Any Bedlington Terriers out there?
- Thread starter Shannerson
- Start date
One very wet agility class later....
So, we got Medley when I was 9. We chose the breed mostly because I had a lot of allergies when I was younger (and a little because we saw them on Westminster and thought they were cute
). We got him from a breeder in Rochester, NY, who still sends us Christmas cards every year, 18 years later. It was to find a breeder then, and he was certainly the most expensive dog I knew at the time - $500. I assume it is still an expensive breed to purchase, as I don't think their numbers have gone up much.
The absolute best thing I can say for our Bedlington is that he adapted beautifully as our lives changed. He had no issues staying home all day when we were in school, dealing with a move, etc. He was very loving to the family, good with cats (after our 24# cat took him down a few times), and good with most other dogs. They are a nice size, and the no-shedding is wonderful.
The less-great things. Taking them to the groomers. You really have to, every 6 weeks or so. It's hard to find someone who knows how to do it. I will say we adapted his cut a bit over the years. For instance, the family hated the shaved rat tail, so our groomer just scissored it shorter.
They are terriers. I chuckle when I read that they are "softer" terriers. Medley was as scrappy as any JRT I've met. He routinely treed squirrels, dug up the yard for moles, and killed any skunk that came on the property (lovely). He also had what I would now consider moderate issues with resource guarding. We still chuckle about how we couldn't even enter the room if we gave him a Frosty Paws without him getting stiff and growling. It never really presented a problem, so we didn't do anything about it.
I don't think we ever gave him as much credit as he deserved for his trainability. We did puppy class and that was it. I taught him a bunch of tricks when I was younger, but we didn't really work with him for years. When he was about 12, I started teaching obedience classes in the evenings. I would come home with a bunch of leftover treats in my pockets, and taught him a decent emergency down, and also practiced "come" from room to room. After a few months of that, he was outside killing a chipmunk, and I could here it squeaking, so, without really thinking about it, I opened the door and called him to come. AND HE DID. He dropped the chipmunk and ran to the door. And got a whole lot of cookies.
He was a strong and lively as ever right up until the end. He went downhill very quickly due to multiple organ failure - basically old age. We hung out the last few days and shared McDonald's french fries, which were pretty much the only thing he'd eat at the end. He made the end as easy as he made the rest of his life on us. We had blood work done on Thursday, and he actually seemed a bit better on Friday. The results came back, and the vet said there was no way he'd make it though the weekend. So, we gave him that last good day, and had him put to sleep Saturday morning.
Now I'm all teary. Wow, that got really long. Let me know if you have any questions - I'd be happy to help. And finally, one more picture of Medley:
[/IMG]
So, we got Medley when I was 9. We chose the breed mostly because I had a lot of allergies when I was younger (and a little because we saw them on Westminster and thought they were cute
). We got him from a breeder in Rochester, NY, who still sends us Christmas cards every year, 18 years later. It was to find a breeder then, and he was certainly the most expensive dog I knew at the time - $500. I assume it is still an expensive breed to purchase, as I don't think their numbers have gone up much.The absolute best thing I can say for our Bedlington is that he adapted beautifully as our lives changed. He had no issues staying home all day when we were in school, dealing with a move, etc. He was very loving to the family, good with cats (after our 24# cat took him down a few times), and good with most other dogs. They are a nice size, and the no-shedding is wonderful.
The less-great things. Taking them to the groomers. You really have to, every 6 weeks or so. It's hard to find someone who knows how to do it. I will say we adapted his cut a bit over the years. For instance, the family hated the shaved rat tail, so our groomer just scissored it shorter.
They are terriers. I chuckle when I read that they are "softer" terriers. Medley was as scrappy as any JRT I've met. He routinely treed squirrels, dug up the yard for moles, and killed any skunk that came on the property (lovely). He also had what I would now consider moderate issues with resource guarding. We still chuckle about how we couldn't even enter the room if we gave him a Frosty Paws without him getting stiff and growling. It never really presented a problem, so we didn't do anything about it.
I don't think we ever gave him as much credit as he deserved for his trainability. We did puppy class and that was it. I taught him a bunch of tricks when I was younger, but we didn't really work with him for years. When he was about 12, I started teaching obedience classes in the evenings. I would come home with a bunch of leftover treats in my pockets, and taught him a decent emergency down, and also practiced "come" from room to room. After a few months of that, he was outside killing a chipmunk, and I could here it squeaking, so, without really thinking about it, I opened the door and called him to come. AND HE DID. He dropped the chipmunk and ran to the door. And got a whole lot of cookies.
He was a strong and lively as ever right up until the end. He went downhill very quickly due to multiple organ failure - basically old age. We hung out the last few days and shared McDonald's french fries, which were pretty much the only thing he'd eat at the end. He made the end as easy as he made the rest of his life on us. We had blood work done on Thursday, and he actually seemed a bit better on Friday. The results came back, and the vet said there was no way he'd make it though the weekend. So, we gave him that last good day, and had him put to sleep Saturday morning.
