Named after the once mining town of Bedlington County, Bedlington Terriers aren’t very well known but they’re kind of easy to identify, thanks to their appearance which can be described as lamb-like. But don’t fall for their looks because you won’t find these dogs meek at all. They might rather be true wolves in sheep’s clothing. But again, just because they have wolves like characteristics, doesn’t mean they cannot be good pets. With proper and consistent training, Bedlington Terriers can make wonderful family dogs.
Bedlington Terriers will impress you in more than just one way. Want to know more about the breed? Here are the top 10 interesting Bedlington Terrier facts.
1. Bedlington Terriers Are Small Dogs:
Like most other terriers, Bedlington Terriers are small dogs. They can sometimes grow up to 18 inches tall. But the standard height for males is 16 to 17 ½ inches whereas the females can be around 15 to 16 ½ inches tall. This means they’re around as tall as Beagles but they do fall on the lighter side, weighing 17 to 23 pounds.
Because they are such small dogs, you’ll be easily able to keep a Bedlington Terrier in your house and bring them along on travels. The costs for care and nutrition for this breed are also on the lesser side as compared to the big dogs. But there is no certainty that small dogs are easier to care for than bigger ones since a Bedlington Terrier can be a handful sometimes.
2. Bedlington Terriers Are Powerful Hunters:
Initially, Bedlington Terriers were kept by the gypsies and poachers and were useful in hunting on lands owned by the gentry. They were specially chosen since they are small enough to sneak past fences and clear out attention. They were also useful in the mines to hunt down rats.
Bedlington Terriers remain excellent hunters to this day, all thanks to the Whippet blood they have in their veins. These dogs can run fast and are exceptionally persistent when hunting rats, mice, foxes, badgers, and even birds and insects. Just don’t get surprised if someday you find one of these on your doorstep. You might be content to praise your pet and be thankful you don’t need pest control.
3. Bedlington Terriers Have A Reversible Personality:
Bedlington Terriers can make pleasant companions when they are raised well with good socialization, and care. They also need to have firm training but not with a harsh hand. These dogs can be quite affectionate craving attention and yearning to please their owners at the same time. Once comfortable, they’ll be playing along with both young and old people while entertaining guests whom they trust. If a Bedlington Terrier doesn’t trust someone, you’ll soon be alerted with their continuous barking.
Turning to the other side, there’s the aggressive character of Bedlington Terriers, which mostly surfaces when they feel threatened or are in hunting mode. These dogs are good fighters and can easily slay any creature their size or smaller. The males in particular are determined to do so. Once their adversary has engaged in combat, it will be nearly impossible to remove your Bedlington Terrier from the fray.
4. Bedlington Terriers Don’t Always Get Along With Other Dogs:
With their ferocious fighting spirit, Bedlington Terriers do not always get along with other dogs. There is a good chance that they will become friends with other dogs they were raised with, but you might want to be careful about introducing your Bedlington Terrier to new dogs, mainly adults of the same sex.
They can barely tolerate any other dog seeking to dominate them resulting in a rough dogfight. Bedlington Terriers are also known to be possessive of their owners and will easily get jealous of other dogs.
5. Bedlington Terriers Need Long Walks Everyday:
If you thought these small dogs don’t need a lot of exercises, you might want to reconsider your opinion. With high levels of energy, Bedlington Terriers will need your help in burning that energy by playing with them and taking them on daily long walks. Your dog will otherwise get unhappy and bored. In the worst case, they may lead you into difficulty with their mischief.
6. Bedlington Terriers Are Hypoallergenic:
Making them even more ideal as indoor companions, the Bedlington Terriers have beautiful coats which hardly shed which is part of the reason why they are also considered hypoallergenic.
A downside of this is that the fur of Bedlington Terriers grows fast and they need regular trimming. Otherwise, the fur will, later on, look like a mess and feel wiry making them unsuitable for cuddling.
You will have to make monthly trips to the groomer for your Bedlington Terrier to keep their fur short and crisp to the touch. You might even have to pay more if you want your Bedlington Terrier to be styled to breed standards which includes a topknot and just about one inch of the coat.
7. Bedlington Terriers Are Generally A Healthy Breed:
Bedlington Terrier is a healthy breed and has been known to live quite long. They might live up to 18 years or older which is longer compared to the lifespan of other dogs their size. Still, they may suffer from some diseases like Copper toxicosis.
Copper toxicosis is a very common health issue that Bedlington Terriers may have. This means that instead of being metabolized, the copper gets stored inside the liver of the dog. And when there is too much accumulation, their liver fails which then gradually causes the death of the dog. Around 5% of Bedlington Terriers suffer from this disease and some may even inherit it.
Eye problems such as cataracts and retinal dysplasia and other problems related to kidney and thyroid have also been seen in Bedlington Terriers. So always make sure you take your pet for veterinary examinations on time.
8. Bedlington Terriers Love Digging:
The two bad habits of Bedlington Terriers are excessive barking and digging. After all, they are terriers so they like nothing more than digging to flush out their prey. Being able to dig well is a good thing when it comes to earth dog trials. But besides that, it can be quite annoying.
To curb this digging habit, you will have to let your Bedlington Terrier get sufficient exercise because an exhausted dog will not be able to dig. Another trick would be to bury citrus peels, chicken wire, or large rocks in your yard to sidetrack your terrier from digging. Or else just give your dog a sandbox or a digging area where they can dig without getting out and causing too much trouble; do so if you don’t want to dissuade them from digging entirely.
9. Bedlington Terriers Aren’t Difficult to House Train:
It might come as a surprise but Bedlington Terriers can also be trained to be good house dogs, despite their keenness to play in the yard. They are, in fact, pretty easy to housetrain.
To ‘housebreak’ them, you will have to at first earn your Terrier’s respect. Keep in mind that Bedlington Terriers do not enjoy being dominated, so if that is what you’re trying to do, your terrier will only retaliate with aggression and stubbornness. You should be firm but not harsh if you don’t like that.
Your terrier will most likely listen to you if you have their respect. The next thing to do is establish a routine. As mentioned above, Bedlington Terriers need exercise so you can try to get your terrier to use the bathroom when at walks outside, this can be scheduled every day. At home, you may restrict your terrier to a specific part of the house until they are house-trained. Given enough patience and consistency, your Bedlington Terrier will soon be house-trained.
10. Bedlington Terriers Are Great Swimmers:
They may not be true water dogs but Bedlington Terriers are quite powerful swimmers and they don’t mind being in the water. This doesn’t necessarily mean that they will gladly jump into the water. It just means that water will not keep them away from catching their prey. If you plan on taking your Bedlington Terrier for a swim, go ahead. Just make sure that you dry them out correctly afterward.
With this, we conclude our review of 10 fine points about a Bedlington Terrier! Thank you for reading the article.
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Do you have a Bedlington Terrier? What is living with your Bedlington pup like? Share your experience with us in the comment section.