Introduction

The Bedlington Terrier, also known as the Rodberry or Rothbury Terrier, the Northumberland Fox Terrier, the North Counties Terrier, the Gypsy Dog or simply the Bedlington, comes from a small mining village in the county of Northumberland, England. This lamb-like dog, with its pear-shaped head and arched back, looks like nothing else in the canine world. While the Bedlington’s body type and coat do not resemble that of the typical terrier, their personalities do. Bedlingtons have boundless energy and are intelligent, tenacious, friendly and bold. They are terrific family dogs and form strong bonds with their human companions. Despite its wooly cuteness, this is a tough breed with a strong work ethic – a terrier through and through. The Bedlington Terrier was accepted by the American Kennel Club in 1886 and is a member of the Terrier Group.

The average male Bedlington stands 16½ inches at the withers, and the preferred height for females is 15½ inches at the withers. Dogs under 16 or over 17½ inches, and bitches under 15 or over 16½ inches, are seriously faulted under the American breed standard. Their weight is to be proportionate to their height, typically within the range of 17 to 23 pounds. Unlike most terriers, this breed has a distinctive mixture of hard and soft hair that is curly and crisp to the touch but not wiry. Although Bedlingtons do not shed much, they still require frequent brushing and trimming, and it is best to bathe them on a regular basis because their unique coat tends to attract dust and dirt. Bedlington Terriers come in two colors - liver and blue – with one not given preference over the other. Early in the breed’s history, the better specimens were liver. Today, the blue color predominates.

Bedlington Terrier - History and Health

While no one knows for sure, it is thought that the Bedlington Terrier’s ancestors may have included the Rothbury Terrier, Whippet, Kerry Blue Terrier, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Otterhound and/or the Dandie Dinmont Terrier. They were named after the mining shire of Bedlington, which is in the Hannys hills of northern England. Bedlington Terriers were especially popular with miners, who used them to exterminate rats from local mines. Owners of these feisty terriers also enjoyed

Bedlington Terrier - Temperament & Personality

At first glance, a Bedlington Terrier can be easily confused with a lamb. However, once you get to know a Bedlington, you'll see they are 100% terrier. Sassy, strong willed, and always alert, Bedlingtons are everything you'd expect from a terrier breed. They love people, but will be quick to let everyone in a three-block radius know when a stranger gives off a bad vibe. Great family dogs, the Bedlington Terrier loves to run and

Bedlington Terrier - Appearance & Grooming

Bedlington Terriers look like lambs. They have pear-shaped heads and curly, fluffy coats. Though they may look like gentle, quiet lambs, Bedlingtons are active, bouncy terriers through and through. They are built more like a Greyhound than a terrier, with an arched back and long running stride. This breed is either solid or bicolored, coming in shades of white, blue, liver, sandy, blue, tan, or combinations of any two colors. At birth, all Bedlingtons are

Bedlington Terrier - Pictures

The saying goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words”. Check out the many different Bedlington Terrier Pictures and Bedlington Terrier images. Get an in depth look at the Bedlington Terrier and see the many things that this breed has to offer.