature Poodles have been used in both countries as gundogs for water birds.

They have always been admired for their intelligence, and Miniature Poodles are believed to have been bred from Standard Poodles. It is interesting to note the 3 official sizes of the Poodle are Toy, Miniature and Standard – all considered one breed and judged according to the same written standard, just with different size requirements.

The Patterdale was developed in England,with his origins being linked to an early breeder with the name Joe Bowman.

They were sought after for their prowess at guarding sheep from foxes. The dog was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1995. It is believed the dog is descended from the Northern terrier breeds and can be traced far back.

With good care the lifespan of the Miniature Poodle is 14 – 16 years of age. This purebreed dog is small, standing at 28 – 38cm in height and weighing 7 – 8kg.

The coat is typically curly, springy and dense. Colors of the coat can be cream, beige, silver, black, brown or apricot. They are low shedding dogs and are regarded as being hypoallergenic. The ears are floppy and the tail is usually docked to give the dog a nice, compact look.

Temperament:

The Miniature Poodle is intelligent and learns easily, so you won’t have any trouble with training him and having him socialized.

He is a lively dog and loves a game and a walk, loving as much time as possible spent with his human family. He gets on well with other pets in the home as well as with children who have been taught to be kind and gentle with animals.

They are not overly-friendly with strangers, and therefore make excellent watchdogs. They’re the kind of dogs who need both physical and mental stimulation though, and he won’t be content to be left and ignored – after all he counts himself as a member of your family! They make wonderful pets, being playful and energetic and loving water, always ready to swim with you.

The Patterdale Terrier is a small sized dog that stands at between 25 and 40 cm in height and weighs 5 to 7kg.

The coat of the dog can be smooth, broken or rough, but all coats are double and weatherproof. Colors include red, liver, black, bronze, black and tan or chocolate and sometimes brindle. The ears are floppy and medium length and the tail is also medium length and held high, curving slightly. It used to be docked and then ¼ to 1/3 of the tail was removed.

Temperament:

The Patterdale Terrier is small but he is bold and confident and very energetic. He will certainly need to be in a household where the family members are active, busy people. Because he is strong-willed he will benefit from training and socialization which will make him obedient and able to behave well in different situations.

When you take a Miniature Poodle into your home and your heart, there are many wonderful positive aspects that come with him.

You won’t have any trouble training him as he is clever and bright. He is such a loving, loyal pet and he takes his job of guarding you seriously too.

Because they aren’t aggressive, they're easy to keep in the city or the countryside, so long as he receives plenty of love, companionship and exercise. Perhaps the only thing that may require a little bit of effort on your part is the fact that his coat will require quite a bit of upkeep to keep it looking good and healthy.

In exchange for looking after him, you’re going to benefit from having a wonderful canine friend and family pet in your life for many years.

Intelligent, courageous and feisty, the Patterdale Terrier is a dog that will get on well with everyone in the house. Those who are active and outdoor types will be the best kind of dog owners for this active, energetic dog.

The Patterdale is confident and strong willed and will do superbly well with some training and socialization. With lots of love and care, your Patterdale Terrier can make you an excellent family pet and companion.

Dog’s thrive on good nutrition and exercise, and if your Miniature Poodle gets both of these combined with plenty of love, he can live to be up to 16 years of age and even older.

They are robust little dogs, but even so, they can get sick. Ear infections, joint diseases, obesity, dental disease and bloat are common dog diseases to look out for -

Bloat:

This is a life-threatening condition where your pet’s stomach fills with gas. The swollen stomach puts pressure on the diaphragm and the dog battles to breathe. The dog could also vomit, be drooling and lethargic.

The stomach can also twist putting the dog in shock. This bloating can occur with any dog breed and efforts can be made to avoid it by feeding the dog smaller more frequent meals as opposed to one larger meal which he gobbles up.

The dog shouldn’t exercise immediately after a meal either. You also want to avoid obesity at all costs.

