An English original, the Bedlington Terrier has become known worldwide for its distinct appearance. While beautiful and dainty-looking, the Bedlington is both hardy and agile—a true terrier in “lamb’s” clothes!
Have you ever seen a dog being walked on the street by his master and thought, “What is that? It looks like a lamb!” That adorable “lambkin” is the Bedlington Terrier. Although he may look like a lamb, this is a dog that is all terrier, one who has the heart of a lion but is a charming, gentle and first-class companion. Although he is most often now a loyal companion for his family, his original terrier instincts have not been lost. He will be equally at home on a country estate chasing a rabbit or in an apartment lounging about with his owner.
The Bedlington Terrier may not be the dog for everyone, as terriers are active, busy dogs and this dog is no exception. However, if you like a plucky dog, one who fits easily into most any lifestyle, this may be just the one for you.
WHAT IS A TERRIER?
As with that of all terriers, the history of the Bedlington Terrier is a convoluted and difficult road to follow. Edwin Brough wrote in the early 1900s, “He who attempts to discover the origin and trace the history of any one of our breeds of dogs, beyond a comparatively few generations, will, in most or all cases, speedily find himself in a fog, tossed on a sea of doubt, driven hither and thither by the conflicting evidence of the writers he consults, who seem to emulate each other in the meagerness of the information they give and the vagueness with which they convey it.”
“Grandma, what big teeth you have!” The gray wolf, a familiar figure in fairy tales and legends, has had its reputation tarnished and its population pummeled over the centuries. Yet it is the descendants of this much-feared creature to which we open our homes and hearts. Our beloved dog, Canis domesticus, derives directly from the gray wolf, a highly social canine that lives in elaborately structured packs. In the wild, the gray wolf can range from 60 to 175 pounds, standing between 25 and 40 inches in height.
Hoping to defy any sense of the meager and vague, let us begin. The Bedlington Terrier belongs to the classification of dogs described as terriers, from the Latin word terra, meaning “earth.” The terrier is a dog that has been bred to work beneath the ground to drive out small and large vermin, rodents and other animals that can be a nuisance to country living. Nearly all of the dogs in the Terrier Group originated in the British Isles with the exception of the Australian Terrier, the Cesky Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier. Although these breeds do not hail from the British Isles, they were developed from British dogs: the Cesky Terrier from an original cross of the Scottish Terrier and the Sealyham Terrier, the Australian Terrier from a series of crosses of various terrier breeds and the American Staffordshire Terrier from the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
Many of the terrier breeds were derived from a similar ancestor and, as recently as the mid-1800s, the terriers fell roughly into two basic categories: the rough-coated, short-legged dogs, which tended to come from Scotland, and the longer legged, smooth-coated dogs, which were bred in England. The terriers, although they may differ in type, all have the same character, being game dogs who go to ground after vermin or larger animals.
In 1735, the Sportsman’s Dictionary described the terrier as a kind of hound, used only or chiefly for hunting the fox or badger. “He creeps into the ground and then nips and bites the fox and badger, either by tearing them in pieces with his teeth, or else hauling them and pulling them by force out of their lurking holes.”
The terrier background is obscure, but what is certain is that in the 1700s and early 1800s there was no definite breed of terrier, only dogs that were bred to go to ground with courage and conviction. Those who were unable to do the job were destroyed, and those who could do the proper work were bred to one another with little regard for type. “Unless they were fit and game for the purpose, their heads were not kept long out of the huge butt of water in the stable yard.”
Those who bred and kept dogs had a specific purpose of work for their particular breed—long legs for speed, short legs for going to ground and double coats for protection against the elements. Regardless of their intended quarry, all terriers have a powerful set of teeth.
In the 1930s, Mr. John Cornforth’s Nelson was typical of the Bedlingtons of that period—a dramatic difference from the dogs of today.
SO DISTINCT, HE’S UNUSUAL
Dog authority and author Will Judy wrote in 1935, “The Bedlington is distinctive in appearance. The deep-sunken eyes of sleepy expression attract the observer, though the same eyes quickly rouse to action. The straggly coat of blue or sandy color, the light build, the sheeplike head and sheeplike coat unite to set him apart as an unusual terrier.”
