Pet Information

I hear this question all of the time “How do I train my Labrador Retriever to not pull when walking her on a leash?” from family and friends that have this beautiful breed.

It is no secret that Labrador Retrievers are a very energetic and rambunctious breed that requires a lot of love and attention. It is also no secret that they give back 110% of that love and attention making them one of the best breeds to have as a family pet.

It really bothers me to see folks struggling with their Labs and getting frustrated with them while doing something as common as a walk in the park, it’s not their fault that we take such a high spirited dog and try to domestic them. So I decided to go online and do a little research to see if I could find the techniques used by other owners in order to answer the question presented in this article.

I found many answers to this question from Yahoo’s Answers at http://au.answers.yahoo.com/ and what I found seems to be solid advice that can be followed by anyone now owning or those interested in obtaining such a beautiful dog.

Listed below are several good options for preventing your Lab from pulling while on a leash.

• You should really sign up for a Labrador puppy training class.
• For older dogs, Labrador Retrievers Obedience Training is a good idea.
• Buy something called a Gentle Leader; it is a collar that basically goes around the neck right behind the ears (not like a regular collar a bit higher) and another loop around the muzzle. It doesn’t keep her mouth closed but when you pull it pulls their muzzle. Do not yank the dog but instead a short swift tug and release will help the dog feel that quick snap causing her to slow down and wait for you. Leave the gentle leader on her in the house to get used to it even it’s not attached to any leash.
• When she is walking and she pulls ahead, stop and call her name. Wait for her to come back to you and give her a pat and a treat. If she looks at you but doesn’t move try stepping back excitedly and she should come. Do this on every walk.
• Keep the leash very short while you are walking (like 6-8 inches). This keeps her from being able to gain the momentum to pull. As you let the leash out just a bit, if she pulls, STOP, wait until she quits pulling to continue. Each time she pulls either stop immediately or turn and go the opposite direction.
• Part of the problem could be the collar placement. Most collars lay at the base of the neck, which is where the hard muscle is. The only problem is that with rambunctious dogs like labs is that they can pull hard and be unfazed due to the strength of that muscle. Try fitting a collar higher on the neck, behind the ears. There is much less muscle there so she gets less leverage to pull. It also gives you, the owner, greater control over where she goes and how much momentum she can get. Hold the leash so that when your arm is comfortably at your side, the dog has a little bit of slack. This keeps her close to you without choking her. Then, if she decides she wants to go one way or the other, she meets the resistance of the collar and leash before she’s more than a few inches away.
• When she pulls hard, correct her by pulling back on the leash. You don’t have to jerk her off her feet, but pull sharp enough that she gets the hint. At the same time, use a sound that will get her attention, like warning a child. Keep her close to you and do not give an inch. If she pulls harder, stand your ground and make her sit down. This will stop her advances further and helps to bring her attention back to you. She will get the point rather quickly and will be walking nicely before you know it.
• Before leaving the house, make sure you go out the door first. If she tries to pull you because she has seen something she wants, command her to STOP, sit and stay, a firm “Leave it” should help. Repeat it often.
• Sometimes adding weight to her will calm her down like a back pack or vest with pockets of water bottle on each side.

It will take about a week or so with this type of training before successfully walking her in public, if anyone wants to pet her while you are doing this just explain that she is in training and most people will understand and wish you good. I hope this advice will help make your Labrador a better walking partner.

In October 2006 Dog Day Afternoons Country Day Prep, the country’s most exclusive and prestigious academic institution for dogs, launches Hound & Garden, a new daily TV series. The show will reveal why Country Day Prep leads the pack in unleashing the power of the canine intellect and cultivating the well-rounded dog.

Hound & Garden will be set on the bucolic Country Day Prep campus, and will feature the academy’s very own instructors and students as they live, learn, and explore the finer things in life. Hound & Garden will highlight the Country Day Prep student as a breed apart, a figure who combines superior intelligence, social savoir-faire, and good fashion sense in the dogged pursuit of excellence.

