Bedlington Terrier
Group: Terrier
Size: Medium
Coat length: Medium
Grooming required: More than once a week
Coat sheds: No
Home size: Small or Large House
Garden size: Small/Medium
Lifespan: Over 10 Years
Exercise: Up to 1 hour per day
The Bedlington Terrier is immediately recognisable as a dog that looks like a small lamb. They have a pear shaped head, straight front legs and longer back legs. They have a curly lamb-like coat, described as linty, and little tail and can come in a variety of colours although are often a silvery grey.
They were originally bred as hunting dogs but were renamed Bedlington after being used by miners in the shire of Bedlington to work in the pits keeping them free of vermin.
They are a friendly little dog but need plenty of opportunities to burn off their excess energy and they tend to like the sound of their own bark. They get along well with family and other people. They tend to get along well with dogs but need to be taught to tolerate cats and other wildlife. They will be busy indoors but need plenty of outdoor exercise too.
They shed very little hair but need specialised clipping to keep their coat the correct shape. Bedlingtons have a serious inherited liver problem called Copper Storage Disease and are also prone to kidney disease, PRA, thyroid and eye problems.