The History

Dogs with Bedlington features were originally bred in the Rothbury Forest in Northumbria England. They were primarily used as hunting dogs and companions to the gypsies of the area.

The local miners soon adopted them to rid the mines of rats, badgers, and other vermin. Their courage also earned their favor as pit dogs.

The first dog actually called a Bedlington Terrier was born in 1825, and was named Ainsley's Piper. As a breed the Bedlington Terrier, named after the Northumbrian mining shire of the same name, had its debut in the show ring in 1870.

Throughout their history, Bedlingtons have been worked extensively to hunt rats, mice, foxes, and badgers. Separate accounts demonstrate the breed's tenacity.

One dog drew and killed a badger when he was 14 years old. In the 1920s one rat catcher using a Bedlington Terrier, certified a kill rate of 80 rats in one hour.