ORIGIN OF THE BEDLINGTON TERRIER
Originally called the Rothbury Terrier, the Bedlington hails from the Border Counties between England and Scotland. This is rocky, hilly country where there is an abundance of wildlife and vermin—ideal terrier country! Also from this area are the Border Terrier, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Lakeland Terrier. They are all keenly game and natural hunters that have courage and stamina and are able to go to ground after rats, rabbits, foxes, badgers, otters and martens.
A very famous champion at the end of the 19th century was Eng. Ch. Humbleden Blue Boy. Note that the trimming of that time is quite different from that of today. The head shows a stop, which is not apparent in present-day dogs.
Although the Bedlington’s background is vague, there are some general assumptions that can be made as far as the Bedlington’s roots are concerned. It is assumed that one of the foundation dogs is the Old English Terrier, with crosses to the Otterhound and possibly to the Dandie Dinmont. On occasion, it has been mentioned that the Whippet is also in the Bedlington’s background because of the similarity in conformation, including the dog’s head shape, abdominal tuck-up and speed, but, in general, this is refuted by most experts.
A dog by the name of Old Flint, whelped in 1782, is considered to be the progenitor of the modern breed. In the early 1820s, Joseph Aynsley from the town of Bedlington in Northumberland purchased Peachem and bred him to Phoebe, and they produced a son named Piper. Aynsley then acquired a bitch called Cotes Phoebe, who was bred to Anderson’s Piper. Thus the breed had its start.
In 1873 the first Stud Book of England’s Kennel Club listed 30 Bedlingtons but noted that the majority of them were listed as “Pedigree not recorded,” “Unknown” or “Uncertain,” and only 11 had the names of their sires and dams recorded.
Around the early 1900s, not only were better records being kept, but the breed started to be bred as a companion dog and, surprisingly, became a dog who had manners and a taste for luxury. Methods of trimming improved and the dog took on the look of a lovely sheared lamb; however, the heart of a terrier still beat, and the Bedlington has never lost its terrier skills of going after game and vermin.
The first dog show with a class for Bedlingtons was held in Newcastle, England in 1879, with an entry of 52. Mr. Thomas J. Pickett, who was an ardent supporter of the breed, won with his dog Tear ’em. In 1871 Mr. Pickett again won the breed over an entry of 22 with a bitch called Tyneside. At the 1873 show Pickett won first place with the bitch Tyne, a sister to Tear ’em. Tear ’em placed second and Tyneside was third. Pickett said that no breed could compare with the Bedlington for stamina, courage and resolution.
Miss Lawis, owner of a Bedlington kennel, shown arriving at the 1934 Crufts Show. The dog on the left won a Challenge Certificate.
A delightful photo showing the young Master Horlick with two of his family’s favorite Bedlingtons.
Pickett wrote, “I look upon the Bedlington as a farmer’s friend and country gentleman’s companion. No breed of Terrier can compare with him for stamina, fire, courage and resolution. He will knock about all day with his master, busy as a bee at foxes, rabbits or otters; and at night, when any other sort of dog would be stiff, sore and utterly jaded, he will turn up bright as a new shilling and ready for any game going. He takes to the water readily, has a capital nose, is most intelligent and lively and is a rough and ready friend about the fields and woods—he has no equal.”
Mrs. Maud Mead, of Sudston kennels, purchased a dog named Raggles in 1909 from his breeder, E. Hurley, and remained a supporter, fancier and breeder up until the mid-1930s. She devoted her efforts to the British Bedlington Club, formed in 1910 by Percy Smith. By 1933, however, many of its members had left the club to join the more successful Bedlington Terrier Association, which had been established in 1924.
Bet of Bransways being trimmed by Miss Branfoot.
Miss Goodrick, an exhibitor of Bedlingtons during the 1930s, combing out a dog’s legs before their appearance in the ring.
By 1934, the British Bedlington Club had disbanded due to declining membership. The Sudston Cup, named after Mrs. Mead’s kennel, was then transferred to the National Bedlington Terrier Club. Her Sudston Panther was a well-known sire of the area, described by his breeder as “A fine upstanding dog, on the large side, but entirely free from coarseness. An enormously long, fine head, flat, well-placed ears, well-set eyes. Perfect front and grand outline.” The doggie press critic noted, “Shade big but a wonderful bodied, boned and quartered dog; his blue coat handles well, and he has a long, shapely head; a most likely sire.”
