Bedlington Terrier Breed | Bedlington Terrier Dog Breed Introduction
Bedlington Terrier is a small-sized dog breed originating from Bedlington, England, where the breed gets its name. They are known for their distinctive pear-shaped head and resemblance to a lamb. A Bedlington is closely related to an Otterhound, Whippet, and Dandie Dinmont Terrier. This breed has an arched back and speedy enough to keep up with an ordinary horse thanks to the Whippet in their lineage.
Bedlington Terriers are tenacious, intelligent, gentle, loyal, companionable, and alert dogs. However, they tend to have dominant personalities. If challenged, Bedlington Terriers are terrifying fighters. A Bedlington has minimal dog odor as well as a non-shedding coat hence compatible for people who suffer from dog allergies. Although, it requires regular grooming to remove dead hair.
Bedlington Terrier Origin | History
The Bedlington Terrier was developed in the mining town of Bedlington. They were initially known as Rothbury Terriers since Lord of Rothbury had taken a liking for the breed. Previously, they were known as gypsy dogs since the Romani people used them as poaching partners.
The first pooch identified as a Bedlington was bred in 1825 going by the name Piper. This was an active dog that still dispatched badgers at the age of 14 years when it was toothless and nearly blind. The nailers and miners gambled their wages on epic dog fights putting their terriers against each other. In 1875, the Bedlington Terrier Club was formed. AKC registered the first Bedlington in 1886.
Bedlington Terrier Life Span
The life span of Bedlington Terriers is 11 to 16 years.
Bedlington Terrier Grooming | Grooming Chart | Grooming Guide
The Bedlington has a crispy and curly coat that is a mix of harsh and soft hair that should never be wiry. The coat is non-shedding. However, it grows quickly and needs clipping and scissoring every 6 to 8 weeks. Fortunately, a Bedlington has a liking for the groomer and will cooperate under clip. In addition, this breed needs regular grooming to remove the dead hair and prevent matting by brushing and/or combing at least twice or once a week. Irregular grooming makes the coat to rapidly deteriorate.
Bedlingtons have minimal dog odor if the coat is regularly groomed to remove dead hear and the ears are kept healthy by wiping with an ear cleanser solution and cotton balls at least once a week. Show dogs require a bath once a week. However, pet dogs may have a bath every 6 to 8 weeks.
Clip the nails of a Bedlington at least twice a month using clippers or grinders to prevent cracking, overgrowth, splitting, and discomfort when walking or running. Brush the teeth of a Bedlington at least twice a week if not daily using a dog-formulated toothpaste and toothbrush to remove tartar buildup.
Bedlington Terrier Haircut | Grooming Styles
Show clip – This is a suitable haircut for dogs that participate in conformation shows. The fur is clipped to a length of one inch ( approx. 2.5 cm ), although it is left slightly longer on the legs. For this grooming style, a Bedlington has unique clipped crown, ear tassels, and a shaved tail, neck, and face.
Pet Clip – This is a haircut for dogs that are primarily kept as pets. They are also clipped every 6 to 8 weeks. However, the length of the coat depends on the preference of the parent.
Bedlington Terrier Shaved | Haircut Why | Haircut Purpose
The Bedlington Terriers have a fast growing coat that barely sheds. Therefore, they require regular brushing or combing to remove the loose hair. The coat also needs a haircut either a show clip or pet clip for easy maintenance and reducing the risk of deteriorating the coat texture.
Ungroomed Bedlington Terrier | Bedlington Terrier Unclipped | Without Haircut
An Ungroomed Bedlington Terrier has a coat that is longer than one inch. Furthermore, it will not have the typical shaved rat-like tail, face, and neck. It will also have no ear tassels and a clipped crown. Bedlington Terriers have a barely shedding coat. Therefore, if not groomed, it is likely to form mats. A groomed Bedlington has a minimal dog odor because it is regularly groomed to remove dead hair and the ears are kept clean and healthy. However, this is not the case with an ungroomed Belington Terrier.
Bedlington Terrier Shedding
The Bedlington has been described to have a non-shedding coat that virtually does not shed.
Bedlington Terrier Coat | Coat Type
The Bedlington has a crisp coat to the touch with a distinctive mix of a hard and soft hair standing well out from the skin. The coat is not wiry but has a tendency to curl especially on the face and head. If in a show trim, the coat should not exceed an inch length, though the hair is slightly longer on the legs.