Each installment of Hound & Garden will cover doggie news, trend reports, and previews of the latest gadgets for your pets, as well as simple cooking lessons and arts-and-crafts projects expressly for dogs (and the people who love them). Celebrating the ethic of “work hard, play hard,” Hound & Garden will also provide an intimate glimpse of our campus life: the traditions, the academics, the drama, and the challenge our students face in such a rigorous program. “We want the rest of the world to understand what attending the country’s only prep school for dogs is all about,” says Jeff Walker, Country Day Prep’s Headmaster and Co-Founder. “For non-Bostonians and those who couldn’t meet our school’s competitive admissions standards, Hound & Garden connects your dog with Country Day Prep’s Satellite Learning Program.”

Both a paws-on(line) education for the complete dog, and an enticing peek into the lifestyles of the rich and canine, Hound & Garden is guaranteed to raise your dog’s IQ and get your tail wagging.Jeff

What you feed your dog is really SO important for your dog’s ultimate health, susceptibility to illness, and longevity.

You know, if you really want your dog to be as healthy as s/he can be, you should stop feeding ANY of the widely available commercial dog foods.

I’m talking here about the types of dog food commonly found in supermarkets, and even about most of the supposedly superior brands sold in some supermarkets, pet food shops, and even by many vets.

The cheaper the brand, then generally the more full of garbage it is, but even many of the more expensive brands leave much to be desired.

What do you think is an ideal diet for your dog?

- plump chickens?

- choice cuts of juicy beef and lamb?

- maybe a few healthy fresh grains for variety?

- the odd fresh herbs, vegetables and fruit?

You’d be right.

But how many of the above ingredients do you think go into commercial pet food?

A lot? Only a little? If you said yes to either of these, you’d be dead wrong.

The average commercial dog food bears NO relation to the above list of choice ingredients, despite what pet food manufacturers display in some of their marketing, and despite what the list of ingredients on the pack or can might tend to indicate.

There is very, very little (if any) of the above ingredients in the average commercial dog food, and by the time it’s been overcooked at sustained high temperatures, and sprayed with preservative agents, the resultant “food” can be very harmful to your dog’s health and wellbeing indeed.

Suffice to say that if you’re feeding your dog ANY commercially available dog food, you’re exposing your dog to a source of chemically enhanced, overprocessed, garbage, the meat source for which includes diseased carcasses which have been left for up to 5 days before being processed.

Enough to turn you off for life? It was for me. As you know, I’ve always fed my dogs a diet of mainly raw meat and bones. But I like to give them a little treat in the mornings rather than just feed them once a day (which, by the way, IS all a dog NEEDS). I used to give them a handful of dry dog food each morning, sometimes the cheaper supermarket brands, and sometimes the “brand” names which cost 4 or 5 times as much. Now that I know better, I never give my dogs any of that garbage.

I should say that SOME of the expensive pet foods which are readily available ARE better than the cheaper brands. BUT, most are still far from an ideal diet for your dog, so query whether the extra money is money well spent.

If the product says it’s “with real chicken”, did you know that it only needs to contain 3% of chicken? Neither did I.

If the first item listed is meat or chicken, did you know that this doesn’t mean that’s the main ingredient? Neither did I.

Take a close look at the label. It’s likely to list a meat first, and then 2, 3, 4 or 5 types of grains. This is a very misleading tactic used by the commercial pet food manufacturers. Each of the grains individually may be slightly less in quantity than the meat. But added together? They’re probably nearly 2, 3, 4 or 5 times the quantity of the meat ingredient.

After having looked into this issue in a great deal of detail, I’m convinced that the most healthy diet for your dog is mainly fresh meat, with some fresh veges and a little grain thrown in. And this alone is NOT enough. You need to give your dog a vitamin supplement always, for optimal health.

