Bedlington Terriers are compact, yet energetic little dogs. Originating from Bedlington, England, they were originally used in hunting rats, mice, and other small animals in coal mines, factories, and other similar environments. The earliest reference to the Bedlington Terrier is in 1825, where a terrier named Piper was bred and used to hunt badgers. Piper was so tenacious that local workmen became fond of the breed and began using them for pit fighting. While the dog was used in pit fighting, their sweet and lovable temperaments soon found them taking on roles as beloved family companions.

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Their hypoallergenic curly coats are reminiscent of sheep’s wool, while their compact, uniquely shaped heads make them distinctive in appearance. Since their designation as a breed, these plucky little terriers have been used in racing, hunting and other dog sports. This highly intelligent, active, athletic, loving, non-shedding dog is an excellent choice for families with an active lifestyle.

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3 Pros and Cons of Owning a Bedlington Terrier

Bedlington Terrier Size and Weight

The Bedlington Terrier is a small-sized short hair dog with an average height of 16 to 18 inches for males and 15 to 17 inches for females. Both males and females tend to weigh between 17 and 23 pounds when fully grown. Bedlington Terrier puppies usually weigh around three pounds at the age of two months. Puppies generally reach their adult weight and size at nine months of age.

Bedlington Terrier Common Health Issues

Like every dog breed, Bedlington Terriers have a few health issues that tend to be common within the breed. Many breeders have their breeding stock tested for these conditions. These problems include:

• Copper Toxicosis
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
• Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
• Hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing’s)

Copper Toxicosis is a genetic disorder (although it can also develop non-genetically) that causes copper to accumulate within the liver and bloodstream. This can lead to the dog experiencing liver failure. This potentially fatal disease usually appears in between the ages of two and four.

Bedlington Terriers are also more prone to developing a variety of eye conditions. Among these is Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). This is an inherited condition that leads to blindness. While there is no cure for this condition, it isn’t painful. It just means that your dog may develop night blindness in between three and five years of age. It also means that your dog will become blind.

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Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency is a disorder that causes the dog’s pancreas to develop too few of the digestive enzymes that are used to digest food and absorb nutrients. This leads to the dog losing weight, having skin problems and having frequent bouts of diarrhea. It is easily treated with dietary supplements.

Hyperadrenocorticism (also called Cushing’s) is a condition that is more likely to be found in Bedlington Terriers than in other dogs. It causes the adrenal glands to malfunction and produce too many steroid hormones. This condition can be treated with medications.

Bedlington Terrier Temperament

Bedlington Terriers are intelligent, plucky little dogs who are also gentle and mild in behavior. While they enjoy getting lots of exercise, they also enjoy hanging out on the couch with their owners. Their gentle personality and active nature make them a good choice for active families who want the best of both worlds when it comes to their dog’s personality. Originally bred in Bedlington, England in the 1800s, the Bedlington Terrier was originally used in hunting vermin. It was also used for dog racing and other dog sports.

The Bedlington Terrier is part of the Terrier Group. As such, they tend to have the same spunky and independent personality traits as other terriers. While they enjoy being active and are very athletic dogs, their behavior is usually calmer than other terriers included in this group.

How to Take Care of a Bedlington Terrier

Potential pet owners searching for how to care for a new dog, especially Bedlington Terrier puppies, will need to consider a variety of factors. Taking care of a Bedlington Terrier, whether it be a puppy or a rescue, will mean taking into consideration grooming requirements, potential health issues, the dog’s size, a family’s lifestyle, the dog’s temperament and many other needs that the puppy or dog will have.

The Best Dog Food for Bedlington Terriers

Just like all dog breeds, Bedlington Terriers have individual dietary needs. Smaller dog breeds need different diets than large dogs do. Energetic breeds also have special needs. To ensure that your Bedlington Terrier lives a healthy life, it needs to have a balanced diet. One way to be sure that this happens is to feed a high-quality dog food. Dry dog food is considered to be appropriate for puppies and adult dogs.

