Bedlington Terrier

The Bedlington Terrier looks like a lamb and was bred to work like a terrier — a curly, pear-headed dog with a deceptively gentle outline.

History

It comes from the mining town of Bedlington in Northumberland, where it was kept by miners to kill vermin and to poach, and it has sighthound in its ancestry, which is why it runs as fast as it does. The lamb-like trim is a show convention laid over a hard working dog.

Temperament

The breed is known for being affectionate and mild at home and startlingly game outside it — quiet company indoors, and quick to chase anything small and moving.

Care and training

It needs regular exercise and a secure space, since the sighthound half does not consult anybody. The crisp coat sheds little but needs clipping every few weeks to keep its shape.

Health

The breed carries an inherited copper storage disease of the liver that responsible breeders test for; it is the one health question that defines this breed. These are known patterns for the breed and a matter for a breeder and a vet; the measured facts are in the panel.