And for the very best health, there ARE some reputable HEALTHY, wholesome, holistic dog food manufacturers, which really DO provide wonderfully healthy food for our dogs.

If you’re game to read the whole shocking report published by the U.S. Animal Protection Institute, about what’s really in commercial pet food, it’s posted at: www.HealthyHappyDogs.com/APIArticle

And for details of the best dog food manufacturers, see all the details here: http://www.HealthyHappyDogs.com/DogFood

(c) 2005, Brigitte Smith, Healthy Happy Dogs

Genetics of German Shepherd Coat Colors

Concerning the GSD and German Shepherd coat colors, the breed standard from the SV specifically states: “The color of the GSD is in itself not important and has no effect on the character of the dog or on its fitness for work and should be a secondary consideration for that reason. The final color of a young dog can only be ascertained when the outer coat has developed.”

Of all undesirable things to try to eliminate and to consider in a German Shepherd Dog, coat color should be at the bottom of the list. Good pigment should be sought after but many factors such as health and temperament, to name a few, should be much more important than coat color which should always be subordinate to structure, gait, type, and character and should never take precedence over the working ability of the dog. Eye color should be dark and nose pigment should be black as well.

Concerning the coat coat of the German Shepherd, the SV breed standard states the following: “The normal (stock) coated GSD should carry a thick undercoat and the outer coat should be as dense as possible, made up of straight hard close lying hairs. The hair on the head and ears, front of the legs, paws and toes is short. On the neck it is longer and thicker, on some males forming a slight ruff. The hair grows longer on the back of the legs as far down as the pastern and the stifle, and forms fairly thick trousers on the hindquarters. There is no hard or fast rule for the length of the hair, but short mole-type coats are faulty.” “No good dog is a bad color” — Max von Stephanitz (breed founder of the German Shepherd Dog) concerning German Shepherd coat colors

Ask just about anybody to describe a German Shepherd Dog and they will almost always mention the “saddle Back” markings. It is also just as possible for the GSD to be one solid color such as black (solid white is considered a conformation disqualification for showing by the AKC) or sable. Sable German Shepherd coat colors are easily identified by multi-colored individual hairs all over the body. Sable GSD’s may also be masked by dark or black guard hairs.

German Shepherd coat color patterns may include any of the following: black & tan, black & red, black & cream, solid black, solid white, (considered a conformation disqualification), sable (also called agouti or wolf gray, in various colorations), black & silver, liver (rare - conformation fault) and blue (rare - considered a conformation fault).

Richer pigmentation is preferred, color wise. While I won’t delve deeply into the science of genetics (feel free to do that on your own if interested), just know that the liver color comes as the result of matched recessives in the black series and the blue color happens as the result of matched recessives in the dilution series.

German Shepherd coat colors and inheritance in the GSD is very complex and controlled by several series of genes. Following is a very brief description and summary of the various gene series in the GSD responsible for color based on information from “The German Shepherd Dog: A Genetic History” and “Practical Genetics for Dog Breeders”, both by Malcom Willis. Both of these books should be considered as required reading for any serious German Shepherd fan and even more importantly for breeders. Another suggested resource is “The German Shepherd Today” by Winifred Strickland and James “Jimmy” Moses.

THE AGOUTI SERIES

The basic body color of the German Shepherd is controlled by the genes. The order of German Shepherd coat colors dominance is as follows: golden sable, grey sable, saddle marked black and tan, bicolor* black and tan (bicolor is where the dog only has tan on the legs and face, not on the body), and black.

Additionally, know that the black gene is recessive to all the other colors in GSD’s.

Solid black German Shepherds bred to solid blacks German Shepherds will only produce blacks. The sable colors are dominant over the other colors and patterns in the German Shepherd breed.

THE BLACK SERIES

This gene controls the black pigment formation on the GSD, not the hair color. The German Shepherd coat colors order of dominance is exactly as follows: Black pigment including nose, eyerims and pads; Carrier for liver color; Liver color - brown black colors, brown nose, eye rims and pads.

