GROUP 2 - TERRIERS

Brief History
In the closing years of the 18 Century, a Scottish lad from the Cowney family brought some of its dogs into England from the Scottish border town of Hawick to Morpeth, a market town serving a large rural district about 5 miles away from Bedlington. As late as 1850, few Bedlington owners lived more than 20 miles from Morpeth.  The Bedlington’s sporting instincts combined the speed of a whippet, with the tenacity of a terrier and made him a favourite with the miners as a ratcatcher. His silence while hunting made him a popular companion with the Gypsies when poaching. The Bedlington of today can be a more docile companion, considered by many to be the hound of the terrier group.

Average Life Span
When considering a dog, please realise that you are taking it on for its lifetime. The average life span is 12 to 15 years.

Temperament
Affectionate, dignified, courageous.

A well trained Beddie makes a wonderful companion or family dog. Affectionate and responsive, they are equally happy playing an energetic game with the family or curled up on the sofa. If provoked by another dog or threatened, he will fight to the death if necessary. Occasionally you will find a Bedlington with a tougher, more dominant temperament. These need a firm but positive hand. Bedlingtons generally do not start fights but they will finish them.

General Breed Description
Bedlington babies will start out life with deep colour. Black eventually becomes a shade of blue. Dark brown becomes a shade of fawn. And black and tan babies become a blue and fawn. As the puppy grows, the colour fades. The pale curls, gently curved topline and tassled ears give the ‘’lamb like’’ appearance, which gives a lie to their terrier and whippet background. The Bedlington is an unusual terrier with the “look of a lamb and the heart of a lion’’.

Coat and Care Requirements
Part of the Bedlington’s appeal as a pet is his lack of doggy odour and that he does not shed coat. This makes them ideal for allergy sufferers, asthmatics and those people who don’t like dog hair on their furniture. The coat does require grooming once a week with a soft wire slicker and a steel comb to remove tangles.  He should be clipped every 6 to 8 weeks. Ideal for an inside-outside dog, Beddies do need a daily walk.

Size
Height: 41cms (16ins).

Weight: 8 to 10 kgs.

Health
All breeds have individual health issues. When speaking to breeders it is recommended you enquire about breed health and what health testing the breeder does.

Suitability
Ideal for allergy sufferers, the Bedlingtons coat and size make him great for and families in suburbia. The Bedlington takes well to formal obedience training. A Bedlington puppy is easily house trained, as they are fastidiously clean in themselves. Raising a Bedlington is similar to raising a child, be loving, firm and consistent and you will have an amazing companion.

In Conclusion
Now you know a little more about this breed. If you have decided this is the dog for you and wish to investigate further, please contact the Breed Club or Dogs Victoria. They will be able to give you information about available puppies and also suggest dog events where you can see the breed and speak to breeders. In this way you will gain a better perspective of the breed and its needs. With any breed of dog, it is important to research and determine suitability for your lifestyle before committing to a puppy which will be a part of your family for many years to come.

Whilst many breeds are recommended for families, it is imperative that when children are with dogs they are supervised at all times. Basic obedience training is a vital part of dog ownership.

Dogs Victoria is about the responsible ownership of all dogs and in particular the preservation of pure breeds.

Link to Dogs Australia Breed Standard: https://dogsaustralia.org.au/breed/detail/38