Mitral Valve Disease:

When the mitral valve malfunctions, blood isn’t being pumped out of the heart to the rest of the body. If the mitral valve weakens or leaks it can lead to endocarditis.

Quite a number of dogs develop some form of heart disease during their lifetime, with a high percentage being due to mitral valve insufficiency, which is more common in smaller dogs.

Your dog may have a cough, be lethargic and lose weight. The first signs of a leaking mitral valve is a heart murmur. At first MVI doesn’t have obvious clinical signs, but with time the efficiency of the heart is reduced and congestive heart failure develops. Your veterinarian will evaluate your pet and suggest treatment.

Sebaceous Adenitis:

A skin problem sounds fairly mild but it can cause havoc in your pet’s life, causing him to be constantly licking and scratching himself. The hair becomes dull and brittle, and breaking the skin from continuous scratching invites bacterial infection. These skin infections will require veterinary intervention.

The good news is that terriers have few health problems and they can live to a ripe age. Just like other dogs, they can also battle with some of the common dog ailments there are.

Allergies:

Most allergens are foods, medicines or insects and exposure to the allergen can cause an over-reaction. In a dog, the most common symptom associated with allergies is itching of the skin. It can drive your pet mad as he licks and bites his skin. The symptoms of allergies can involve the respiratory system and he will have coughing and sneezing or even a discharge from the eyes.

Glaucoma:

Your Patterdales can also develop cataracts and glaucoma – two kinds of eye diseases. Glaucoma can unfortunately lead to blindness but something can be done if you recognize the signs. There are 2 main types of canine glaucoma, characterized by pressure inside the eye which can do damage to the retina and optic nerve – primary- and secondary glaucoma. Your vet will try to determine whether your pet has primary or secondary glaucoma to determine treatment.

Grooming:

If you opt to keep your Miniature Poodle’s coat long, it will actually require regular brushing – every day in fact, if you want to avoid matting and tangling. Most people don’t like the work this involves and they have their Poodle’s hair cut short all over, then he only needs a brush once or twice a week. Your Miniature Poodle just loves the time you spend with him grooming him. It’s your time to feel for any unusual lumps and to also check for fleas and ticks. Some people take their pet to the doggy parlor to have the coat clipped.

The dog’s nails should also be trimmed regularly, and their ears also need to be checked for wax buildup and debris which can lead to an ear infection.

Teeth need to be checked over too because dental disease won’t only lead to loss of teeth but it could be toxic for important body organs too.

Wipe around your pet’s eyes as tear stains can form under the eyes.

Make sure to feed your pet a top quality diet full of vitamins and minerals. Get to know the foods which can be toxic for your pet and cause stomach upsets. Dogs appreciate simplicity and consistency with their diets, and apart from dry kibble, home-made food such as boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables can be excellent for your pet.

Exercise:

Your Patterdale Terrier has a lot of energy, so as a responsible dog owner, you will need to see that he is exercised properly. This will include a walk every day as well as spending time throwing balls or a frisbee for him. He is a working breed and has been used to being mentally and physically stimulated.

Grooming:

The Patterdale Terrier isn’t a high maintenance dog and his coat will simply require a brush twice a week. Your pet can’t tell you about any pain he is experiencing so you will need to watch his body language.

Dogs can easily pick up an ear infection and this can be very painful. When you brush your pet, check inside his ears for signs of redness and discharge and check inside his mouth to see if you can spot any rotten teeth. Bad teeth can wreak havoc on his health. Keep the nails trimmed.

Diet:

If you intend feeding your pet commercially manufactured food, good and well because it is a convenient way to feed your pet, but make sure its a quality food. This will ensure your dog is getting in the right amount of vitamins and minerals.

To vary his diet just a bit, provide him with some home-made food such as boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, and some wholesome vegetables such as carrots, spinach and sweet potato. Dogs love the simplicity and nutritional value of food like this, and they don't have to worry about getting a stomach ache from strange foods. Try and include some raw meat into the kibble from time to time as well.

Never leave your Paatterdale Terrier without a constant supply of fresh cool water.