Bedlington Terrier Hypoallergenic | Hypoallergenic Dogs
The Bedlington Terriers are regarded hypoallergenic dogs due to the minimal doggy odor and a non-shedding coat. However, there is no 100% crossbreed or pure breed that is entirely hypoallergenic. Therefore, owners should spend lots of time with a Bedlington before adopting to ensure the dog triggers no allergies.
Bedlington Terrier Training | How To Train A Bedlington Terrier
The Bedlingtons are intelligent and eager to please which makes them trainable canines. Although, they may be stubborn. For this reason, they need a well-established pack leadership from an early age. A pecking order will allow a Bedlington to reach its full potential while understanding it is under the leadership of a loving, trusted, and respected leader who will make best decisions for the well-being of the entire pack.
Early training is key in teaching the dog the acceptable behaviors before they get inclined toward bad habits. Keep the training sessions upbeat and interesting to avoid distraction and boredom. Bedlington parents should use positive reinforcements methods to encourage good habits by using treats, verbal praise, playtime, petting, and toys. Physical correction such as shoving, kicking, punching, or use of choke or prong collars can make training counterproductive leading to battles of wills rather than obedience.
Bedlingtons have a reputation of having dog-aggression. Therefore, socialization is key. This training exposes the dog from an early age to a wide variety of people, other dogs, surfaces, places, smell, experiences, sight, and sounds such as door bells, lawn mowers, sirens, washing machines, whistles, and vacuum cleaners.
Enrolling a Bedlington in a puppy class will also serve as a form of socialization since the pups get to interact in a controlled setting. Teach basic command words like come, sit, stay, wait, lie down, heel, etc. one at a time from the age of 8 weeks. Effectively housebreak Belingtons by creating a feeding schedule, potty training, and crate training.
Bedlington Terrier Temperament | Personality | Traits
- Eager to please.
- Intelligent.
- Stubborn.
- Alert.
- Energetic.
- Loyal.
- Lively.
- Tenacious.
- Playful.
- Excitable.
- Companionable.
Bedlington Terrier Exercise
These are energetic dogs that need regular exercise in form of playing fetch, a long walk, or running to stay happy and fit. After a Bedlington gets the needed exercise, it will happily curl up on the coach with the family. The Bedlingtons also have a high prey-drive since they were bred to chase small animals. Therefore, they should exercise in a secured yard and go for walks on a leash.
Bedlington Terrier Barking
A Bedlington is an alert watchdog that will bark at any unusual sound.
Bedlington Terrier Height
A Female Bedlington has a height of 15 to 16. 5 inches (approx. 38 to 42 cm) while a male Bedlington has a height of 16 to 17.5 inches (approx. 41 to 44 cm).
Bedlington Terrier Weight | Weight Chart
The Bedlington has a weight of 17 to 23 pounds ( approx. 7.7 to 10.4 kg ).
Bedlington Terrier Size
The Bedlington Terriers are small-sized dogs with a weight of 17 to 23 pounds ( approx. 7.7 to 10.4 kg ) and a height of 15 to 17.5 inches ( approx. 38 to 44 cm ).
Bedlington Terrier Ear Problems
A Bedlington has floppy ears that cover the ear canal. They need to be cleaned once a week to remove dirt and excess wax. Irregular ear cleaning causes ear infection. The floppy ears also cover the ear canal inhibiting air flow hence causing moisture accumulation which also leads to ear infection. Other causes of ear infection in dogs include excessive cleaning, injury to the ear canal, yeast imbalance, ear mites, and endocrine disorders such as hypothyroidism.
Bedlington Terrier Health Issues | Health Problems 10
Although Bedlingtons have a lifespan of 11 to 16 years, they are affected by certain health issues including von Willebrand’s disease, elbow and hip dysplasia, thrombopathia, heart murmur, eye problems like cataracts, retinal dysplasia, and epiphora, and kidney problems like Copper toxicosis.
Other Breeds of Dogs Include:
Bedlington Terrier Names
A Bedlington owner may decide to get a name for the pet before it joins them home from the breeder or days after pet settles home to understand better the personality of a particular dog. Name inspirations may be sourced from the origin of the breed, coat color, the unique pear-shaped head, celebrity Bedlingtons, movies, songs, food, nature, and historical figures.
