Bedlington Terrier: A Dog In Sheep’s Clothing

Bedlington Terrier

The Bedlington Terrier (BT) is a small-size dog that is one of the friendliest in the Terrier Group. Bedlingtons are amiable towards strangers but still make excellent watchdogs. Their curly coat and body shape closely resemble that of a lamb.

They rank 40th in Stanley Coren’s book “The Intelligence of Dogs.” That puts them right in the middle of the pack for doggy intelligence. Great with children, Bedlintons are always looking for a good time.

The Bedlington coat comes in several colors: blue, tan, liver, and sandy. Some will have tan markings.

History Of The Bedlington Terrier

Bedlington Terrier Mom With Her Pups

The Bedlington Terrier gets its name from the town of Bedlington. Before becoming Bedlingtons, the breed’s name was Rothbury Terriers. The Piper, a dog, owned by Joseph Ainsley, was the first one called a Bedlington Terrier.

Ainsley used his dog for hunting badgers, and Piper was hunting badgers well into his senior years. The badger is a fierce little animal in its own right, and many Bedlingtons died hunting them due to their courage.

Several other terrier dog breeds are related to the Bedlington, including the Dandie Dinmont, Kelly Blue Terrier, and the Soft Coated Wheaton. Whether any of those breeds are ancestors of the Bedlington is unclear. However, the results are a unique-looking terrier that is an effective hunter of rats, foxes, badgers, and otters.

The first dog identified as a Bedlington Terrier, named Piper, was bred in 1825. It was said that Piper was so game that he was still dispatching badgers at age 14, nearly blind and toothless.

The nail makers of Bedlington took a fancy to the breed and became known for their plucky terriers. The shire’s miners and nailers wagered their salaries on epic dogfights, pitting their terriers against each other. A breed historian noted, “Bedlingtons were never mischief-makers, but once they started fighting, it was to the death.”

The Bedlington Terrier title was not given to the breed until 1825, but some dogs have pedigrees that go back as far as 1782. The breed was first known as the Rothbury or Rodbury Terrier.

In 1870, Bedlington hosted the first dog show with a division for Bedlington Terriers. Early shows frequently colored their dogs to enhance the appearance of their fur. At the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 1948, Rock Ridge Night Rocket, a Bedlington Terrier, earned best in show.

After the National Bedlington Terrier Club of England was established in 1877, the breed started to become more refined and consistent. The AKC finally registered the first Bedlington nine years later.

The people of Bedlington, England, still take great pride in their most well-known export. The Terriers, a Northern League soccer team from Bedlington, recently had park benches fashioned after their fleecy mascot placed by the community.

Caring For The Bedlington Terrier

Bedlingtons need daily exercise or vigorous playtime as they, like most terriers, are full of energy. They love to chase small animals. Although they enjoy the great outdoors, the BT is not an outside dog. They should be inside at night.

This breed needs a thorough brushing about twice weekly, with monthly clipping to keep its coat neat and shapely. It sheds very little, but its fur grows rather quickly.

Health Concerns

The average lifespan for this breed is between 11 and 16 years. Copper toxicosis is a primary health concern for the breed. It will help if you screen your dog for conditions such as hip and elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism, von Willebrand’s disease (a bleeding disorder), and eye issues.

The Bedlington Terrier Club of America is responsible for maintaining breed standards for the AKC.