Note: most GSDs are considered black pigment including nose, eyerims and pads.

THE WHITE SERIES

White coat color in the German Shepherd Dog is recessive to all other colors. In order to get a white coat color in the German Shepherd, both parents must carry the white gene (either be white themselves or be carriers.) The order of dominance is as follows: Melanin is produced. (Standard GSD’s colors have this); Partial albinism (not seen); White coat with dark eyes and nose (not albino); Yellowish coat collar (proposed).

THE COLOR SERIES

This controls the intensity of the non-black coloration. The order of dominance is as follows: Lightest tan (cream); Intermediate tan (tan); Darkest tan (red).

The intensity of the color series determines whether GSD’s with color (i.e. not all- black or all-white recessives) will be black & cream,black & tan or black & red.

Coat Lengths in GSD’s

Short-coated German Shepherd’s maintain a short coat, which lies close to the body.

These dogs usually have less undercoat.

“Plush” Coated GSD’s have a medium length coat with a thin, fluffy under coat.

These dogs do not have any feathering as in the long coated GSD’s.

Long coated German Shepherd’s have much longer fur around their ears, on the backs of their legs, chest and tail (feathering) than other German Shepherd’s.

THE DILUTION SERIES

This controls how intense the black pigment will appear on your German Shepherd.

The order of dominance is as follows: Dense pigment; blue dilution.

Black pigment combined with blue dilution will produce a blue coated German Shepherd which looks as though it has a dusty or flour sheen.

THE MASK SERIES

This controls whether or not a mask appear on your German Shepherd.The order of dominance is as follows: a black mask on the face; dark coat with no mask; Brindle (rare, will be seen as striping on the legs); clear tan.

All these genes put together determine your own German Shepherd’s coat colors.

Word has it plans have been changed this year for the guest invites at Sandringham Castle. The Queen I believe after reading a recent article in the daily paper has banned Florence Princess Anne’s English bull terrier from the royal residence. Florence is to sleep outside in a parked up vehicle with Anne’s other pet dog of the same breed called Lottie.

The ban was ordered by the Queen due to the traumatic experience that left HRH saddened and in mourning for her beloved pet corgi Pharos who was merciless attacked two years ago by Florence. So savage was the attack the small dog had to be put down because of the severity of injuries sustained.

Earlier in the year the queen gave amnesty to the princess’s dogs and allowed them to stay under strict orders that they were confined to Anne’s quarters where servants tending to the Princess’s needs would only enter her room in groups and armed. This year the queen was not prepared to take any chances and enforced the new ban.

Back to the night in question when Pharos the corgi lost its life, it was Lottie the other of Anne’s English bull terriers that first had the finger of suspicion pointed in her direction and was accused of the unprovoked attack on the corgi. It was only right to blame Lottie due to the fact that she was capable of attacking just like she had in the past mauling two young children.

Due to uncertainty at the time of which dog was the guilty party a decision was then made to clear Lotties name as being the culprit thus leaving Florence to carry the blame.

Florence has been known for a confrontation it had with a member of the royal staff but not much was said on the matter therefore brushed under the carpet you could say.

What baffles me is all the uncertainty hanging over the night Pharos lost his life.

Funny how Lottie was accused first of the crime then after some considerable thought Florence fell victim to claim the blame. At the trial Florence was to live another day. There was no conviction due to Florence’s flawless character therefore a pardon was given.

There are two theories here

1 Lottie was first to be accused for the brutal attack on Pharos the corgi and with her past record where she had already offended by mauling two kiddies would without a doubt certainly have put her on death row.

2 Florence with no previous conviction on record was let off on the grounds of good behaviour and received a pardon which saved her from an early exit from this earth.

Who do you think is guilty, we have a dead dog, two mauled children, and royal staff scared witless. Would I be right in saying the Royal Family to allow this to continue?

