Bedlington Terrier
The Bedlington Terrier as indicated by the name is a type of terrier. Its name come from the town it originated from Bedlington. This town is in the North East of England and was famous for its mining. This dog makes a good water dog. The first Bedlington Terrier was named 'Old Flint' and was born in 1782. Previously the breed was known as a Rothbury or a Rodbery Terrier.
Appearance
To describe a Bedlington Terrier the obvious comparison one comes up with is of a lamb. This is mainly due to their fur. Colour wise these dogs commonly come in sandy, liver, sable or blue. The dog has a pear shaped head which is narrow. It is also deep and round. The muzzle is firm but with no stop. The eyes are almond shaped and deep set. The jaw has a scissor bite. The ears are generally low set and have a triangle shape. The chest of this dog is quite deep and its back is normally arched. The back legs of this dog are slightly longer than the front legs. The Bedlington Terrier tends to come in the following colours; sandy, blue, liver, sandy and tan and liver and tan. Occasionally the dog will have tan marks over its body.
Temperament
Of all the terriers this breed would be considered to be quite chilled out. It is known for its happy nature and it does not impose itself on others. It is very much focused on its owner. Of course these dogs still need attention and exercise so that they do not become bored. They can be ideal for someone living in an apartment as long as long walks are also part of the deal. This breed can get along quite well with other pets as long as they have been properly socialized at a young age. This dog loves to dig, take this into consideration if they garden is well manicured. They need decent amounts of exercise otherwise they will start to act up. Also it should be noted that this dogs loves to chase small animals, so on the lead is best in the park if there are squirrels about. This dog loves company and can suffer from separation anxiety if left apart from the family for too long.
Grooming and care
To keep their coat in good shape, weekly sessions are needed in the salon, otherwise the hair will matt. They need regular exercise as well as boisterous play. This will keep them happy. If you are looking to do events with a dog then this breed may be for you as it can be very agile and obedient. This dog tends to shed less than average.
Health
In a recent survey in the UK the average life expectancy of this breed is 13.5 years old, one person even reported that her dog lasted till 23 years old. This is actually longer than most other comparable breeds of dogs. The longest lived of this breed even make it to 18.4 years old. The main causes of death for this breed are old age (23%), urologic (15%) and hepatic (12.5%). The most common health issues are reproductive, heart murmurs and cataracts and other eye issues. This dog also has an unusually high incidence of Copper Toxicosis. This is an inherited disease where too much live is being accumulated in the liver.