Bedlington terrier

July 22, 2022 January 5, 2023

The Bedlington terrier is a wolf in sheep’s clothing: a strange amalgamation of looks, traits, behaviours and preferences. He’s pure terrier… except when it comes to his love of swimming… and snow… and possessing an endurance not known to other terriers… and his sweet ‘lamb-ish’ looks behind which lives a ferocious rat killer.

Nevertheless, this interesting little dog is lovable, alert, a winning athlete, a couch potato and has a deep desire to always be the centre of attention. He makes an excellent house dog, but he needs to be kept busy. He loves children, but can also be very selective about who he chooses as his favourite. He’s pure contradiction… and people absolutely love him!

History

The Bedlington terrier got his start as many terriers did: developed as pest control for the English working class in the 1800s. His origins are a little unclear, but the theory goes that he originally came from the travelling Romani people who used him as a poaching dog, since he was small enough to hunt on English estates without getting caught. Stealthy and quick, the little terrier was then developed in the town of Bedlington in Northumberland, where he built up his reputation for being an expert vermin exterminator, especially for miners. He was first known as the Rothbury terrier, after the Lord of Rothbury became quite enamoured by this woolly-looking little dog, but was eventually named after his town of origin instead.

Best friend to the working man, the Bedlington terrier needed a versatile set of skills to earn his keep. He was known for his keen ratting abilities, but he would also be used for rabbit coursing as well as dispatching a wide range of animals that were considered vermin – including badgers and foxes. Many owners also raced their dogs, and there is speculation that during the development of the breed, whippet was added to the mix to make him quicker! Unfortunately, the Bedlington’s speed and grit also made him the ‘perfect’ candidate for blood sports, and owners would often pit their dogs against each other in cruel dog fights. Today’s Bedlingtons are therefore not so keen on other dogs of the same sex, and while they won’t start a fight, they will make sure they finish it.

The Bedlington terrier eventually made his way out of the coalmine and into the English manor, where some refinement turned him into a noble companion animal. In the middle of the 19th century, the Bedlington would make his appearance in the conformation show ring and in 1877 the Bedlington Terrier Club (UK) was established. In 1886 the first Bedlington was registered to the American Kennel Club (AKC) and even though he’s a very old breed compared to other AKC favourites, his popularity has not increased by much over the years. In his hometown, however, the Bedlington terrier is still all the rage – more than 200 years later!

Temperament

Like most terriers, the Bedlington is high-spirited, athletic and very loyal. He is confident – a go-getter with a tenacious edge, yet when he’s relaxed, he’s very mild and affectionate. Courageous and peppy, he should never be nervy or shy. He absolutely loves his humans (and may even pick a favourite one), so he’ll be an alert watchdog when he needs to be – making it his duty to protect his people from potential harm. In typical terrier fashion, the Bedlington loves being the centre of attention and will do what he needs to get there!

Health

The Bedlington terrier is mostly healthy, but there are a few conditions that the breed is susceptible to. These include:

Orthopaedic issues: Patellar luxation; tested for hip and elbow dysplasia
Eye issues: Retinal dysplasia; distichiasis
Renal cortical hypoplasia: The kidneys don’t develop normally, which eventually leads to kidney failure

Copper toxicosis: This genetic disease occurs when the liver doesn’t properly process and expel dietary copper from the body. It leads to toxicity and death. There is a genetic test to detect carriers of the affected DNA, which means the carriers can be identified and excluded from breeding.

Exercise Requirements

The Bedlington terrier has lots of energy and needs moderate to high amounts of daily exercise to avoid becoming frustrated. A game of fetch and a long walk or a jaunty run will help to keep him well exercised as well as mentally stimulated. As an intelligent dog, he needs a bit of thinking work, so he’ll also do well in agility trials and especially earthdog competition. When out and about, keep him leashed. He was trained to chase and kill small animals, so it’s likely his instincts will take over if a rat, cat or squirrel were to make a sudden move in front of him!

The Bedlington will do well with early and consistent socialisation, especially with dogs he’ll see regularly and be expected to get along with. He needs positive reinforcement training to bring out his best behaviour – he doesn’t tolerate punishment or aversive training, which is more likely to reinforce his stubbornness.

Grooming Requirements

The Bedlington’s coat is a mixture of soft and coarse hair. It grows fast, but doesn’t shed, which makes this a good breed for people with dander allergies. The ‘downside’ to this particular coat is that it needs to be clipped often – at least every six to eight weeks – and brushed and combed around three times a week to keep it looking good. Any lapse in grooming will quickly result in a poorly-looking coat.

The Bedlington terrier’s ears must be checked once a week for any signs of infection; his teeth brushed daily to keep his dental health in good nick, and his nails clipped regularly.