P.S. Who really killed Pharos?

Have you ever wondered why over 30% of dogs in shelters are purebreds? Most animal behavior specialists and animal advocates blame puppy bills and commercialized breeders for this negligence. In order to become a responsible Great Dane breeder, there are certain responsibilities that you must accept. These responsibilities will protect your Great Danes and his/her puppies, as well as identify you as a reputable breeder.

Excellent Great Dane Dog Breeders DO :

Carefully screen each person and their household who wish to purchase a puppy.

Advise and suggest different methods of caring for the Great Dane puppy in every aspect, including: diet, exercise, documentation of lineage, health, knowledge of genetics, any history of illness (genetic or non-genetic).

Not sell their Great Dane puppies in a pet shop or pet-auction

Do not sell multiple breeds of dogs. If you are a Great Dane breeder, stick to Great Danes.

Involve themselves in the showing of purebred Great Danes and are very knowledgeable about the breed.

Keep the puppies as house pets until they are ready for their homes. This ensures that your Great Dane’s offspring will make wonderful pets too.

Test dogs for all diseases and proper examination prior to breeding, such as: Brucellosis, CERF (Canine Eye Registry Foundation), OFA (Hip X-Ray Certification), PENN-HIP (hip-joint laxity).

Provide full, lifetime guarantees covering genetic disease and temperament problems. This should be a written contract.

Agree to take the Great Dane back at any point of his life for whatever reason, should the new owner not wish to keep it.

Place the Great Dane with the new family ONLY if the new owners agree to spay/neuter.

Only breed Great Danes over the age of two years old.

Hold the value of your dog’s (and its puppies) health to highest esteem.

De-worm and vaccinate your Great Dane puppies prior to placing them.

Excellent Great Dane Dog Breeders NEVER:

Take a great Dane pup from it’s mother prior to eight weeks of age.

Breed puppies in a puppy-mill atmosphere.

Sell their Great Dane puppies to the local pet shop.

Hide or withdraw information on genetic diseases or the Great Dane’s lineage.

Keep their puppies in inhumane conditions, such as an outdoor shed or a room covered in feces.

Put unnecessary stress on their puppies, such as transporting them to different locations outside of their home.

Pick a Great Dane at random to breed their bitch with

Allow their bitches to breed every year

Decline on accepting their puppies back, should the new owner not be able to care for them

Breed their Great Dane prior to two years of age

Let their Great Dane run the neighborhood

Sell faux purebred Great Danes (which are crossed with God knows what)

People love ‘mans best friend’ and they in turn love us back. Dogs become part of our families. They live with us, sleep with us, eat with us, protect us and give us unconditional love. We treat our dogs like children. Just hearing dog owners calling their pets at the park, and the affection they show them make you realize just how devoted they are. Many dog owners have special names for them such as ‘baby’ and call themselves mommy or daddy when talking to their pet. It is amazing how huge the market is for dog food, toys, treats and even clothing and jewelry. Nothing is too good for our dog companions.

Special treats

Dog treats are a great way to show our dogs how much we love them. We use treats to reward our pet for doing something special. Many dogs are like children and behave better because they want a treat.

Dog treats are available at pet stores, grocery stores, department stores and specialty shops just to name a few. There are dog treats flavored like beef, chicken, pizza, chocolate and almost any other food you can think of. They come in the shape of people, sausages, bacon and steak bones plus hundreds of other shapes. There are dog Christmas stockings and birthday baskets stuffed with dog treats. People take pictures of their pooches and put them on their Christmas cards. People love their dogs and in turn, their dogs love them back.

Gourmet dog treats have become very popular. Some people make their own while others buy them. Some of the reasons people are now turning to gourmet dog treats are:

• Overweight dogs - Making your own gourmet dog treats lets you control the ingredients in the product. For overweight dogs, making low calorie treats helps the dog stay healthy while shedding a few excess pounds. Instead of commercial dog cookies with sugar and salt added, making or buying gourmet cookies and treats means you can choose a treat with no sugar or salt added, or sweeten a cookie with just a touch of honey.

