Mary Allen
Although graceful in appearance, the Bedlington Terrier is one of the most active dogs out there. Find out everything about the behavior, character, activity, and exercise needs, training, and care of the Bedlington Terrier dog breed in the profile.
People often mistakenly speak of a fashion dog, but the Bedlington Terrier has a completely different and far-reaching past. There was talk of this dog breed as early as the 1880s. It was bred by miners in northern England to hunt foxes, badgers, and otters. Originally the Bedlington terrier was also known as the Rothbury terrier but the name was changed because of the village of Bedlington where most of the breeding took place. The breeding guidelines from the 19th century are still used today in a similar form. Nowadays the breed is hardly known and there are hardly any breeders.
General Appearance
The Bedlington Terrier is a small, muscular dog with a pear-shaped head and powerful teeth that can be used as scissors or tongs. The Bedlington Terrier’s ears are long and tipped with fringes. The tail is of medium length and should never be carried over the back, it tapers to a point. The dog’s neck, although muscular, is very fine and noble. The coat can be described as flaky and densely overgrown, the color ranges from blue to tan to sandy, but darker coat types are usually preferred. The head has a large mop of hair that is almost white. The Bedlington Terrier’s body is extremely muscular.
Behavior and temperament
Although the Bedlington terrier is a very small dog that appears very calm and reserved, appearances can be deceiving. The Bedlington Terrier is extremely active and spirited. However, you can also describe him as a loyal, reliable, and trusting dog that also feels very comfortable in the family. It is only important to ensure that the Bedlington Terrier has enough exercise to give free rein to his strength and to get rid of excess energy. However, the Bedlington Terrier is not aggressive or nervous.
Need for employment and physical activity
Playing and running is extremely important for the Bedlington Terrier, although it is a family dog, it needs the necessary opportunity to react appropriately. The Bedlington Terrier was originally used as a hunting dog, so the hunting instinct should be taken into account, for which tracking work and dummy training, for example, are well suited.
Upbringing
As previously mentioned, the Bedlington Terrier is a very active dog that is alert and spirited. With a consistent, loving upbringing and, very importantly, appropriate workloads, this does not pose a problem, so the Bedlington Terrier is also ideally suited as a family dog. A big plus is his willingness to learn, which benefits the owner during obedience training. The dog also prefers a close bond with humans.
Maintenance
The Bedlington Terrier’s coat needs to be groomed. It can be brushed one or more times a day. However, it is sufficient in everyday life to combing it thoroughly once a week. The Bedlington gets a new haircut by shaving his hair, which is particularly popular before exhibitions. It should be mentioned that the Bedlington Terrier is one of the non-shedding breeds.
Disease Susceptibility / Common Diseases
Entropion, cataract, copper storage disease.
Before being used in breeding for the first time, all Bedlingtons are tested for the hereditary copper storage disease. The disease, therefore, plays practically no active role.
Did you know?
Although graceful in appearance, the Bedlington Terrier is one of the most active dogs out there. For example, he can jump incredibly high.