Any study of terriers is likely to include an encounter with the term, “fell terrier.” Some sources insist that a Fell Terrier is an actual breed, while others maintain that it’s less a breed of terrier, and more a type of working terrier. Perhaps the answer is somewhere in the middle.

A “fell terrier” refers to a long legged working terrier, the term coming from the Fells in the Lake District of Northern England. Many “fells” were sold as “Lakeland Terriers” but these particular dogs may have been different from pedigreed Lakeland Terriers both in color and traits.  In Germany, the Jagdterrier is said to have been developed out of Fell terrier stock in the 1920s, while some argue that the Patterdale is simply a smooth coated black Fell Terrier. What say you?

Patterdale Fell Terrier by Malcolm Coward is available for purchase here.