Because the breed experiences such a unique set of potential health conditions, discuss your dog’s diet at regular appointments.

Diet for Bedlington Terrier Puppies: Bedlington Terrier puppies need to be fed four meals a day at first. As the puppy grows older, he or she will be able to eat just three times a day. The dog food you choose should be specifically formulated for puppies, with plenty of calcium and phosphorus.

Diet for Adult Bedlington Terriers: Adult Bedlington Terriers should be fed just twice a day. If your dog is active and enjoys frequent heavy exercise, their portion at meals will be more than if the dog is inactive. Supplements such as glucosamine, omega-3 fatty acids, probiotics, antioxidants and digestive enzymes can also be fed to your dog.

At A-Z Animals, we find that the best dog food for Bedlington Terriers is Wellness CORE Digestive Health Small Breed Dry Dog Food with Wholesome Grains.

To help with Bedlington Terriers’ tendency for Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency, this kibble is coated with probiotics and supplements their diet with the digestive enzymes they can lose to the condition. The wholesome chicken and turkey recipe contains taurine, which benefits the eyes and vision.

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Maintenance and Grooming

While this breed doesn’t shed a lot, Bedlington Terriers have extensive grooming needs. They will need to have their hair professional clipped (or you can purchase the tools and learn how to do it yourself). In addition to this, they need to be brushed or combed at least twice a week. If you choose to learn how to clip your dog’s hair on your own, you will need to purchase electric clippers and scissors. You will also need to trim your dog’s nails regularly.

Training

Bedlington Terriers are relatively easy to train. They are eager to please and highly intelligent. However, they do tend to get bored easily, so you will need to work to keep their attention. They can also be somewhat stubborn.

Exercise

Bedlington Terriers are small in size, so can do well in apartments or smaller living spaces as long as they are given an adequate amount of exercise. These dogs can be pretty energetic, meaning you will need to take them for long walks or runs regularly. Games of fetch are also an excellent way to help the Bedlington Terrier to get plenty of exercise. You should always keep your Bedlington Terrier in a fenced-in yard or on a leash while in open spaces. This is because they were bred for hunting small animals and will typically start to chase one once they see it.

Bedlington Terrier Puppies

Since Bedlington Terrier puppies are a small dog, you will need to be sure that you are feeding them at least four times a day when they first come home. You will gradually reduce this down to three and then two times a day. Other than that, you will need to work on house training, socialization, and basic obedience training for your Bedlington Terrier puppy. Once your puppy is old enough and has gone through obedience training, you may want to get it involved in dog sports such as racing or agility.

Bedlington Terriers and Children

The gentle demeanor of the Bedlington Terrier makes it an ideal family dog for families with children who are gentle and respectful towards the dog and its space. Families with small children may want to hold off on getting a Bedlington Terrier until the child is older.

Dogs Similar to Bedlington Terriers

Dogs that are similar to the Bedlington Terrier breed are the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, the Kerry Blue Terrier and the Whippet.

• Norfolk Terrier – Norfolk Terriers are small, plucky, playful and intelligent. If you’re looking for a watchdog with lot of energy that can be great with kids, the Norfolk Terrier could be good choice for you.
• Airedale Terrier – If you’d like a larger version of a terrier breed that is also hypoallergenic, the Airedale Terrier could be right for you. Airedale Terriers are great with kids and rarely shed.
• Whippet – While not a terrier, the Whippet is believed to have been used to develop the Bedlington Terrier breed. Much like Bedlington Terriers, Whippets are relatively laid back and affectionate that enjoys lots of exercise.

Famous Bedlington Terriers

Film actor Boris Karloff owned and raised Bedlington Terriers when he wasn’t working on his films. In addition to this, the famed Rockefeller family owned and bred Bedlington Terriers in the 1940s.

Popular Names for Bedlington Terriers

• Mickey
• Frankie
• Beau
• Chance
• Marley
• Dixie
• Paisley
• Mia
• Maggie
• Daisy

Last update on 2022-07-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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