• Dog Allergies - Just like humans, many dogs have allergies to certain foods and ingredients. Some vets carry gourmet dog treats that are great for dogs with allergies or you can get a recipe to make gourmet treats without using the ingredients your pet is allergic.

• Sickness- Some dogs have diabetes or other health problems so they are not able to eat regular dog treats and cookies. There are dog treats available for dogs with health problems.

• Natural Treats - Many people, when they read what is in commercial dog treats, are not happy about the fillers and preservatives used so they choose to make or buy gourmet dog treats with only natural ingredients.

People nowadays are very health conscious and feel the same way about their pet’s diet. They want them to live long, healthy lives and providing gourmet dog treats is one way to help.

Shih Tzu were seen to have a number of characteristics that were believed to be comparable to characteristics of Buddha. The white mark on the forehead of the Shih Tzu was perceived as the energy center, often called the third eye or sixth chakra, and is symbolic of the trinity, oneness of mind, universalism, salvation for all, and the three mystical areas (body, mouth, and mind). Positive qualities were believed to exude from the Shih Tzu which were intuition, perception, optimism, and vision.

The top knot of the Shih Tzu is the crowning glory of the Shih Tzu. The top knot symbolically represented creativity, mysticism, charm, magical powers, wisdom, and love. All these qualities are present in the Stain Glass Shih Tzu I am acquainted with today. Shih Tzu are charming, full of love and have been quite mysterious to live with. I have found a greater sense of security since owning the Shih Tzu.

The luxurious featherings on the Shih Tzu head and face were perceived as symbolic of the rays of the sun and of the sacred adumbara flower which blooms once in three thousand years.

The white neck and front of the Shih Tzu were believed to be symbolic of Buddha’s swelling cape of dignity. The cape permitted its wearer, as administrator of the sun, moon, and stars, the privilege of attending to purity, justice, and virtue. Upon the Shih tzu’s cape are the Rosary of the Goddess of Mercy and the three rings of the Buddha.

The draping coat or skirt of the Shih Tzu was seen as symbolic of light, strength, and courage. The Buddha’s flock must never reject their children, their parents, those who love them, or those whom they have loved, lest they never reach Nirvana or Heaven. Buddha-like, the Shih Tzu was considered symbolically the guardian of wisdom to that all may reverse their imperfections.

A marking may be present n the middle of the back of the Shih Tzu or there may be one that extends from the upper back to the end of the back or nearly as far as the tip of the tail of the Shih Tzu. This blanket or saddle effect on the Shih Tzu was believed symbolic of the saddle or blanket upon which Buddha is seated as minister of the sun, moon, and stars. It also was believed symbolic of the three vehicles of learning leading to wisdom: discipline, knowledge, and meditation. Pegasus-like, the Shih Tzu is to carry his rider through the air to realize material gain of wealth and jewels.

The heavily plumed tail of the Shih Tzu which forms a graceful arch over the back of the Shih Tzu represents one of the five Royal Insignia attributable to anointed kings and holy men. This umbrella-like feature of the Shih Tzu is depicted in symbolic representations of Buddha, covering his form, protecting him from worldly imperfections.

The white feet of the Shih Tzu were considered reminiscent of the Buddha’s shoes, embroidered with jewels, to convey the wearer one hundred miles without fatigue and give the wearer the ability to glide across water without wetting the feet.

Do you have to rely on friends or family when you travel or work long hours? Senior dogs often need special attention. Routines are very important as your dog gets older. If you are working late, your dog won’t understand why they weren’t let out or fed. If your schedule is less than routine, your older dog could become stressed and confused.