Eugene Noble wrote in his article “The Gypsy Dogs,” “His devotees were a rough set of hardy workingmen, miners, nailers, gypsies and tinkers, for the most part. They wanted something scrappy; a dog that would do or die; a lithe, agile, fearless gamester...Rough men, poor men, clever and canny men, fancied and bred the Bedlington.” Some believe that the tassel at the end of the Bedlington’s ears is reminiscent of his past with the gypsies and their fancy earrings.
The top-winning Bedlington of 1971 and 1972, Ch. Jolee Jingle Bells of Dovern, handled by Joe Waterman.
Ch. Southwind’s Blue Velvet, America’s number-one Bedlington in 1969 and 1970 and one of the top-winning terriers in those years as well, handled by Jack Funk under judge Percy Roberts.
THE BEDLINGTON IN THE US
The Bedlington Terrier was exported to the United States in the late 1800s, and the first entry to appear in the American Kennel Club Stud Book was in 1883. The breed was not a particularly popular dog in America, and it took until 1924 for registrations to reach ten per year. However, the breed was somewhat more popular in Canada, where two litters were bred as early as 1883.
The first American championship won by a Bedlington was in 1884 by Ch. Blucher, whelped in England in 1882. By the mid-1880s, a group of fanciers noted that the breed should be taken seriously and wrote the first American standard for the Bedlington. By 1900, there were 5 American champions of title, and 70 or so Bedlingtons had been registered. The going price of a pet puppy was $50.00, whereas a show prospect could cost the fantastic sum (for those times) of $500.00.
The Bedlington Terrier in America has been very fortunate, for over the years the breed was supported by several wealthy individuals, and through their efforts the breed remained in the public eye for many years with exceptional winners coming from their kennels. During this period, from about 1920 through the mid-1960s, many exceptional Bedlingtons were whelped and shown in America, compiling wonderful winning records in addition to becoming top producers.
In the early 1900s the breed caught the eye of Col. M. Robert Guggenheim and his Firenze kennels in Long Island, New York. A dog man for years, the colonel had owned over 60 Bulldogs at one time, in addition to a pack of 30 Beagles. He saw the Bedlington Terrier in England around 1905 and eventually imported the best of the Bedlingtons that he could find. Guggenheim had a top kennel man, the Englishman Edward Ward, who traveled the Atlantic on a yearly basis, keeping up on the English Bedlington news and bringing back the best of the breed to Firenze kennels. Between 1920 and 1930, 29 Bedlington champions were made up in America, 23 of which were owned by Firenze kennels.
This trend of importing English greats came to an end within a couple of decades. By 1940, nearly half of the US champions were either bred in America or Canada, whereas prior to this time, 80% of the champions had been imported from England.
Anthony and Anna Neary emigrated from England to the United States in 1929, bringing with them a pair of Bedlingtons called Exiled Laddie and Hasty Morn. Laddie became an American champion and sired six champions. The Nearys were strong supporters of the breed, supporting major Bedlington entries at the Eastern shows. In 1940 they entered the very prestigious Westminster Kennel Club show, and their dog was selected Best American-bred Terrier. William Rockefeller was at this show and later called the Nearys, offering Mr. Neary the position of kennel manager of his Rock Ridge kennels.
The Rockefellers and the Nearys proved to be an unbeatable combination in the US. Numerous champions came out of this kennel for over three decades, up until Mr. Neary’s retirement from kennel managing and handling. The outstanding dog from the Rock Ridge kennels was Ch. Rock Ridge Night Rocket, whelped in 1946. For the time, he had one of the top show careers of any dog of any breed. At little more than one year of age, he was Best in Show at the prestigious Morris and Essex show, the show held on the grounds of the estate of Mrs. Geraldine Dodge. The next February, he was Best in Show at Westminster Kennel Club and, the following year, he again was Best in Show at the Morris and Essex show. He was used sparingly at stud but in a short and limited career he sired 36 champions. To this day, he remains one of the greats among Bedlington Terriers.
