Plate 107 · British Isles
Bedlington Terrier
贝灵顿㹴
“A miner's terrier dressed as a lamb.”
- Origin
- United Kingdom
- Bedlington, Northumberland
- Region of origin
- Named after the mining town of Bedlington; the marker is Northumberland's reference point.
- The point marks the region the breed comes from, not an exact birthplace.
- Era
- Named in 1825; some pedigrees reportedly traced to 1782
- Today
- Companion · Show dog
Under editorial review — sources listed below.
History
01 · Origin
Bedlington, Northumberland
A lamb-like terrier with an arched back, bred by the miners and nail-makers of Northumberland.
02 · Historical role
What it was bred for
Hunting vermin, otters and badgers; also racing and, sadly, dog fighting.
03 · Breed development
How it changed
Used by Romani travellers and poachers, it was later called the Rothbury Terrier after a local lord's fondness for it. The name Bedlington Terrier dates from 1825, and the first show class was held in Bedlington in 1870.
04 · Today
Companion · Show dog
A companion and show dog, still quick and keen.
Personality
- Loyal
- Charming
- Playful
- Quick
General breed tendencies, not guarantees — individual dogs vary with genetics, training and environment. Ratings: the AKC’s trait scores as its breed page gives them (the AKC’s 1–5 guidance for owners, not a measurement). Other profiles here use editorial ratings, a different source, so compare across them with care.
- Exercise
- Energetic: regular walks, runs or fetch, then happy to rest.
- Grooming
- Barely sheds, but grows fast: clip about every two months.
- Training
- Intelligent and keen, sometimes stubborn; positive methods only.
Living with one
- Size
- Small
- Lifespan
- 11–16 years
- Coat
- Crisp, curly coat of mixed soft and harsh hair with a topknot; blue, liver or sandy, with or without tan
Field note
The first dog called a Bedlington Terrier, Piper, was whelped in 1825.
Recognition & today
- AKC
- Terrier Group
- Also recognized by
- FCI (Group 3, standard 9), The Kennel Club (UK)
- Popular in
- No reliable data
AKC: Terrier Group, recognized 1886.
AKC registrations: ranked 147 among breeds in 2025.
Sources3 references
- Bedlington Terrier — breed information — American Kennel Club
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/bedlington-terrier/
Registry · accessed 2026-10-14 · Registry status, group, size, life expectancy and registration rank; history as the AKC tells it. Ratings: the AKC's own 1–5 owner-guidance trait scores as the page gives them (energy level, trainability, barking level, openness to strangers, good with other dogs), not measurements.
- Bedlington Terrier — Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedlington_Terrier
Encyclopedia · accessed 2026-10-14 · Rothbury and 'gypsy dog' names, the 1825 naming and pedigrees to 1782, the first show class in 1870, relationship with the Dandie Dinmont and Whippet.
- Bedlington Terrier — FCI breed nomenclature — Fédération Cynologique Internationale
https://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/BEDLINGTON-TERRIER-9.html
Kennel club · accessed 2026-10-14 · Country of origin Great Britain; Group 3, section "Large and medium sized Terriers"; accepted 1963.
Text is written by World Breeds from the references above; it does not reproduce registry descriptions. Location note: Named after the mining town of Bedlington; the marker is Northumberland's reference point.
