If you have never seen one before, a trimmed Bedlington Terrier may look a little strange. With a quick glance, he may be mistaken for a lamb. Long legged, with a characteristic topknot trim, the Bedlington is an excellent house pet as well as an eager hunter.

History

The famed progenitor of Bedlington was a dog named "Old Flint", whelped in 1782 and owned by "Squire Trevelyan." Originally, the breed was known as the "Rothbury" or "Rodbery Terrier." This name derived from a famous bitch brought from Staffordshire by a company of nail makers who settled in Rothbury. The Terriers of this section were accustomed to rodent hunting underground, and worked with packs of foxhounds kept there at the time. It is suggested that the Bedlington may well have made its way to Ireland and played a part in the early development of the Kerry Blue Terrier. The first Bedlington Terrier club was formed in 1877. The Bedlington Terrier was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1948. Ch. Femars' Cable Car, winner of best-in-show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 1948, was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated in the February 1960 edition.

Appearance and Size

The Bedlington Terrier is often described as looking like a lamb on a leash, probably because it has non-shedding fur with a woolly texture. These dogs may be blue, sandy, liver, or dark brown/black and sable and can be solid colours or have tan markings. These become paler as the dog grows older, but should never be pure white, which indicates a lack of "guard hairs;" the harsh hairs in their coat that give it texture and offer the dogs protection. This breed has a wedge-shaped head with sparkling, triangular eyes. Although it looks meek when in repose, the Bedlington Terrier is every inch a terrier when aroused. Its body shape, however, is unusual for a terrier, being somewhat like a Greyhound or Whippet in construction, which enables it to gallop at great speed. However, the front legs are constructed differently from those quick hounds (and almost all other breeds of dogs) in that the front legs are closer together at the feet than at the elbows - creating a triangular shape when viewed from the front. This enables a Bedlington Terrier to turn or pivot quickly when chasing quarry at high speed. The Bedlington moves with unique, light movement and seems to "float" above the ground. It should never have a hackney gait (the high-stepping action of some ponies, Miniature Pinschers or Italian Greyhounds. They should cover ground effortlessly, but with power and grace. The adult Bedlington Terrier stands 15 to 16 inches at the shoulder and weighs about 18 to 23 pounds.

Personality

In contrast to its placid appearance, Bedlingtons historically held their own when pitted in dog fighting contests and were particularly well known to fight to the death when set upon. In addition, it was fast enough to bay a badger or a fox and was a first-rate water dog. Incredibly smart and attentive to its owner, the Bedlington is one of the most reliable terriers. They are problem solvers and loyal family companions.

Wikipedia and GNU

The content of this entry is from the Wikipedia article "Bedlington Terrier" licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.