Bedlington Terrier sketches by Francien van Vuuren (C)



I bought my first Bedlington Terrier in 1987 and discovered that one is never enough. For me they are the perfect all-round pet. Bedlingtons have a non-shedding, wool coat which makes them perfect for many people with allergies, they do not smell like a dog.

The most usual colours are Blue (my personal favourite) and Liver, they also come in Sandy, and bicolours with tan. Blues have black noses and Livers have brown noses, Sandy's have paler brown noses. You should not have to look at the nose to know what colour the dog is, it should be apparent. The body is where the colour is seen, the topknots and legs should be lighter than the body.

A Bedlington barks for a reason they are not yappy, one of the most alert of dog breeds quick to advise whether a strange sound needs to be investigated or ignored.

They are small enough to pick up if you have to, yet big enough to jump onto a seat or into a car without taking up the whole back seat. They will take as much or as little exercise as you want to give them, they will go for a run with you and be just as happy to sit on the couch with you.

A superb companion, the Bedlington only wants to be with you. Adoringly affectionate to their owners, it's easy to understand that once you've had a Bedlington there is no other dog.

No other dog looks like a Bedlington Terrier but his lamb-like appearance is only one part of his individuality. The Bedlington only looks delicate, a typical terrier, the Bedlington is full of life and dash. In fact, the only thing lamblike about the breed is its appearance.

My puppies have usually either one or both Champion parents. They are microchipped, health checked, and registered with CAWA.

My dogs have either been tested for Copper Toxicosis with the Vetgen linkage/Deletion Test ( linked marker gene result 1,1 not carrying the deletion)) and/or gene tested for deletions in the MURR1 gene and are normal or their parents have been. There has been controversy about the UK testing but I will continue to try any new test that is marketed. I have started to have my dogs biopsied as they are sterilised and so far they have all been unaffected.

All of my dogs (even ones I no longer breed with)  are tested yearly for congenital and non-congenital eye diseases and have been declared free of them.

At the end of the 19th century the Bedlington Terrier was described by Desmond Morris, writing in Dogs a Dictionary of Dog Breeds, as

"The smartest and quickest of our terriers"

I think that is still true today.

Ausbed Bedlington Terriers were featured on the ABC Pet Show

I recommend "The Bedlington Terrier" by Ken Bounden.                                    Or contact me and I'll do my best to answer your questions.