The name chosen should freely roll off your tongue without making you embarrassed when uttered out loud in the public places. Bedlington Terriers and other dog breed better understand names that have vowels. If a parent chooses a long name, they should find a cute nickname for the pet.
Avoid giving a Bedlington a name that rhymes with the command words to prevent confusion. If this breed shares a name with any family member or guests who frequent your home, it may be a source of confusion. Some of the names that Bedlington owners give to their pets include:
- Tinks.
- Daisy.
- Lily.
- Sammy.
- Max.
- Munchkin.
- Middy.
- Zeus.
Bedlington Terrier Harness
The Bedlington has a high-prey drive since it was bred for chasing small animals. Therefore, it is likely to chase after a small animal. Therefore, a harness will be better since it evenly distributes the pressure across the shoulders and back as opposed to a collar that puts pressure on the neck if the dog pulls. Furthermore, a Bedlington has a pear-shaped head hence the collar may easily slip off.
Bedlington Terrier Food
The amount of food that Bedlingtons feed on depend on their size, activity level, metabolism, age, and body build. A Bedlington thrives on a raw, home-made, or commercial dry or wet food. Parents should also ensure the dog has access to clean water at all times.
Bedlingtons may be prone to getting overweight. Therefore, the parents should watch the weight level, calorie consumption, and the treats that they give to the dogs when training. owners should also be well-acquainted with human foods that are safe for the dog.
Bedlington Terrier Colors | Brown | Blue
The Bedlington may have a liver(reddish-brown), blue, sandy, sandy and tan, liver and tan, and blue and tan. For bi-colored dogs, the tan markings are present over each eye, inside the hindquarters, under the tail, chest, and on the legs.
Bedlington Terrier Allergies
Although Bedlington Terriers are allergy friendly dogs, they may suffer from various forms of allergies including:
Food allergies – Rarely, Bedlingtons suffer from a true food allergy that causes an immune response and it is accompanied with a wide range of symptoms ranging from skin issues to gastrointestinal stress.
Skin allergies – Bedlingtons are predisposed to skin allergies due to food, contact, and environmental allergies that manifest on the skin.
Contact allergies – This allergy triggers an allergic reaction once the skin comes in contact with the allergen. Some of the contact allergens that may affect Bedlingtons include lawn chemicals, plastics, bed linens, grooming products, carpet cleaning detergents, latex, and medication.
Environmental allergies – Some of the environmental allergies that affect Bedlingtons include grass, pollen, trees, ragweed, fleas, dust and dust mites, and housemolds.
Bedlington Terrier Ears
The Bedlingtons have floppy triangular shaped ears with rounded tips.
Bedlington Terrier Teeth
Adult Bedlingtons have a set of 42 large, strong, and white teeth. Although, puppies are born with no teeth. The teeth start growing in at the age of 6 weeks until the pup has a total of 28 deciduous teeth.
Bedlington Terrier Tail
A Bedlington has a low set tail that is thick at the base and tapers to a fine point.
Bedlington Terrier Head | Head Shape
A Bedlington has a unique pear-shaped head.
Bedlington Terrier Price | Cost
The average price of a Bedlington is $1500 to $2500 depending on the age of the dog, pedigree, and the location of the breeder.
Do Bedlington Terriers Shed
No. Bedlington Terriers have a non-shedding coat hence regarded hypoallergenic.
Do Bedlington Terriers Bark A Lot
They are alert dogs that make great watchdogs hence they bark at any unusual sounds.
Are Bedlington Terriers Hypoallergenic
Yes. Bedlington Terriers are hypoallergenic dogs that are considered friendly for people who suffer from dog allergies.
Are Bedlington Terriers Good Family Dogs
Yes. They are alert, loyal, intelligent, tenacious, energetic, and companionable dogs.
Bedlington Terrier Quick Facts
- They have a unique pear-shaped head.
- Bedlingtons have a low-shedding coat hence suitable for people who suffer from dog allergies.
- A Bedlington that participates in a conformation show should wear a show clip. Therefore, the fur should not be of more than an inch length except for the legs.