Family-friendly: | 4/5 |
Exercise needs: | 4/5 |
Easy to train: | 3/5 |
Tolerates being alone: | 3/5 |
Likes other pets: | 3/5 |
Energy level: | 4/5 |
Grooming needs: | 3/5 |
Shedding: | 5/5 |
- Dog suitable for owners with some experience
- Basic training required
- Need to be aware of potential health issues
- Enjoys active walks
- Enjoys one to two hours of walking a day
- Small dog
- Minimum drool
- Requires grooming every other day
- Chatty and vocal dog
- Barks and alerts to visitors/anything unusual
- Could have issues with unknown dogs but gets along with known dogs
- May need additional training to live with other pets
- May need additional supervision to live with children
- Needs a small garden
- Can live in semi-rural areas
- Can be left occasionally with training
Bedlington Terriers can suffer from:
- A liver disease called 'copper storage disease', where there is a build up of copper in the liver which can result in hepatitis.
- Total retinal dysplasia which isa condition where the back of the eye does not develop properly, which can lead to complete blindness.
- Ear inflamation and infection.
- Paw pads may become saw and cracked, which can lead to infection.
Priority Kennel Club health schemes and testing:
- Eye screening scheme
Personality
The Bedlington is affectionate and full of fun, being loyal and gentle to their owners. They are however very much a typical terrier, and can be rather reactive as well as acting as an effective watchdog, being quite courageous once roused. In general, they will be fairly placid if they are receiving a regular amount of mental and physical stimulation.
Did You Know?
- Originally there were two different types of Bedlington Terrier - the ones that made use of the Whippet to give them longer legs designed for chasing rabbits and hare-coursing, and the ones that used the Dandie Dinmont Terrier to give them shorter legs for going to ground. Now the Bedlington is a mixture of both.
- Bedlington Terriers used to be known as ‘Gypsy Dogs’ as they were used by Romanies for poaching.
- They’re often referred to as ‘the smartest and quickest’ of the terrier breeds.
- The first ever Bedlington Terrier was called Piper and was said to still be hunting at the grand age of 14, despite being nearly blind and toothless.
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