Bedlington Terrier
Temperament:
The Bedlington Terrier is one of the oldest terrier breeds. With this animal friend you have an extremely active and at the same time patient companion at your side. He loves a varied life. The passionate hunter is not immediately apparent from his appearance.
Characteristics
The medium size makes the Bedlington Terrier attractive. If his coat is beige-brown, he has a light nose and eyes. If he has a gray-blue coat, eyes and nose are adapted dark. Breeders prefer the dark colors. Its height reaches to about 40 cm and its weight ranges from eight to ten kilos.
The athletic slender body of the pedigree dog ends with a tail located far below. This does not rise above the back. The rounded, pear-shaped head and the low hanging ears make him look like a little sheep. This is underlined by the soft, slightly curly coat. It is not wiry, but densely grown. Especially on the front face and head it is clearly corkscrewed. Funny are the fluttering, fur-fringed ears.
The Bedlington Terrier is excellent as a family dog. You have in him an affectionate partner who knows how to handle children well with his lamb-like nature. He will never be intrusive. He likes to playfully romp around in the garden.
Courageous and alert, the dog shows itself to strangers. A tendency to yapping is not present. The males defend their territory expressively against conspecifics. To calm him down then is difficult.
A beginner dog owners will cope well with this breed. It is recommended to learn in advance about the attitude in this regard. Puppies are always strictly in their place. They are more demanding than puppies of other dog breeds. This is due to their above-average urge to move. You must be patient and consistent. Only in this way can the social compatibility of the terrier be set at a high level.
The great willingness to learn is laid in the cradle of the Bedlington Terrier. This facilitates the character education. Visiting a dog school has a positive influence on him. There he learns the friendly contact with conspecifics best. He is constantly testing his limits against his caregiver.
If you are out in nature with the terrier, his strong hunting instinct awakens. He is bursting with strength and joie de vivre. It is not impossible to keep him indoors only. In this case you must offer him agility as a sport or participate in dogdancing. In tournament sports he does well due to his endurance and intelligence.
A house with land clearly suits him better. That alone is not enough for him. He needs a high level of daily exercise. Go jogging with him and on long walks. The terrier loves long runs and playing on the go. A good distraction is needed so that he does not act out the hunting instinct.
Coat care:
Shedding:
Energy level:
Trainability:
Children suitable:
The right food
For a terrier that gets a lot of exercise every day, it's important to offer meat as a food. Look for high-quality, grain-free food, whether you choose wet food or dry food. On the package, the main ingredient will be at the front of the description. This is a good decision-making tool for you.
Valuable raw materials in the feed are contained, for example, in duck and liver. A high proportion of fat and protein has a digestive effect. Species-appropriate raw food promotes the health of your terrier. The addition of bones is accompanied by a natural cleaning of the teeth. Selected dog food ultimately reduces the amount of feces.
It is best to weigh your dog every few weeks and adjust the amount of food if necessary. This method prevents overfeeding. The guidelines of the food manufacturers are to be understood as a well-intentioned recommendation. It depends on the age, the size of the dog and the daily activities.
The Bedlington Terrier often reacts sensitively to food changes with diarrhea and vomiting. In the measure you mix day by day more of the new food. This reduces the symptoms of intolerance. All in all, you can allow four days for this.
Like any other dog, the terrier loves snacks and treats of various kinds. Dried beef ears and chew bones are popular. They take care of the dog's teeth at the same time. You can give him freeze-dried meat pieces and small dog biscuits as a reward in between. Make sure that your dog gets plenty of fresh water every day!
Health & Care
It is nice that this pedigree dog does not shed. You will not have much trouble with him in your house. It has much less of the typical dog smell. The curly coat is best brushed once or twice a day. The dog will patiently put up with it. To curb the curly hair growth, have the coat trimmed by a dog groomer up to twice a year. The perfect cut gives the well-known sheep look.
Good claw care is important. In advanced dog age, the urge to move generally decreases somewhat. The claws do not wear out as quickly. Cut the terrier's claws with special pliers. Conveniently, this can be done at the same time as the coat trimming. Dangers of injury caused by too long claws are preventable. You can check the ears of your Bedlington Terrier regularly. Ear cleaner is available in stores for easy cleaning.
If you got a terrier puppy, you can get him used to dental care right away. Buy a dog toothbrush and toothpaste. Regular brushing will become a ritual for him. Just like with humans, this will help to reduce tartar buildup.
A Bedlington Terrier romps extensively in nature. Soiling of the coat can not be avoided. Every now and then he needs a little bath. He often gets this himself on the way, if the opportunity presents itself in a body of water. If this is not the case, you remove coarse dirt with a portion of gentle dog shampoo at home during a wash.
Suitable accessories
Such an agile dog needs a comfortable harness. Here, look for supple materials that do not chafe the skin. High-quality dog harnesses are made of nylon and natural leather. You can give in to his urge to run with a leash, the length of which you can change individually. With interesting intelligence toys, you can develop the abilities of your clever Bedlington Terrier. He is enthusiastic about it.
Origin & History
The ancestral history of the Bedlington Terrier goes back a long way. At the end of the 19th century he is mentioned as Rothbury Terrier. In mining areas in the north of England, the inhabitants trained him at that time for hunting hares. The foundation of the first breeding association took place there.
This dog was often used for hunting rats. Flying traders opened up a new source of income with him. Whole villages saw themselves freed from rat plagues. Unattractive was the use in animal fights.
The Bedlington Terrier owes its modern name to a village of the same name. There he was mainly bred. The exact crossbreeds are still disputed today. Named are Whippets, Dandie-Dinmont-Terrier, Bulldogs, Bullterriers, French Bulldogs, Otterhounds and Greyhounds. Hunting prey included small game, foxes, otters, badgers and rodents.
The Bedlington Terrier was represented at a show for the first time in 1870 and has been registered as a pedigree dog. Fifty years later he arrived in Germany via the English Channel. The foundation of a professional society for this dog breed took place. At the beginning of the fifties breeders founded the Bedlington Terrier Club. The outer appearance of the terrier corresponds almost one hundred percent to the earlier appearance.
In the group of terriers, he is listed as a High Runner Terrier. Its pedigrees are fully traceable throughout. This extraordinary dog breed has remained hardy during its existence. He gladly takes up his former task as a hunting dog. Great successes as a working dog he can also prove.
