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Bedlington Terrier – Small Dog Breed Info

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The Bedlington Terrier, True Terrier in a Lamb's SuitThe Bedlington Terrier, True Terrier in a Lamb’s Suit

By Janice Jones     |Last Updated 05-18-2020

If you think the Bedlington Terrier looks like a lamb or
even a poodle, you are not alone. 

The fluffy
wooly coat, long legs, button eyes, and thin head make them seem lamb-like, but
they are very terrier through and through. 

Being bred originally in Northumberland Rothbury Forest (in
Northern England), to catch rabbits and pursue foxes and badgers, these dogs
are highly active and athletic.

They inherited their great speed, agility and
keen eyesight from the whippets from which they were descended. 

Today they are not used much for
hunting, so these little dogs have moved into our homes as many former hunting
dogs have to enjoy a companion status with their humans. 

Even though they make excellent family pets,
they are still very rare in the United States and even in their native England. 

They are extremely active, so a good hour of
exercise daily is needed to keep them happy. 

Their coat, often referred to as “linty,” needs regular attention.  Since they do not shed, they require frequent
grooming to keep their hair manageable.

But, their sweet, happy temperament
will win you over.  They are somewhat
calmer than some terriers such as the Jack Russell, but even though they don’t
appear like your typical terrier, don’t be fooled by looks. 

They generally do well with other household
pets, but their strong prey drive makes it difficult to raise them around other
smaller pocket pets such as hamsters, gerbils or mice.

If socialized and
trained early to curtail their somewhat stubborn nature, they make excellent
pets, good with families, children, singles and couples. 

As long as they get adequate exercise, they
will do well in urban, suburban and rural settings.

They do not shed, so they would be a
good choice for someone with allergies.

bedlington terrier-cream colorIs it a Lamb? Is it a Poodle? NO, it’s a Bedlington Terrier

Quick Facts

Affiliation:   AKC,
UKC, CKC, KC:  Terrier Group

Height:  Depends on
Gender

     Males:  16.5 inches
(42cm) ideal

     Females:  15.5 inches
(39 cm) ideal

Weight:  17-23 pounds
(7.7 –10.4 kg)

Coat Type:  Very
distinctive, “crisp” but not wiry, curly, with a mixture of hard and soft hairs

Colors:  Blue, Liver or Sandy, with or without Tan; All puppies are
born black or brown and lighten up gradually as they grow

Country of Origin: 
England

Activity Level: 
Active

Life Expectancy:  14
to 16 years

Good with Children: Yes

Good with other pets: 
Generally, but not very small pets

History

Did You Know…

The name Terrier comes from the Latin Terra, meaning
earth.  Dogs in the Terrier Group were
originally bred to be used for hunting vermin.

The Bedlington terrier can trace its origins
back to the 1800s in northern England.  Their
true origins still seem a mystery. 

It
has been suggested that they were first used by gypsies and poachers to catch
game on the land of the gentry. 

Other
accounts maintain that many people of different backgrounds owned them and
not just gypsies.   

Lord Rothbury from
the town of Bedlington, in Northumberland, England showed great interest in the
breed and at first, they were one of many different terriers called Rothbury’s
Terriers. 

There is some debate as to which breeds
were used to create these dogs. 

Some suggest
that Otterhounds were crossed with Dandie Dinmont terriers to produce the
distinctive coat.  Others believe the
rough coated Scotch terrier was involved.  

Bedlington TerrierBedlington Terrier

The Whippet and Soft Coated Wheaten
Terrier also seem like plausible additions to the mixture. 

The breed’s characteristic arched back hints
at the Whippet which also was probably added for speed and agility.  The Bedlington’s strength and endurance may
have come from the Otterhound. 

A poodle
may have been thrown in the mix for its coat and others suggest that the Bull terrier
gave them their liveliness. 

Record
keeping was scant at best, so no one knows for sure just what breeds created
the Bedlington.

Joseph Ainsley of Bedlington owned the
first dog we now call the Bedlington terrier. 
This dog was an amazing hunter, beginning at the age of eight months and
continuing long into old age. 

A breed
association was formed in 1877 in the UK.

In 1886 the first Bedlington terrier was entered into AKC’s stud book. According to the Bedlington Terrier Club, the breed was most popular in the 1960‘s. Today, they rank 137 out of 177 with the American Kennel Club.

