Bedlington Terrier,
a nice familydog, who don’t moult. The typical Bedlington of to day are a kind, amusing, lovely, faithful and devoted dog, does not need much room, relatively easy to take care of and not to difficult to handle. They are quick-learner, quite easy to raise and soon find its place in the family. Their pleacement, nice and open behavement, which is typical of today's Bedlington, are of newer date, and breeded through the last 40 - 50 years.

Both in name and history they are a terrier, but also with common stamp to the greyhound. That you can see both in outlines and elasticity, and one thing they have almost quite alone , they almost don’t bark. A Bedlington like long walks, but also find a great pleacement in soft pillow and carpet. The Bedlington terrier belongs to the more rare breed. Today it's not more than about 150 in Norway. In Sweden they have growed more, usually about 50 registrated every year.

Ratkiller, hunting-, fight- and racing-dog

History of breed goes back more than 200 year, back to a famous workingterrier called Trevelyns Old Flint. This dog are probably related to booth Bedlington terrier, Dandy Dinmont terrier and possibly also Border terrier. Rothbury terrier was the name of these effective huntingdogs. The first dog to be called Bedlington terrier was born in 1825 in the little town Bedlington in North- England.

The Bedlington terrier was, first of all, the dog of the working people. They needed a dog who could keep the rats and mouse away, and help to get the Sunday dinner , like rabbits or hare. They were also used in hunting for fox, badger and otter.

Dogfighting and, later on, dog-racing was popular activities, and breeded with both Bull terrier and later on small greyhound, the Bedlington made it, both hunting, fighting and racing. The breed was also used as retrievering-"waterdog", and we presume that otterhound was breeded in. The poor working people couldn’t afford to have a dog for each object, it was therefore important to breed through a dog who could manage all of it ,and the Bedlington did. The first Bedlington in Scandinavia, was imported around 1900. They were bought by the Danish government to get rid of the rats. Several times the Bedlington have been used to strength up the huntingeager in other breed, to day they are still used in mix to produce "lurchere" (Lurchere are effective huntingdogs, popular in England - usually a mix of terrier/greyhound or shepherd/greyhound).

Today's Bedlington terrier - can it be used for something?

First of all the today's Bedlington terrier are a lovely pet and companion, but are also well in hobby-activities as agility and obedience. With their fast and smooth body they can be good agilitydogs, if you just take care of the hair in front of the eyes. In obedience there has been entering some Bedlington both in England and USA, and there are several who have got their obidiencechamp.

In our country there was a Bedlington on the Gera-list through 6 year, 1981-1986. (NKK- list of the 10th. most winning obedience dogs).

In this country we don't have "schutzhund"-competitions for civilian, but in Austria and Germany there are several that compete with Bedlington in "schutz", and they have showed that they can make it on top also in higher class.

As hunting - and tracker dog they can be used too. The last year there are imported a couple of dogs from England after parents used on harehunting.

From the standard.

A Bedlington terrier shall be a gracious, smooth, muscular dog, built for speed. There shall not be any sign of nighter weakness or coarseness. The head shall be pear-formed and the expression shall, when in calm situation be mild and gentle. When the dog are in affect the eyes shall sparkle and give the impression of a dog full of temper and courage. The topline shall be carped and breast deep. The Bedlington terrier are acceptable of high speed, and should look like it. In slower speed the movement are light and elastic.

Coat shall be thick and linty, but not rough. It stands out from the body, have a tendency of twisting .Color are blue, blue and tan, liver or sandy. Height about 41cm, and weight about 8 - 10 kg.

Allergic-friendly.

A great advantage with having a Bedlington, they don’t moult. As opposed to the most other terriers, which has to be trimmed, the Bedlington shall be clipped. This you have to do at least four times a year. If you are handy and have a bit sence of lines, this is not a big deal, at least not for everyday .The coat had to be brushed or combed at least ones a week. Now and then you had to take out the hear in the ears, for to get some air into it.

As it's not moulting it could be a alternative to allergic, who does'nt’t stand the "ordinary" dogcoat. Of cause, you have to check out first, before you buy a Bedlington, if you are allergic to this specific breed.

Breed in homeland - England

In England today, it's a big different in the breed, more than usually by us. In certain area there have been a great deal of displeasure, because of what have happened to the breed since it was discovered as a show - and petdog. Among others, it's the way to trim the coat, till the dog looks like a lamb, and the change of coatstructure, from being "hard, rough and waterproof" till today's standard: the coat shall not be rough .There are several Club's in England there work for taken care of the breed. The last one as late as in 1978, They will keep the pre-war "working Bedlington" and the standard from 1934. The members use their dogs in different kinds of hunting. In some shows in England they have their own class for "working Bedlington", dogs which are used on practical hunt.

Breed in Norway.

The 5 first Bedlington who came to Norway, was imported from Denmark in 1917. Then it takes 20 years before a litter was registrated here, a mated bitch from England. Next import in 1947, again from Denmark. It was'nt’t before the 50th. and 60th. the breed really became popular. In 1965 there was 82 Bedlington registrated, which is the highest ever in this country. At this time 20-30 bedlington was entered in show, the breed was often to see in the group. In 1969 Stanolly Star Gem, won the "Bear-statue", the highest price given by NKK, given to the prettiest dog through the year.

Except for Danish and English import, there have been imports from Sweden, Finland, Holland, USA, Russia and Germany, they have together became the Bedlington of today. The last 20 years, Bedlington have been more rear, in 1980-1990 there where not more than about 10 a year, registrated.

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NEW!!!

Clip from Ken Bounden's book:

NORWAY

In 1917 Bedlingtons were shown in Norway for the first time. The five dogs were all Danich imports. Twenty years passed until Bedlingtons were registrated again in Norway. In 1937 Elsa Amundsen, kennel av Haga, inported Rosette of Wrinstone and Vicarage Suprime from England. Supreme had been mated to Welldon Wataboy, and this was the first Norwegian litter. Breeder Gunvor Sitje, kennel St Rocca, imported two Danish dogs, Bordugs Bine in 1947 and Vestkystens Lux in 1950. From England she bought Blue Crocus of Manaton. An English male, Foggyfurze Tosca, was imported 1956 by Claudia Carlsen. Tosca became a much used stud dog in Scandinavia. Lill Asp imported Stanolly Star Gem, which became Dog of the Year in Norway 1971.

IN 1968 Erling Strandheim, kennel Blue Light, inmported Stanolly Star Attrachtion, a dog with great influence on the breed in Norway. Stanolly Singing Star, Lieberlamb Lady Gay, Charm Ullien fraom Germany and the Swedish Blå Skuggans Agent in Blue are other dogs imported by this kennel. The kennel is now owned by Eva Oldmark. Besides kennel Blue Light. 

Eli Fjeld. with the kennel Borsali'no, has been the most importent breeder the last decades. She started with Blue Light-dogs, and has also imported some dogs, among them Top Crystal Deianeira from Sweden, and the English Granitor Bramble and Granitor Mystique. She has worked hard to produce dogs free from copper toxicosis. 

Two Norwegian Champions and littermates pictured at one year of age:  

Borsali'nos Perito owned by Mona and Benedickte Fjeld, and Borsali'nos Paloma owned by Berit Hallan.

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