How to Identify A Bedlington Terrier
The Bedlington terrier is an English breed that was originally called the Rothbury terrier. In the early 1800s, it was designed as an all-purpose sports dog. They were bred to be able to swim, retrieve downed game birds, course rabbits, hunt rats and other vermin and compete in fighting pits. They looked somewhat different at the time than they do now and their appearance and temperaments slowly changed as a result of better treatment and breeding programs put together by dog fanciers at the time. The species was first exhibited as a separate breed in 1877 and has been a favorite of dog fanciers thanks to their self-sufficient nature and energetic personalities. Here is a guide on how to identify a Bedlington terrier.
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Instructions
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Begin by looking at the dog’s general shape and build. Bedlingtons stand about 17 inches high at the shoulder and about a foot higher at the top of the skull. It should weigh anywhere between 18 and 23 pounds. The first impression you should get when your see the dog is that you’re looking at a lamb. It should have the tubular body, cocked rear legs, straight forelegs, and non-existent tail of a lamb.
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Look at the dog’s fur. It should have a springy coat of white or tan fur that looks and feels like lamb’s wool. This fur does not shed and is usually very clean and soft. It should cover the dog in a uniform thickness from head to toe.
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Watch how the dog walks. Bedlingtons tend to have a spring in their step reminiscent of a young sheep or lamb.
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Examine the dog’s head. Unlike most dogs, the Bedlington’s skull from the tip of the crown to the snout makes a smooth incline. There is no arch or dip indicating the end of the skull and beginning of the muzzle. This is the most telling feature of the species; any dog possessing it will always be a Bedlington terrier.
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Tips & Warnings
Despite the Bedlington’s lamb-like appearance, they are very capable of fighting, as fast and vicious as any dog you would care to name. They owe this to their history as a pit animal and hunting dog, they are by no means violent toward their owners, but if poorly socialized a Bedlington might attack a stranger coming into your home that the animal feels is trespassing.
Don’t let this dog around other animals unless they have been socialized from an early age to tolerate other pets. Do not ever let a Bedlington near another dog that might try to exert dominance. Bedlingtons will never back down in a fight and are quite capable of soundly trouncing animals several times their own size and weight. They are particularly fast and love to chase anything that runs, so don’t let them loose outdoors without a leash. This breed is good with children and can be very loving, but they can get worked up if played with roughly and have no problem with roughhousing right back, often to the child’s detriment. They can be high strung and bark incessantly when excited, which is very often, so you might not want to keep one if you prefer a quiet house.