Personality/Temperament

Traits Rating
Playfulness
Affection Level
Friendliness Towards Strangers
Good with Children
Good with Other Dogs
Good for First Time Owners
Exercise Needed
Ease of Training
Watch Dog Ability
Grooming Requirements
Shedding
Cold Tolerant
Heat Tolerant

Dog Breed Ratings Got You a Little Confused?
Here’s a little help in understanding them

  • Playfulness:   Most Playful = 5    Least Playful = 1
  • Affection:  Most Affectionate = 5   Least Affectionate = 1
  • Friendliness Towards Strangers: Most Friendly = 5  Least = 1
  • Good With Children:  Great= 5    Not Good with Children = 1
  • Good With Dogs:  Great = 5   Not Good Around Dogs = 1
  • Good With First Time Owners:  Fine=5  Not Appropriate = 1
  • Exercise Required:  Extensive Daily Exercise = 1  Minimal = 1
  • Ease of Training:  Very Easy = 5     Difficult = 1
  • Watch Dog:  Excellent Watch Dog = 5  Minimal = 1
  • Grooming:  Time Consuming = 5   Minimal = 1
  • Shedding:  Heavy Shedder = 5     Minimal = 1
  • Cold Tolerance:  Well Tolerated = 5   Poor Tolerance = 1
  • Heat Tolerance:  Well Tolerated = 5  Poor Tolerance = 1

These dogs are loving,
sensitive, mild-mannered and intelligent. 
People who own these dogs say they are inquisitive and affectionate, and
true extroverts. 

They love people, both
adults and children thriving on attention from their favorite humans.

They are fast and agile and may take
off unexpectedly to chase a squirrel or other interesting rodent.  If outdoors, they should remain on a leash or
within the confines of a fenced area.

Their natural hunting abilities include
keen sight, scent and retrieving.  If you
are interested in dog sports, Bedlingtons do well in agility and Rally. 

They are easy to train and
housebreak.  They do, however, have a
stubborn streak similar to other terriers and need to be socialized early with
people and other dogs.

The best owners for these dogs are confident, provide a
structured environment and use a positive approach to training.

They are not known for being barkers,
but will alert you if someone comes to your door, making them excellent watchdogs.

Grooming the Bedlington Terrier

According to the AKC Standard, their coat is:

“A very distinctive mixture of hard and soft hair standing
well out from the skin. Crisp to the touch but not wiry, having a tendency to
curl, especially on the head and face. When in show trim must not exceed 1 inch
on body; hair on legs is slightly longer.”

For them to look their best, a daily brushing and combing
will keep them mat free.  If this is not
possible, a once over several times a week is advised. 

Their hair continues to grow so they need to
be clipped approximately every six to eight weeks, either at home or at a
professional groomers. 

They have a
distinct haircut and style and if you plan to do this yourself at home you will
need a variety of tools including a clipper, clipper blades, scissors,
greyhound combs, pin brushes and other items such as nail clippers, tweezers or
hemostats, and ear powder. 

If you have
never clipped a Bedlington, you should ask your breeder or professional groomer
to show you how to do it properly.

They will need to be bathed every three weeks and finished
with a blow dry.  Rubbing their hair with
a towel may cause mats to form, so blotting is the preferred method. 

The hair in their ears continues to grow, so
it needs to be removed periodically using a little ear powder and tweezers or
your fingers.  Trim their nails every few
weeks and brush their teeth daily if possible.

Health

The Bedlington terrier is a healthy breed living on average
of 12 to 15 years of age. 

There is
really only one main inherited disease, called Copper Toxicosis that has been
observed with some frequency.  This is a
condition where the dog cannot utilize and store copper properly, resulting in
liver disease and other problems.  

There is DNA testing that can be done on
breeding dogs to eliminate this problem, so if you are interested in a puppy,
be sure to ask to see certificates clearing their breeding dogs.

They are also prone to eye problems:

Cataracts:  A change in structure of the lens of
the eye leading to cloudiness and blindness

Distichiasis: 
Abnormally growing eyelashes

Ectropion:  An
abnormal rolling out of the eyelids.

Lacrimal duct atresia: A condition where the duct
draining tears from the eye is too small or not formed.

Progressive retinal atrophy: A disease where the
retina slowly deteriorates, producing night blindness

Other inherited diseases are present in this breed,
just as they are in all dog breeds. 
Tests can be done on some but not all the canine inherited conditions.

Pros

  • Loving family dogs
  • Great with Children
  • Low shedding—great for allergy sufferers
  • Good watch dogs
  • Easy to train

Cons

  • Rare, may be expensive
  • Need at least one hour per day of exercise
  • Extensive grooming needed
  • May be stubborn
Bedlington Terrier Complete Dog Breed ProfileBedlington Terrier Complete Dog Breed Profile

Additional Resources

Bedlington Terrier Club of America

Here are a couple suggestions for further reading.  Check them out on Amazon.  If you purchase directly through the links below, this site receives a tiny commission.  Every little bit helps to keep this site up and growing and we appreciate you!

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