About two weeks ago we adopted a dog from a rescue we under stand to be a Patterdale Terrier.

We were initially looking for a Jack Russell Terrier to adopt, but when we found "Kimba", who was porported to be a Patterdale Terrier, we fell in love with her. Even after reading up on the breed and understanding that she would be a big challenge, we thought we were up to it (I consider myself half terrier, LOL -- as I'm as stubborn and "full of personality").

She's a really great dog -- very loving and well behaved. I take her on morning jogs through the redwood forest accross the street, and she heels like it's bred into her. She's responding well to the basic training we're giving her to come when called, potty training (esp. with crate training), etc.

However, we can't be 100% sure that she really is a Patterdale, though all of the research I've done is positive; for example, she seems to fit the UKC's judging description to a tee (though our vet had never heard of the breed and "patted us on the head" suggesting Kimba is a lab/pit bull mix -- but she is way to small for that!). I really think she probably is a Patterdale.

There's just one thing: From what I've read, Patterdales should rather be "aloof" about other dogs. Kimba is 14 weeks old and is very excited to meet and play with other dogs. The deeper problem is that we discovered tonight when we took her to the first session of a "Puppy Manners" class, she goes from sniff sniff "how are you?" to jumping, licking and nipping pretty quicking, and very quickly gets so excited that the encounter starts to get aggressive, and she's giving NO quarter on that!

The trainer spent an extra half hour on us and didn't raise our hopes at all that she might ever be able to be off leash around other dogs. She recommended (rather like if we are going to bring her back to the class) a "gentle leader" -- which is rather a muzzel to attach a leach to in place of the harness we've been using.

What I'm wondering is: how much of this could just be exuberant Patterdale puppy behavior? Is she really as incorrible as as the trainer thinks (the trainer also assumed she was a lab/pit bull mix)? And is the trait of Patterdales that they should rather be aloof around other dogs something that comes after puppyhood?