The Bedlington Terrier was originally bred for hunting, but they are primarily seen in the show ring and as pets these days. They are a striking-looking breed, almost lamb-like. They are terriers but perhaps not as intense as some of the others, but, of course, the swagger of a terrier is strong, and they are intelligent, alert and love to chase anything that runs!
They love to be the centre of attention within a family environment and love nothing more to play around with everyone, including strangers and guests. They are good with kids but do have a few limits on how much they are prepared to take. Maybe best be avoided if you have small children. They make excellent watchdogs and will always alert you to incoming dangers and happenings going on outside.
They do need plenty of exercise but not as high as some other terriers. They will be happy with daily good walks and some endless fetch games. They love to be outside as they have an excellent sense of smell. They will likely chase after small animals, but cats brought up with them should be fine.
Don’t let that fluffy, cuddly coat deceive you; they are terriers and should be fine if brought up with other dogs. They will have a rough tumble with strange dogs and never back down from a fight. You will need to watch dogs of the same sex as they may fight, and these guys will never give up.
They are very intelligent; maybe too much to say they are easy to train. You must identify their motivation reward early on to get the best results out of them. They have their own minds and are stubborn. If you choose to try and be harsh or forceful will usually result in them digging their paws in, and it’s a battle you will probably lose.
Their fur is considered hypo-allergenic and is considered suitable for people with allergies. All dogs produce dander, so they only have less than other breeds and no guarantee to be allergy-free. They have little shedding but do require clipping once every six weeks. This could become costly unless you can learn to do it yourself.
Bedlington Terrier Dog Stats
The Bedlington Terrier was developed and named after the mining town of Bedlington in the country of Northumberland, England. The original name for the Bedlington Terrier was the Rothbury Terrier, named after the district of Rothbury located on the English border. About 1825, the breed was renamed the Bedlington Terrier after the Bedlington Mining Shire.
- Size – 38cm – 43cm
- Weight – 8kg -10kg
- They live for 12-14 years