Ch. Ray’s Smoky of Rowanoaks in 1971, when he was one of the top dogs in the breed, shown winning a Terrier Group under judge Tom Gannon.
Another American kennel of renown, started in the mid-1930s, was Rowanoaks kennels, owned by Col. and Mrs. P. V. G. Mitchell and their daughter, Connie Willemsen. The Mitchells traveled to England and imported two outstanding dogs: Ch. Tarragona of Rowanoaks and Ch. Love Letter. Tarragona went to the top in the show ring, in addition to siring 23 champions. However, within a year, his daughter, Ch. Lady Rowena of Rowanoaks, bested him in the ring, winning an all-breed Best in Show in 1938 while still in the Puppy Class. In 1939 she won Best in Show at the well-known American terrier show held by the Montgomery County Kennel Club.
The Mitchells, very active in the breed for many years, bred for correct breed type, beautiful heads and proper coats. They never kept more than 12 dogs and finished over 100 champions. They were active until the late 1960s and their daughter, Mrs. Willemsen, was also very active in the Bedlington Terrier Club of America.
In America, by the 1950s and 1960s, many new breeders became active, producing more notable dogs. Martha McVay of Marvay kennels in California has been active for nearly half a century. Dogs from her kennel have had many Terrier Group placements through the years, in addition to winning the national speciality six times.
An early winner, Ch. Van-Dee’s Snocap of Valgo.
Milo and Marjorie Hanson from California and their Valgo kennels produced over 75 champions and also earned obedience degrees on several more. Center Ridge kennels in Milwaukee, Wisconsin finished 30 champions. Ch. Center Ridge Snow Classic, whelped in 1955, won 5 Bests in Show and 40 Group Firsts. Am./Can. Ch. Center Ridge Minute Man had two Bests in Show and sired nine champion get. Am./Can. Ch. Center Ridge Lady Caroline, whelped in 1959, won 15 Bests in Show and 62 Group Firsts and still had time to produce 2 champion get.
In 1948, 218 Bedlingtons were registered in the US and, by 1958, registrations had more than doubled to 573. By 1968, registrations had risen to 778.
Mrs. Marian Cabage from Illinois was active in the 1960s, and her most well-known dog was Ch. Southwind’s Blue Velvet, the top terrier in 1969 and also recipient of the Kennel Review Award for that year. He retired with 18 Bests in Show and 125 Group Firsts, having sired 32 champions.
David Ramsey of Willow Wind kennels was the Bedlington breeder who made the greatest impact on the breed during the last quarter of the 20th century. Ch. Willow Wind Silver Cloud, sire of 15 champions, was the top Bedlington sire in 1980. His double-granddaughter was the top Bedlington in 1983. Mr. Ramsey’s greatest dog was Ch. Willow Wind Centurian. At the Beverly Hills show, Centurian defeated 700 terriers to win the Terrier Group. In the 1990s, Ch. Willow Wind Play It My Way was a multi-Best in Show dog. Ch. Willow Wind Tenure was the top terrier in 1999.
In the United States the Bedlington has remained fairly popular. The breed has been fortunate to have some exceptional owners over the years who have been interested in having their dogs campaigned; these dogs have made the breed memorable, even though the breed’s numbers have been relatively small. Currently the breed ranks in the lower third in registrations of AKC-recognized breeds.
Jackie Fogel, from West Bend, Wisconsin, has been breeding Bedlingtons since the early 1990s under the First Class prefix. Ch. First Class the Euro (or “JR”) won Best of Breed at the Westminster Kennel Club show twice, was a national specialty winner and number-one Bedlington, all systems, in 2002. JR is now living in France, providing tough competition to the European Bedlingtons. Two of his French puppies have returned to the US to gain their American championships. JR’s dam was Ch. Willow Wind It’s My Party, winner of the Top Producer of the Year award from the Bedlington Terrier Club of America in 2003. In 2004, four of the top ten Bedlingtons were out of First Class dogs. One of Jackie’s biggest thrills was piloting Ch. First Class Superman to Best of Breed at Westminster—the kennel’s third win at Westminster but the first with Jackie handling her own dog. Over 20 champions have come out of the First Class kennels.
