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MediumTerrier Group

Bedlington Terrier

The Bedlington Terrier was developed in 19th-century Northumberland coal-mining villages as a vermin hunter and dog-fighting competitor, later refined into show type with the lamb-like silhouette.

Calculate Bedlington Terrier age
Lifespan13.7 yrrange 13–14
SizeMediumTerrier Group
Weight17–23 lb7.7–10.4 kg
Senior at7 yrgeriatric at 11

Gallery (3)

About

About the Bedlington Terrier

The Bedlington Terrier was developed in 19th-century Northumberland coal-mining villages as a vermin hunter and dog-fighting competitor, later refined into show type with the lamb-like silhouette. The crisp linty coat is breed-defining.

Aging

How Bedlington Terriers age

RVC VetCompass gives a median 13.7 years (n=1,843). Copper toxicosis (hereditary hepatic copper accumulation) is the defining inherited metabolic concern — DNA-testable and near-eliminated — with retinal dysplasia secondary.

Lifespan deep-diveAvg 13.7 yr · range 13–14Senior careSenior at 7 · geriatric at 11Common health issues2 tracked conditions
Physical

Physical characteristics

Weight
17–23 lb(7.7–10.4 kg)
Height
15–17.5 in(38.1–44.5 cm)
Coat type
Curly
Colors
BlueBlue & TanSandyLiver & TanLiverSandy & Tan
Temperament

Temperament

How Bedlington Terriers tend to show up around their people, other dogs, and the world.

loyalcharminggracefulspirited
  • Energy
  • Trainability
  • Good with kids
  • Good with other dogs
  • Shedding
Health

Common health issues

Full health profile
  • Moderatetypical onset ~2 yr

    Patellar Luxation

    Description and veterinary guidance for Patellar Luxation land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

  • Low prevalencetypical onset ~7 yr

    Cataracts

    Description and veterinary guidance for Cataracts land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

Exercise
60min
per day

About 60 minutes of activity per day keeps a Bedlington Terrier physically and mentally satisfied. Split it between a structured walk and free play.

Related

Related breeds

Breeds with a similar size and group profile, for readers comparing options.

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References

Sources

Lifespan and health figures on this page are drawn from the peer-reviewed and organizational sources below.

  1. AKC breed standardAmerican Kennel Club breed page

    Breed size, weight range, height, AKC group, origin, coat type, and temperament baseline.

  2. RVC VetCompassRoyal Veterinary College VetCompass life-table research (McMillan et al. 2024)

    UK primary-care records; source for the median-lifespan and mortality figures.