Bedlington Terrier hunting dogs
When people first view the Bedlington Terrier it reminds them of a lamb with soft fleece. Be aware though that the typical shape that people love about its head, is actually the way that the hair is groomed. They actually have a quite narrow deep head, not rounded and fluffy!
Origins trace back to Northumberland, England where they were originally known as the Rothbury Terrier because of the Rothbury area near the English border. Their names was changed in 1825 because of their popularity in the Bedlington Mining Shire.
The contributory breeds are most likely the Otter-hound and Dandie Dinmont Terrier but more recently the Beddlington has been crossed with greyhounds and whippets to create ‘Lurchers’.
What the bedlington hunting dog hunts
It was a prolific hunter of foxes, hares, badges and all manner of vermin in the mining town. But also used as a fighting dog in the mining pits, and as a retriever in marshlands.
Disposition wise people know this dog to be a great companion dog that is playful, happy and affectionate. It is loyal with its owners and can be good with children, but a little off Standish with strangers. If not socialised this independence can turn to stubbornness. If you want to have other household pets, you need to introduce the bedlington as puppy to them.
A careful note on socialisation is that they don’t respond well to domination, even in play by a social dog. It is likely that this brave, energetic cute dog will turn into a vicious fighting machine with no off button.
Bedlingtons are very fast and agile and love to bark suggesting that without exercise and discipline, that separation anxiety can cause you and your neighbors a lot of problems. Similar to whippets and greyhounds, this dog should only be socialized off lead in a well fenced in area, as its chase characteristic can lead to it running a long distance away from you.
Bedlington terrier size: 41-43cm weight 8-10kg
Bedlington terrier grooming: (very important for owners)
A thick DOUBLE coat makes for extra grooming requirements. Though unlike many other double coats, the bedlington outer coat is a mix of soft and hard hair. Their colours come in blue, liver, sandy, or a mix of any of those two colors.
The best thing about its coat, besides the softness is that it is very LOW shedding. Though it will need a professional clipping every six weeks to keep it looking good. You can learn this yourself, but it will require you to learn how to thin the coat, and clip it to the desired shape around its head. They also require regular brushing and a tidy up around the ears (plucking and cleaning).
You can wash as often as required unlike many other double coated dogs, as it will not excessively affect their skin, however the look of the coat may diminish as you strip oils from it.