Bedlington Terrier Stats:
COUNTRY: Great Britain
COUNTRY: Great Britain
WEIGHT: 17-23 pounds
HEIGHT: 15-17 1/2 inches
COAT: Mixture of hard and soft hair that has a tendency to curl, crisp but not wiry
COLOR: Blue, blue/tan, sandy, sandy/tan, liver, liver/tan
GROUP: Terrier
Boasting a longer traceable pedigree than any other terrier, the curly-coated Bedlington Terrier gives a lamblike illusion. The breed hails from the mining area in the north of England and was first called the Rothbury Terrier in the 1830s. He was originally bred from the wire-coated terriers used locally, probably crossed with hound (i.e., Otterhound) and perhaps Whippet as well. One of the breed's forefathers, "Peachem," is mentioned as both a Bedlington and a Dandie Dinmont. The Bedlington Terrier carries a long drop ear and an arch over the loin, both hinting of sight hound. He is also unusual in that he carries the blue or liver colors, probably an inheritance from his sight hound ancestors as well.
He was a favorite with miners and nail makers for ratting and badgering. In the hunt, the Bedlington Terrier swam after otters and ran down rabbits.