Characterized as “lambs on leashes” due to their wooly coat, which appear in a variety of colors including a striking shade of blue. A dog named Old Flint is the earliest Bedlington on record. He belonged to Squire Trevelyan and was born in England in 1782. This breed of dog was originally known as the Rothbury Terrier or the Gypsy Dog, derived from their reputed origin as being bred by the gypsy people of the Rothbury Forest. They were supposedly used by these gypsies to illegally poach game. These dogs were also occasionally known as the North Counties Fox-Terrier.
A mason known as Joseph Aynsley is credited with changing the name of the breed to Bedlington. The name is derived from Aynsley’s hometown, a small mining town in the northeast of England. After breeding the first true Bedlington Terrier, the dogs quickly gained popularity as ratters and hunters of small game. They were very much suited for this kind of activity due to their incredible speed. Today, the Bedlington Terrier is found in shows and family homes.
