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The Patterbea is a sweet natured small to medium-sized dog, crossed between a Patterdale Terrier and Beagle. They can be quite stubborn so they require an experienced owner and lots of mental stimulation. Both parent breeds are hunters, so Patterbeas love to chase. This also means they are easily distracted and are likely to wander off following an interesting smell or small animal. You may find this Patterdale cross breed article useful.
The Patterdale Terrier
The Patterdale originated in the Lake District in the 1960s. They were bred to be farm dogs, guarding livestock and keeping rodents away. They are a small dog with short stocky legs. They have either a smooth or rough coat which can be short or medium in length. The most common coat colour is black, however, grey, liver and fawn are also possible. Some puppies also have white markings on their chest and muzzle. Less common are black and tan or liver and tan.
The Patterdale terrier is an affectionate dog who craves human attention. They will happily spend hours curled up on the sofa with you. If socialised early, they are great with children and can also live peacefully with other dogs. Due to their energetic nature they need an active household and walks of at least an hour per day. They also need a lot of training. The training should be consistent and challenging to prevent boredom.
Beagles
As a hound breed, Beagles are often stubborn and wilful. They make up their own mind about whether a behaviour is acceptable, so they are not a good dog for inexperienced owners. They are scent driven and love nothing more than following an interesting smell. They are capable of following a scent trial for miles! This means recall training is very important.
Beagles are famous for being vocal. They love to bark at things, sometimes it seems as thought they are barking just for the fun of it. This can be irritating for your neighbours, but training can help to reduce the frequency of barking. They do not tolerant being left alone, so be mindful that they may display anxiety related behaviours such as whining, barking, chewing and nervous urination.
An adult beagle will reach a height of 13-15 inches. Their weight is much broader, ranging between 18 and 30 pounds. Some beagles have shorter stocky bodies, whereas others can be taller and slender. Grooming is important as they are fair shedders. They require weekly brushing at home to remove loose hairs and keep their skin healthy. They will also need their nails trimming once a month.
Patterbea Appearance
Female Patterbeas reach a height of 13-14 inches, whereas males tend to be slightly taller, growing up to 15 inches. The ideal Patterbea weight is between 19 and 23 pounds. They are greedy dogs, so weight control is vital.
They have a large rounded head, with large dark eyes and strong muzzle. Their ears can be medium-long in length. Most Patterbeas have a short dense coat, but it is common to see longer hair on the legs, chest and around the face. They are generally solid coloured either black, chocolate, liver or tan. Thanks to the Beagle genes, tri-coloured coats are also possible, showing the typical beagles patterns of black body and tail, tan legs and white belly. Variations of these colours and markings are also possible, such as a mostly white body, with black and tan patches.
Patterbeas are very food motivated and will take any opportunity to steal table scraps or unattended meals. They are also prone to weight gain, so their diet should be low in sugars and made from high quality ingredients. Keeping the weight off is also important as they are more likely to develop joint problems such as hip dysplasia.
Patterbea Temperament
Training can be a challenge with Patterbeas due to their stubbornness and high prey drive. They are an alert dog due to their hunting parents and will focus on movements or new scents, so recall is particularly important.
Patterbeas are exceptionally loyal and tend to show protective behaviours around children. If they are introduced to children well, they will enjoy interacting and playing with them. Patterbeas need a lot of exercise, at least an hour per day. They love to wander and explore, so their outdoor time should be supervised. Off lead walking should be done in places where they can be contained. Enclosed fields or dog parks are the best options.
They don’t have a fear of strangers and are also friendly with other dogs. Socialisation is still important to prevent unwanted behaviours.
Tips For New Owners
Start obedience training as early as possible. Patterbeas have a wilful nature and therefore need a lot of consistent and engaging training to build a well-mannered dog. Recall is especially important. Patterbeas are easily distracted by new scents and prey animals such as birds, cats or even other dogs. Getting their attention once they are off chasing is almost impossible.
Locate your nearest dog park or enclosed field for some distraction-based training. It will help strengthen his focus on you, without the risk of him running off and getting into trouble.
The food you choose is crucial to their overall health. Patterbeas gain weight easily, so you need to choose a high-quality diet with no added sugars. Look for brands that have added omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 has natural anti-inflammatory properties which will help prevent joint issues. Treats should also be low in sugar. The best option is boiled chicken or turkey.
Do not give in when your Patterbea begs for food! They will eat anything they get reach, so be sure to keep kitchen surfaces and tables clear of food. Anything left out encourages your Patterbea to jump up, which is not good for his joints and is also quite unhygienic.
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