The first dog I have chosen to do a profile on is not very well know, I think they need more publicity, these guys are adorable and so adaptable. Ok yes, they are a little strange looking, but look past the lamb-like appearance and you will have a loyal friend, if I could, I would have a house filled with them.
The Bedlington Terrier, their name comes from the town of Bedlington in North East England, where they were used for ratting in mines, with the body of a whippet, face of a dashound and the coat of a poodle it is easy to see why they say these dogs have the look of the lamb with a heart of the lion. These dogs are very unique in their appearance and personality and there are few registered breeders in Australia and NZ.
Bedlingtons come in either Blue, Sandy or Liver and can have tan points. Blues are born jet Black, and Sandy or Livers are born with a Chocolate Brown coat, but all lose their coat colour which dims to a silvery or mauve when they reach maturity.
Don’t let the ‘Terrier’ title fool you. The Bedlington is known for its good nature and mild manners and are less boisterous than other Terriers. They are the most reliable of the terriers being incredibly smart, attentive and a loyal family member. Of all the Bedlingtons I have seen, they love nothing more than to lie on or with you, in whatever position, and watch television or cuddle – They love to just hang out with you and will quickly become your shadow. As I said earlier they are extremely adaptable and versatile, they are perfect with children and other animals, mine lived with my two cats and many birds and chickens although keep in mind they were bred to hunt game and are extremely agile (I suppose I was just lucky with mine). They are very entertaining dogs, an extrovert with a bit of a clownish personality and are very excitable, yet gentle.
The Bedlington Terrier has a hypo-allergenic coat which doesn’t shed! Although the grooming requirements can become quite tedious, but if you aren’t planning on showing your dog there’s nothing wrong with straying from the typical Bedlington clip for something that requires a little less upkeep, they will however still need regular grooming. They are a smaller dog, perfect to have in the house and are very clean and particular – I once owned one that refused to walk on wet grass! Beware if attempting to keep them confined, while they are a taller dog they are quite slender and somehow manage to squeeze themselves out of almost anywhere, if left alone they can get quite destructive and are notorious diggers although I had no problems with this… Just those odd things that I left lying around that turning up chewed while I wasn’t home!
Bedlingtons love being the centre of attention so yes, they will cause a bit of mischief when left alone but getting them a companion would most likely fix this problem.
These dogs are highly energetic and will need exercise daily, best in the form of a bit of rough housing in the back yard, they are incredibly agile and their bodies were built to be able to make quick turns and chase down the fastest of hares so unless your dog is exceptionally well trained (like mine ;)) I would recommend keeping them on a leash when out. They are suitable for large yards or apartment settings, as long as they are kept physically and mentally stimulated.
The Bedlingtons are very good watchdogs, though quiet the majority of the time if he is unsure about something he will let you know, their bark sounds worse than they look! They are relatively easy to train.
The lifespan of the Bedlington is approximately 13 years although there have been records to show that some have lived for 18+ years. The only major health issue to be aware of is Coppor Toxicosis, which is a Copper Storage Disease that affects the liver, however this disease has been largely eradicated among breeders and most breeders will test their dogs before they are sold on.
To get a Bedlington within Australia or NZ they are usually between $1000 - $1500 from reputable breeders but worth every cent.
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