Bedlington Terrier
貝林頓㹴
Updated 2026-09-09
At a glance
The Bedlington Terrier looks like a lamb and was bred like a fighter — a lithe, curly-coated, arch-backed terrier from the Northumberland mining town of Bedlington, with Whippet in its ancestry, once used to bolt badger, kill rats and run down rabbits for poachers. Today it is a genial, rollicking housemate and alert watchdog that wants to be the centre of attention, energetic but not rambunctious, happy to run and then curl up on the sofa. It still chases small animals, so it needs a fence and a lead, and its non-shedding coat must be clipped every couple of months.
Facts
| Size | Small |
|---|---|
| Height | 38–44cm |
| Weight | 8–10kg |
| Life expectancy | 11–16years |
| Breed group | AKC: terrier FCI: 3 |
| Role | Terrier |
| Coat | Curly coat |
| Shedding | 1/ 5 |
| Exercise | 30–120min/day |
| Can be left alone | up to 4 hours |
| Companionship need | 3/ 5 |
| Trainability | 3/ 5 |
| Barking | 3/ 5 |
| Good with children | 3/ 5 |
| Good with other dogs | 3/ 5 |
| Heat tolerance | 3/ 5 |
| Cold tolerance | 3/ 5 |
Health
This page is general information compiled from published sources. It is not veterinary, legal or purchase advice. Dogs vary within a breed — talk to a vet or a reputable breeder about the dog in front of you.
Health notes are not veterinary advice. Conditions listed are those reported for the breed, not a diagnosis of any dog. Always consult a veterinarian.
Hip dysplasia
Commonly reported in the breed; breeders screen hips by X-ray. Ask your vet about hip screening and about keeping your dog lean and fit.
Elbow dysplasia
Commonly reported in the breed; breeders screen elbows by X-ray. Ask your vet if you notice front-leg lameness, especially in a growing dog.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is reported in the breed. Ask your vet about thyroid testing if you notice weight gain, lethargy or coat changes.
Von Willebrand disease
An inherited bleeding disorder reported in the breed; a DNA test is available. Ask your breeder about testing and tell your vet before any surgery.
Bleeding disorders
Inherited bleeding disorders are reported in the breed; DNA tests exist. Tell your vet before any surgery.
Copper toxicosis (copper storage disease)
An inherited liver condition in which copper accumulates, reported in the breed and named by the AKC's parent-club health summary; a DNA test is available. Ask your breeder about the parents' copper-toxicosis status and your vet about liver checks.
Behaviour
All terrier under the lamb's coat
The CKC says that despite the lamb-like appearance the Bedlington is all terrier — alert, with immense energy and courage; with the outline of a sighthound it can gallop at great speed, is gentle in repose, likes a certain amount of action, has never lost its inclination to work and needs regular moderate exercise.
Energetic but not rambunctious; no battles of will
The AKC describes a breed that is energetic but not rambunctious or mischievous — it loves fetch, a long walk or run, then curls up on the couch — yet was bred to chase small animals and does, so it needs a fenced yard and a lead on every walk. Bedlingtons can be stubborn but are intelligent and eager to please; harsh methods or physical correction lead to a battle of wills, while praise and food rewards succeed.
Energy and exercise
Energy level is rated 4/5 (high) on the AKC breed-trait chart. The Royal Kennel Club puts its exercise need at "up to 1 hour per day".
Training and barking
AKC trait chart: trainability 3/5, barking level 3/5. Individual dogs vary; early socialisation and reward-based training are recommended for every breed.
Official guidance
Summaries of official documents are ours; the source is linked. Breed standards, laws and licensing rules change — check the issuing body for the current version.
American Kennel Club — Bedlington Terrier
Breed overview, breed-trait chart, history, official standard summary and health notes from the AKC and the national parent club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
Canadian Kennel Club — Bedlington Terrier (Terriers)
Origin, temperament, activity level, height/weight, coat and grooming as described by the Canadian Kennel Club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
The Royal Kennel Club — Bedlington Terrier
Breed characteristics (size small, exercise up to 1 hour per day, lifespan over 10 years).
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
FCI nomenclature — Bedlington Terrier (standard no. 9, group 3)
FCI breed nomenclature entry with the official breed standard PDF in English, French, German and Spanish.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
What owners say
Owner advice is quoted from public community posts and reflects those owners' opinions, not PocketPaw's position. It is unverified and not a substitute for professional advice. Each item links to where it was said.
“The parent club's "Living with a Bedlington" page gives an honest assessment: the breed adapts to a house or a flat but needs a lot of exercise — built for speed like a coursing hound, so daily walks or a fenced yard; it has not lost its instinct to hunt small vermin, which can make life with cats, hamsters or rabbits difficult though not impossible. The non-shedding coat must be groomed and trimmed every six to eight weeks or it mats, so professional grooming is a lifelong expense to budget for, and the outdoors sticks to it like Velcro; a short pet trim keeps care manageable.”
— Bedlington Terrier Club of America — Living With A Bedlington Terrier via breed clubWorldwide2026-09-09
Sources
- [1]Bedlington Terrier — Dog Breed Information — American Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [2]Bedlington Terrier — Choosing a Breed — Canadian Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [3]Bedlington Terrier — Breeds A to Z — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [4]Bedlington Terrier — FCI standard no. 9 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [5]How do I help my dog adjust to spending time alone? — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [6]Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016 (Hall, Carter & O'Neill, Scientific Reports 10:9128) — Nature / Scientific Reports (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [7]Living With A Bedlington Terrier — Bedlington Terrier Club of America — Bedlington Terrier Club of America (public breed pages) (Accessed 2026-09-09)
Still have questions?
Ask owners on the PawMunity forum — every breed has its own board.
Breed data compiled by PocketPaw from the sources credited on each entry. Text and layout © 2026 NextPath Solutions Limited. Please link to a page rather than copying it.