Bedlington Terrier
Did you know?
- The Bedlington Terrier was first known as the Rothburg Terrier
in the Hannys Hills of England.
- Joseph Ainsley of Bedlington owned the first dog known to
be called a Bedlington Terrier.
- The breed was originally bred in England for hunting.
So you want to own a Bedlington Terrier?
The Bedlington Terrier is strong, lithe, graceful, and built
for speed The Bedlington Terrier's unique appearance combined
with his assertive demeanor are two reasons why this dog is described
as having "the head of a lamb," and "the heart
of a lion." The coat is distinctive in appearance and requires
daily five-minute groomings to keep its unique shape and healthy
condition. The alert, energetic Bedlington loves to play, but
is known for his mild and gentle side. His personality earns him
the reputation of a great companion dog.
Breed Standard
General Appearance
A graceful, lithe, well-balanced dog with no sign of coarseness,
weakness or shelliness. In repose the expression is mild and gentle,
not shy or nervous. Aroused, the dog is particularly alert and
full of immense energy and courage. Noteworthy for endurance,
Bedlingtons also gallop at great speed, as their body outline
clearly shows.
Head
Narrow, but deep and rounded. Shorter in skull and longer in
jaw. Covered with a profuse topknot which is lighter than the
color of the body, highest at the crown, and tapering gradually
to just back of the nose. There must be no stop and the unbroken
line from crown to nose end reveals a slender head without cheekiness
or snipiness. Lips are black in the blue and blue and tans and
brown in all other solid and bi-colors. Eyes - Almond-shaped,
small, bright and well sunk with no tendency to tear or water.
Set is oblique and fairly high on the head. Blues have dark eyes;
blues and tans, less dark with amber lights; sandies, sandies
and tans, light hazel; livers, livers and tans, slightly darker.
Eye rims are black in the blue and blue and tans, and brown in
all other solid and bi-colors. Ears - Triangular with rounded
tips. Set on low and hanging flat to the cheek in front with a
slight projection at the base. Point of greatest width approximately
3 inches. Ear tips reach the corners of the mouth. Thin and velvety
in texture, covered with fine hair forming a small silky tassel
at the tip. Nose - Nostrils large and well defined. Blues and
blues and tans have black noses. Livers, livers and tans, sandies,
sandies and tans have brown noses. Jaws - Long and tapering. Strong
muzzle well filled up with bone beneath the eye. Close-fitting
lips, no flews. Teeth - Large, strong and white. Level or scissors
bite. Lower canines clasp the outer surface of the upper gum just
in front of the upper canines. Upper premolars and molars lie
outside those of the lower jaw.
Neck and Shoulders
Long, tapering neck with no throatiness, deep at the base and
rising well up from the shoulders which are flat and sloping with
no excessive musculature. The head is carried high.
Body
Muscular and markedly flexible. Chest deep. Flat-ribbed and
deep through the brisket, which reaches to the elbows. Back has
a good natural arch over the loin, creating a definite tuck-up
of the underline. Body slightly greater in length than height.
Well-muscled quarters are also fine and graceful.
Legs and Feet
Lithe and muscular. The hind legs are longer than the forelegs,
which are straight and wider apart at the chest than at the feet.
Slight bend to pasterns which are long and sloping without weakness.
Stifles well angulated. Hocks strong and well let down, turning
neither in nor out. Long hare feet with thick, well-closed-up,
smooth pads. Dewclaws should be removed.
Coat
A very distinctive mixture of hard and soft hair standing well
out from the skin. Crisp to the touch but not wiry, having a tendency
to curl, especially on the head and face. When in show trim must
not exceed 1 inch on body; hair on legs is slightly longer.
Tail
Set low, scimitar-shaped, thick at the root and tapering to
a point which reaches the hock. Not carried over the back or tight
to the underbody.
Color
Blue, sandy, liver, blue and tan, sandy and tan, liver and tan.
In bi-colors the tan markings are found on the legs, chest, under
the tail, inside the hindquarters and over each eye. The topknots
of all adults should be lighter than the body color. Patches of
darker hair from an injury are not objectionable, as these are
only temporary. Darker body pigmentation of all colors is to be
encouraged.
Height
The preferred Bedlington Terrier dog measures 16½ inches
at the withers, the bitch 15½ inches. Under 16 inches or
over 17½ inches for dogs and under 15 inches or over 16½
inches for bitches are serious faults. Only where comparative
superiority of a specimen outside these ranges clearly justifies
it, should greater latitude be taken.
Weight
To be proportionate to height within the range of 17 to 23 pounds.
Gait
Unique lightness of movement. Springy in the slower paces, not
stilted or hackneyed. Must not cross, weave or paddle.
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