Likewise, your travel can upset your senior canine. Putting an older dog in a kennel is stressful because it is not their routine. Leaving at a family members home will work but ask the caregiver how well the dog really adjust to your absence and their new surroundings. We did and found that our dog did not eat at all during the weekend we were gone. Bringing a favorite blanket or toy when boarding might have worked well in the past but it does little to relieve the stress of your older friend. It may be time to consider all the benefits that a professional pet sitter with at home care can provide you and your dog.

Benefits for your dog

Reduced Stress - Keeping the daily routine as consistent as possible will help reduce the stress dogs normally experiences when they know you are leaving. With a pet sitter your dog can eat, sleep, and exercise in the areas that are the most familiar to him.

Prevent Illness - Health concerns are always a worry when you have to leave your dog with someone else. At home with a pet sitter your pet is not exposed to other animals that may be ill or carriers of parasites.

Tender Loving Care - All dogs love individual attention. A pet sitter will provide this and more. Dogs can become spoiled with all the personal attention and will attempt to keep this going when the owner’s return.

Transportation - For senior dogs being crated up and moved to the relatives or a kennel can be traumatic. Since a pet sitter either stays at your home or visits your dog periodically, this stress can be eliminated.

Benefits to your family

Security - A pet sitter can provide many benefits as a house sitter such as picking up the mail, watering the plants, and turning lights on and off at various times.

Peace of Mind - A professional pet sitter cares about your senior dog when you can’t. Your pet receives individual attention, with walks and playtime so you can travel without worries.

Not just for vacations

A pet sitting service can be invaluable for the busy family with a senior dog even when you are not traveling.

Scheduled Walks - During the day senior dogs need a break. Many people can’t get free from work so a pet sitter can be arranged to get your dog out for his afternoon walk.

Appointments - Some pet sitters may provide a “doggie taxi” service to help keep your dog’s appointment with the groomer or Vet without you losing a day’s pay.

Unexpected Events - What if you’re injured or sick? A pet sitter can check on your dog or provide a daily walk until you are back on your feet.

Check our nationwide directory at www.olddogpaws.com for a pet sitter in your area!

Copyright 2006 Dave Eckholm

The Bedlington Terrier is a small to medium sized dog that weighs between 18-23 pounds. Their height generally ranges between 15″ to 17″. This breed resembles a little lamb, but don’t let their gentle appearance fool you. They are all terrier with energy and a mischievous side that likes to chase small animals.

The AKC recognized coat colors for the Bedlington Terrier are sandy, blue, liver, sandy and tan, blue and tan, liver and tan. The coat is a mixture of soft and hard hair that tends to be curly but not wiry. This breed requires regular groom and also requires trimming about every 6 weeks. Most Bedlington Terrier owners learn to clip their own dogs.

This intelligent, loving and gentle breed makes a good family pet. They are good with children. However, because they have such a high energy level they are recommended for homes with older, well behaved children. With early socialization, they can be good with other dogs and pets. They were bred to hunt vermin and small animals, so they might still chase cats and other non-canine pets. A well secured yard and a leash are a must as they are very quick dogs and are hard to catch if they run from you or are chasing an animal. They need plenty of play and exercise, but are somewhat active indoors, so a small yard or regular walks will suffice. They are easy to train. They love to be around their family and don’t like to be left alone for long periods of time. Even though they are a smaller breed, they will protect their family or fend for themselves against large animals if need be. They tend to be wary of strangers, but will eventually warm up to them.

Originating in England, the Bedlington Terrier was originally known as the Rothbury, Rodbury or Northumberland fox terrier. The first Bedlington Terrier was born in 1825 when a Rothbury dog was bred with a female Bedlington. The Bedlington terrier was originally bred to hunt small vermin such as rabbits and badgers. They are mainly used as companion dogs today.

A breed with such a playful, loving, energetic nature is perfect for families that will give them enough exercise and companionship. A good watchdog and a friendly family pet all rolled into one make the Bedlington Terrier fit into many family dynamics.