Bedlington Terriers are active, alert, intelligent, yet clownish dogs. As with other dogs in the Terrier group, they are known for their hunting ability and keen sense of smell, which allows them to participate in earthdog trials. Dog sports such as retrieving, agility, racing, lure coursing, tracking, flyball, Frisbee, musical freestyle, rally and standard obedience as sport can help to provide additional physical and mental stimulation while helping the dog bond well with its family.
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Identifying Features:
Average Height: 15 - 16 in
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When miners in England needed a dog that would be a proficient vermin hunter, the Bedlington Terrier was the answer. The miners who developed the breed were pleasantly surprised when they found that the Bedlington Terrier wasn?t just good at hunting rodents, but it was also adept at hunting larger game.
The very first Bedlington Terrier is recorded as having been born in 1825. The breed descends from the Rothbury Terrier, the Whippet and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier. The first club for the breed, the National Bedlington Terrier Club, was established in 1877 in England. After the club?s establishment, the breed?s popularity grew and Bedlington Terriers can now be found across the globe in countries such as the United States, Australia, Israel and Canada.
The AKC recognized the Bedlington Terrier in 1877 and the United States then established its own Bedlington Terrier club, the Bedlington Terrier Club of America. This club became an American Kennel Club member club in 1936.