The top Bedlington Terrier for five years in the mid/late 1980s, Ch. Willow Wind Centurian, owner/breeder-handled by David Ramsey to Best in Show at Springfield Kennel Club in 1986 under judge Pete Dawkins.
The top Bedlington winner at the turn of the century, Ch. Willow Wind Tenure was the number one of all terriers in 2000, winning 27 Bests in Show that year alone. He was handled by Taffe McFadden, shown here with judge Adelene Pardo.
Lucy Heyman, from Spring, Texas, has been breeding under the Carillon prefix for many years. As with many breeders, Lucy started with a Bedlington bitch brought home to be the family pet. Another bitch was added to the family who eventually became Ch. Claremont Luna, finishing her championship with multiple Group placements. Luna has numerous champion descendants. To date the kennel claims over 110 Bedlington Terrier champions, including many Group-placing and -winning dogs and national and regional specialty winners. The kennel can claim 5 top producers, including the top dam of all time, Ch. Carillon Salsa Serendipity, dam of 16 champions. In addition, the other top producers are Ch. Carillon Serendipity, dam of Salsa, with 8 champions to her credit; Serendipity’s son, Ch. Carillon Boulevardier, sire of 29 champions; and a Serendipity daughter, Ch. Carillon Serendipity Calypso, with 10 champions to her credit. In addition, another son of Serendipity, Ch. Carillon Fuzzi Logic, has 19 champions to date. One of the kennel’s top goals is to breed healthy dogs and continue to improve the overall health of the Bedlington Terrier. Over 100 Carillon dogs are listed on the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) website as being free of the various defects and diseases known to affect the breed. Lucy has served on the board of the parent club and serves on the AKC’s President’s Council of the Canine Health Foundation.
The future of the Bedlington Terrier looks bright with a group of promising breeders who are making significant achievements. On the West Coast, Darlene Swenson Smith has emerged from almost two decades of inactivity to reinvent her successful breeding program with frozen semen saved from the son of her home-bred Best in Show winner Ch. Tiffanies Tickle Your Butzky. Dick and Kay Kraft have launched a successful breeding program with their Best in Show, Group-winning and national specialty-winning Ch. Silvery Moon Unforgettable, who also placed second in the Terrier Group at the Westminster Kennel Club show. From San Jose, California, Batyah Taban, well known for her top-winning Afghan Hounds, started her DeHayyim Bedlington-breeding program in the late 1990s and has already produced two Best in Show dogs and several regional specialty winners. In Denver, Dennis and Kristy Corash are producing Group and national specialty winners under their Bonny Brook prefix, along with having a top junior handler in the family, daughter Melissa. Sandra Bethea, of Mississippi, with little breeding has done well with her dogs in conformation, obedience and agility trials. Harriet Whitbread in Virginia had the top dog in 2004, Ch. Angel’s Blue Elvis of Eden, and Linda Freeman, also from Virginia, has had a past Group-winning Pedigree Award winner. Both women are actively breeding Bedlingtons.
A group of handsome Bedlingtons with their mistresses.
THE BEDLINGTON IN MODERN BRITAIN
The Rathsrigg kennel of Ian and Margaret Phillips, West Yorkshire, was established in 1957. Mr. Phillips has certainly been a force in the breed in the UK. Over the years, they have bred about 25 English champions in addition to selling dogs throughout Europe and North America. Mr. Phillips is president of the National Bedlington Terrier Club and has written an extensive book, The Centenary Book of the National Bedlington Terrier Club, 1989-1998, which is available from either Mr. Phillips or from the club.
Notable British breeders have included Mrs. P. Hall of Dalip Bedlingtons. She bred and co-owned, with Mrs. P. Morton, Ch. Dalip Lord of the Rings, who was the top Bedlington and the top sire of 2000, winning a total of 19 Challenge Certificates (CCs, awards toward an English championship) and 14 Bests of Breed, in addition to winning 2 Terrier Groups by the end of 2000.
