Bedlington Terriers

Garnet_Gem

Anyone got a bedlington terrier? Could you please give advice on the following?

1 - Are they good natured?

2 - Are they good with children? (although I wouldn't leave ANY dog alone with a child)

3 - Are they expensive?

4 - Do they need a lot of exercise?

5 - Do they really not shed hairs?

My sister's now retired and would like a dog. She wonders if it would be a good choice for her.

ka7e

As a general rule of thumb, terriers have to be well-socialised to avoid aggression with other dogs and they can be "stubborn" ie difficult to train!
Bedlingtons are basically a terrier x whippet, so may chase cats and other small, fast-moving furries. The terrier part may mean it will "go to ground" chasing prey. They don't shed fur but need to have their coats stripped and trimmed.
More info here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedlington_Terrier

http://www.petplanet.co.uk/petplanet/breeds/Bedlington_Terrier.htm

wbk666

they can be snappy and bad tempered
you want a dog that doesnt shed get a bichon frise

Raksha

wbk666 wrote: »

they can be snappy and bad tempered
you want a dog that doesnt shed get a bichon frise

Any dog can be snappy and bad tempered if not socialised, even a Bichon.

I'd say ka7e has summed a Bedlington up very well.

Errata

My friend has a Bedlington. He's quiet, calm and affectionate. Probably because that's the way she trained him to be.

divadee

i knew someone who had a bedlington. Have to say it was the most untrainable dog ever!!!!! and she went to years of classes!!

Her friend who got one from the same litter had the same problems as well (was probably bad breeding lines or something!)

It would not socialise with any other dogs, would go mental if she saw a dog. would jump up at people all the time. And hated being left alone for more than 5 mins and when i say that i mean if you went to have a bath and you locked the door she would go mental and then crap in the middle of the floor.

They had tried everything with her, but still kept her until she passed away last year, but she was a pain up the bum!!

ka7e

I am biased, but I would always recommend a gundog breed over a terrier especially where children are concerned. Although you occasionally get a delinquent one, their breeding usually leads to a much more tractable dog. Any breed that has historically been used to hunt and bring down game, to guard or to fight is more likely to express those traits.

lazza_w

Check out the incidence of liver problems in the line. Copper storage disease is a problem in the breed.

PS my grandad lived in Bedlington, miserable little town:rolleyes:

tracex

I have a 7 year old Liver Bedlington who is the most gentle, well-trained, intelligent, obedient dog in the world!!! Sadly he has an untreatable tumor so we don't know how long he has left. A friend of mine recently had a litter of blue/sandy Bedlingtons and they were sold for £500 each. My dog doesn't cast and I trim him myself every six weeks or they do start to look like a cuddly sheep! Mine is from a working strain but is gentle with any type of animal- we have a guinea-pig who he is best pals with. He is fabulous with children and although you can never tire him out, he's satisfied with a good long walk/run a day. Think I've covered everything. If you need to know more then please get in touch.

rdwarr

There's also the problem of people telling you that your dog looks like a sheep

lil_me

A friend of mine breeds them. All of hers have VERY different characters. From one who is very lively to a much more mellow. One who is very snappy. Another who is very agressive yet the others are placid. Most of hers are show dogs, some are not. They seem to respond to training very well. They do seem to need a lot of exercise, very lively. From what I remember they are expensive.

I did find the following Bedlington rescues on Dogpages

Bedlington Terrier

Bedlington Terrier Rescue and Rehoming
Co-ordinator Mrs Frances Fuller, Sussex. 01273 812409
Mr S Lockett, Scunthorpe, Lincs. Tel: 01724 783098
Mr A Wilson, Widnes, Cheshire. Tel: 0151 4248161
Mrs S Read, Norwich, Norfolk. Tel: 01603 720961
Mr T Bouse, Ystrad Mynach, Mid Glamorgan. Tel: 01443 815183
Mr E Waller, Rotherham, South Yorkshire. Tel: 01709 542346
Mrs S Davies, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Tel: 01563 533671
Julie Oxbury, Redcar, Cleveland. Tel: 01642 485163
Ken Bounden, Exeter, Devon. Tel: 01392 259209
Steve Lockett, Scunthorpe, Lincs. Tel: 01724 338166