28/07/2024
Why some fanciers are such purest when it comes to digging the dogs. When a working breed of dog, such as the Patterdale Terrier, ceases to perform the job it was originally bred for, it marks the beginning of the end for several reasons:
Loss of Functional Traits
1. **Genetic Drift:** Without the selective pressures of their original work, the traits that made Patterdales exceptional working dogs, such as courage, intelligence, grit, and physical stamina, can diminish over generations. As breeding focuses more on appearance other work or pet qualities, the original essential working characteristics more than likely will be lost.
2. **Behavioral Changes:** Working dogs are bred for specific temperaments and behaviors. Without the need to perform their traditional roles, breeders may no longer prioritize these traits. This can lead to a decline in the breed's hallmark behaviors, like tenacity and problem-solving abilities.
Erosion of Skill Sets
1. **Training and Instinct:** Patterdales are known for their instinctive hunting and tracking skills. When these skills are not honed or required, they can diminish over time. Dogs bred without the need to hunt or work may lose these innate abilities, leading to a less capable breed overall.
2. **Generational Knowledge:** Experienced handlers and breeders pass down knowledge of training and working with these dogs. If the working need diminishes, this knowledge may not be transmitted to future generations, further eroding the breed's capabilities.
Changes in Breeding Focus
1. **Shift to Companion Animals:** As Patterdales become more popular as pets rather than working dogs, breeding priorities shift. Physical traits like appearance may take precedence over working ability, leading to a breed that looks similar but lacks the original functional qualities. You can already see this in some lines of patterdales in America
2. **Health Complications:** Breeding for non-working traits can inadvertently introduce or emphasize health issues. The rigorous physical demands of working dogs often serve as a natural selection process for health and robustness, which may be lost when those pressures are removed.
Loss of Breed Purpose and Identity

1. **Cultural and Historical Significance:** The Patterdale Terrier was developed for specific working roles, and this history is a crucial part of its identity. When these roles are no longer performed, the breed's historical and cultural significance may wane, leading to a diminished appreciation and understanding of its original purpose.
2. **Breed Dilution:** As the breed shifts away from its working roots, it becomes diluted. Crossbreeding to emphasize pet-friendly traits can further erode the distinct characteristics that define the Patterdale Terrier as a working breed.
The decline of working breeds once their original roles became obsolete has been observed throughout history. Here are a few notable examples:
1. **Old English Bulldog**
- **Original Role:** Bred for bull-baiting, a cruel blood sport that involved dogs fighting bulls.
- **Decline:** Bull-baiting was banned in England in 1835. Without the need for their original function, the breed's aggressive and tenacious traits were no longer necessary.
- **Outcome:** The original Old English Bulldog nearly went extinct. It was later recreated through selective breeding to produce modern breeds like the English Bulldog, which are primarily companion animals with very different physical and behavioral traits from their ancestors.
2. **Scottish Deerhound**
- **Original Role:** Bred to hunt red deer in the Scottish Highlands.
- **Decline:** Changes in hunting practices and land use, along with the decline of large game hunting, reduced the need for the Deerhound's skills.
- **Outcome:** While still maintained by enthusiasts, the Scottish Deerhound's numbers declined significantly, and it shifted towards being a show and companion dog, with less emphasis on its original hunting prowess.
3. **Dalmatian**
- **Original Role:** Bred as a coach dog, running alongside carriages to protect them and guard against highwaymen.
- **Decline:** With the advent of motor vehicles, the need for coach dogs disappeared.
- **Outcome:** Dalmatians transitioned into companion animals and firehouse mascots. Their original working traits became less pronounced, and the breed is now often associated with its distinctive appearance rather than its historical function.
4. **Irish Wolfhound**
- **Original Role:** Bred to hunt wolves and other large game in Ireland.
- **Decline:** The extinction of wolves in Ireland and the decline of large game hunting led to a reduced need for this breed.
- **Outcome:** The breed almost went extinct in the 19th century. Efforts to revive it have focused more on preserving the breed's appearance and gentle nature rather than its hunting abilities, resulting in a different type of dog from its original form.
5. **Otterhound**
- **Original Role:** Bred for hunting otters in rivers and streams.
- **Decline:** The decline in otter populations and the banning of otter hunting in the UK in the 1970s made the breed's original purpose obsolete.
- **Outcome:** The Otterhound's numbers dwindled, and it is now considered a rare breed. It is kept primarily for show and companionship, with much of its working instinct lost.
6. **Clumber Spaniel**
- **Original Role:** Bred for hunting in dense cover and retrieving game.
- **Decline:** Changes in hunting practices and the preference for more versatile gun dogs reduced the demand for Clumber Spaniels.
- **Outcome:** The breed became more of a show and companion dog. Selective breeding for appearance over working ability has led to changes in the breed's physical structure and a decline in its hunting skills.
These examples illustrate how the loss of a breed's original function can lead to significant changes in its characteristics, behavior, and even its continued existence. Once the selective pressures for working traits are removed, breeds often shift towards traits favored by show standards or pet owners, which can result in the dilution or loss of the qualities that originally defined them.
Conclusion
The cessation of a breed's traditional work has historically lead to the gradual loss of its defining traits and abilities. For the Patterdale Terrier, this means a reduction in the qualities that make it an exceptional digging dog. Maintaining these breeds in their working roles ensures the preservation of their unique characteristics, genetic diversity, and historical significance.