Mr. and Mrs. R. North own Niddvale Spring Warrior, the Best of Breed winner at the Crufts Dog Show in 2000. Toffset Tiptop, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Wright, won the bitch CC and Best of Breed at the 2000 Welsh Kennel Club show. Mrs. B. F. Emsley owned Ch. Hilldyke Alicia, who was Best of Breed at the National Terrier show and top Bedlington bitch in 2000. Mrs. Emsley is secretary/treasurer of the National Bedlington Terrier Club, which publishes the very informative The Sporting Bedlington, published twice a year.
There are two very active clubs for the Bedlington Terrier. In the United Kingdom it is the National Bedlington Terrier Club, and in the US it is the Bedlington Terrier Club of America. In America there are two affiliated clubs, the Bedlington Terrier Club of Greater Chicago and the Bedlington Terrier Club of the West. For information on either national club, contact The Kennel Club (UK) or the American Kennel Club, or check them out online. For further information on breeders, the national club in your country should be contacted.
At a recent Crufts Dog Show, 80 Bedlington Terriers were entered, which placed the breed numerically about in the middle of terrier entries, but far below the more popular terrier breeds.
BEDLINGTONS AROUND THE WORLD
In Canada the Bedlington Terrier has remained somewhat of an uncommon breed, and its fanciers usually show their dogs in both Canada and the United States. Well-known breeders since the 1960s have been Shirley and Don Martin of the Siwash kennels in Ontario and the Boulevardier kennels of M. Gail Gates and Art Perkins from Saskatchewan. From the Siwash kennels, all dogs owner-handled, came numerous top winners. Ch. Siwash Blue Kelley was second top terrier in 1983 and third top terrier in 1984, won 3 Bests in Show and 27 Group firsts and was Best of Opposite Sex at Montgomery County Kennel Club in 1990 at the age of 9. Ch. Marvay’s Melissa of Siwash was the number-four terrier in 1978 and had three all-breed Bests in Show. Ch. Siwash Merry Martin was the number-one Bedlington in Canada in 1989, with multiple Group placements. In 1988, Dogs in Canada listed the top 5 dogs in each breed for the previous 25 years, and 4 of the 5 Bedlingtons were from the Siwash kennel.
Boulevardier Bedlingtons, since 1987, have held the number-one Bedlington in Canada position for four different years with four different dogs. Ch. Boulevardier Seltine Tiere was the number-three Bedlington in 1994 and number-two Bedlington in 1995, as well as the number-eight Bedlington in the US. Ch. Boulevardier Bad LeRoy Brown, owned by Elmer Grieve, was the number-one Bedlington in 1994. Ch. Trout on a Line finished his championship with four consecutive Group placements. The motto for this kennel is: “In search of excellence in conformation, temperament and health equally important.”
Angela Roper of Nosehill kennels, of Alberta, should also be mentioned. Her Ch. Lady Alexander of Nosehill was Best in Show at the Alberta Kennel Club in 1989. Ms. Roper has been active in obedience, pet therapy and agility training.
In Finland there has been interest in the breed since the 1960s, with some fine kennels breeding and importing winning dogs. Peggen, Hjordie and Erkki Tenlenius of Eho kennels have been well-known for many years, especially for Int. Ch. Leasowes Damask Rose, Best in Show winner at the Helsinki International show in 1964. Int. Ch. Jessica, bred by Mr. Ilpo Malmioja, was best terrier in 1975. Ms. Ritva Kohijoki of Kisapirtin kennels has been well-known for her great winners; of note are Int. Ch. Kisapirtin Perro, Int. Ch. Kisapirtin Miramari, Int. Ch. Kisapirtin Talita and Int. Ch. Kisapirtin Perella. Over the years she has had 12 International Championships, 37 Finnish Championships and about 120 CACIBs (International Champion of Beauty certificates awarded by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale). Registration numbers are small, but the breed has a devoted following and is able to hold its own at the shows.
The UK has one of the world’s most active Bedlington Terrier breed clubs. Here a Bedlington is exhibited at an outdoor show in England.
The breed is not very popular in New Zealand, and by far the most active breeder is Linda Strongman, who purchased Aust./NZ Ch. Southridge Royal Blue. This dog had won several Australian Bests in Show before being exported to New Zealand, where he has been a Group winner as well as Reserve Best in Show several times. Ms. Strongman has imported several more dogs from Australia and bred NZ Ch. Lynmar Truffels, who has won many awards in New Zealand.
