The Bedlington Terrier originated in England and was bred to hunt down small animals such as badgers, rodents, foxes, and rabbits. They used to go by the name “Rothbury Terrier” but began to be bred with the Bedlington creating the Bedlington Terrier. These dogs may look sweet but they are actually ferocious hunters with an extremely high prey drive.

This breeds appearance has constantly been compared to that of a lamb because they have very fine wooly fur and a long face. Their body is lean but is quite muscular which helps them take down their prey. The Bedlington has large ears that flop forward and powerful jaws. Their tail is long and depending on their hair cut may be shaved. Even at a young age, the Bedlington Terrier seems to have a hunched over spine but this is just the body posture of the breed.

These dogs are active, energetic and devoted making them a great pet to own. They are extremely loyal to their families and interact well with children. This breed will need to be socialized around other dogs and small animals (cats) as puppies to ensure they do not become aggressive towards these as adults. Full grown Bedlington Terriers for the most part will get along with other dogs but have a very short tolerance level for them.

The Bedlington Terrier will come in a sand, liver, blue or any of these with tan patches on their back, legs and chest. Most commonly seen is the blue colouring but any of the three are accepted during showings.

This breed has a thick wooly double layered coat that keeps them very warm while hunting during the winter seasons. Their top coat is a bit more dense and wiry to the touch while their undercoat is smooth and cottony keeping their body temperature at a static level. This breed will need to have their coat trimmed every two months to keep it well maintained and they should have their ear hair shaved to keep the unique Bedlington appearance.

The Bedlington Terrier is an active, charming breed that will share a strong bond with their masters. They love to be the center of attention and be around their family as much as possible. Although they have an outgoingly loving attitude with people, the Bedlington is a vicious fighter that will not hesitate to kill at any moments notice. They have a high prey drive for small animals and rodents so if these were to catch their eye, the animal would have no chance. Before these dogs became the companions they are today, they were known as pit fighting dogs that would fight their opponents and owners would place bets on which would win!

If these dogs are raised with cats and have the chance to be around many other dogs when they’re puppies, they will grow up to be well adjusted adults that will be comfortable in any type of social situation. The Bedlington Terrier is a clever dog that will excel at hunting, tracking and lure racing trials. They are fast dogs that will need plenty of exercise in order to keep them tired out.

This breed will need a fair bit of grooming maintenance to keep them looking great. They will need to be brushed 2-3 times per week and bathed once every month or two. These dogs have a very unique haircut that will need to be trimmed every 2 months so it does not overgrow. The Bedlington Terrier is prone to Kidney disease and a few eye ailments such as cataracts, Progressive Retinal Atrophy and retinal disease. They might also be susceptible to Liver disease which is most common in this breed.

The Bedlington Terrier will need a firm hand when training but in a very gentle manner. They want to please their owners so should not be disciplined harshly. When training this breed, the lessons should be kept short and fun so they enjoy being taught this information. Repetition with short training sessions will be the key to teaching this dog basic obedience or any training skill as they need time and practice to grasp the concept.

This breed will need to be taken to an off-leash park so they can run around freely or be taken on a walk regularly to tire them out. They play during the day so will not need a large amount of exercise when their owner comes home. This breed will do well in an apartment as long as they are taken out daily and will not need a yard but having access to one would be a bonus so they could have access to an outdoor environment at home.