thatmusicman

We've only ever used russells and borders so couldn't comment on anything else, but they're both good for bushing. The russells aren't so keen on the real thick cover, I would presume because their coats and skin aren't so thick. The borders have got elephant skin and are double coated and will crash through any brambles, stingers, whatever really. The longer legged russells tend to hang around the edge of the cover following the other dogs yips when in a big pack, much to the annoyance of their owners, but this tends to be a good thing as they're the faster dogs more likely to catch the pr

Can't see a spaniel getting through the cover my borders crash through to be honest. Plus I'd never have anything but terriers, I love the aggression in them

Cheers for the replies, I won't be writing off the idea of getting a patterdale one day then, I just always presumed they were mad for getting to ground and that's all they were used for.

I know what you're saying, my dog would be a dream for a digging man, I just prefer seeing them flush quarry from the hedges and love watching them chase it down!

I ask this because I use terriers solely for bushing/working hedges and would love a patterdale that won't go to ground. I've got a 10 year old dog who is great at bushing, but loves going to ground too- for me, it's a real pain in the ass because I'm never equipped for a dig. If we're walking somewhere new that we don't know, guaranteed he'll find an earth and stay there baying for a couple of days. His mum was russell/patterdale, and the dad was border/russell. I've got two border bitches, mother (7) and daughter (2) who are great for bushing, and stay out of trouble. They'll go