Now I'm all teary. Wow, that got really long. Let me know if you have any questions - I'd be happy to help. And finally, one more picture of Medley:
Thanks for sharing your experiences. What lovely photos of Medley. I have noticed they seem to be a longer lived breed. I enjoy grooming dogs so would have fun with a Bedlie.
I guess I think "softer" terrier in regards to getting along with other dogs and animals (larger)? I am trying to think of questions...I think the only thing I wish is that they were not so terrier-like as I would like to rescue small animals at a later date. That is my only hold-back so far. But the poodle I used to own and the mixed breed I have now are both higher prey-drive dogs, so I am used to that aspect. Oh, what did Medley think of winter/snow if you live where that white stuff falls? Could he be trusted off leash under supervision at all in regards to wandering off?
Summer Riot-your dogs are gorgeous! Riot's profile is lovely.
Thanks everyone.
I guess I think "softer" terrier in regards to getting along with other dogs and animals (larger)? I am trying to think of questions...I think the only thing I wish is that they were not so terrier-like as I would like to rescue small animals at a later date. That is my only hold-back so far. But the poodle I used to own and the mixed breed I have now are both higher prey-drive dogs, so I am used to that aspect. Oh, what did Medley think of winter/snow if you live where that white stuff falls? Could he be trusted off leash under supervision at all in regards to wandering off?
Summer Riot-your dogs are gorgeous! Riot's profile is lovely.
Thanks everyone.
I'm not really sure how he would have been with smaller animals. Like I said, he was perfect with cats, but we had a large, dominant cat when we got him. Rocky taught him to be very respectful He certainly hunted small animals outside. Medley was actually fairly good with other dogs. We had an invisible fence and lots of neighborhood dogs would cross the line to visit. We never really had him around large animals; I'm a horse person, but other than coming out to the barn a couple of times to meet people, he really didn't have any contact with them.
He loved the snow! I'm in Vermont, so he certainly was around it. We kept his coat longer in the winter to give him a bit of protection. Of course, then he would come in with snowballs matted all over his legs, but he had a nice time.
He was okay off leash. I certainly kept him leashed anywhere near roads, but would take him off sometimes if we were in a big field, or in the woods near our house. And that was with very little actual training. With some effort, I think he would have been even better. I still wouldn't have allowed it near traffic, since he would have bolted after a squirrel. Like I said, we had an invisible fence, and he was very respectful of it. I think the only times he ever got out were when either the fence or collar was not working.
He certainly hunted small animals outside. Medley was actually fairly good with other dogs. We had an invisible fence and lots of neighborhood dogs would cross the line to visit. We never really had him around large animals; I'm a horse person, but other than coming out to the barn a couple of times to meet people, he really didn't have any contact with them.He loved the snow! I'm in Vermont, so he certainly was around it. We kept his coat longer in the winter to give him a bit of protection. Of course, then he would come in with snowballs matted all over his legs, but he had a nice time.
He was okay off leash. I certainly kept him leashed anywhere near roads, but would take him off sometimes if we were in a big field, or in the woods near our house. And that was with very little actual training. With some effort, I think he would have been even better. I still wouldn't have allowed it near traffic, since he would have bolted after a squirrel. Like I said, we had an invisible fence, and he was very respectful of it. I think the only times he ever got out were when either the fence or collar was not working.
Actually, probably not. For a couple of reasons.
- I don't think I'll ever buy a dog again. I've become one of those annoying rescue people who used to drive me insane. Finding a Bedlington to adopt wouldn't be easy.
- Grooming! I don't have the nerve to learn to clip myself, and I didn't like having to take him to the groomers all the time. I will probably never own a dog that needs professional grooming again.
- My life. Medley was an amazing fit for my life when I had him. Now, I don't think it would work. I manage a horse farm, and my dog comes to work with me. She's off leash all day around horses, dogs, cats, and a variety of people coming and going. My biggest concern with Medley would have been that he wouldn't have hung around the barn all day like Meg - he'd be out chasing the muskrats, squirrels, mice (actually, that would be nice!), etc. That terrier independence would be hard to deal with in my current life.
I adored Medley, and I think the breed is a great fit for a lot of people. It just isn't right for me, right now. If my life changed a bit, and I could find an older one to adopt, I might consider it.
Keep me updated if you get a puppy! I'd love to hear how it's going.
- I don't think I'll ever buy a dog again. I've become one of those annoying rescue people who used to drive me insane
. Finding a Bedlington to adopt wouldn't be easy.- Grooming! I don't have the nerve to learn to clip myself, and I didn't like having to take him to the groomers all the time. I will probably never own a dog that needs professional grooming again.
- My life. Medley was an amazing fit for my life when I had him. Now, I don't think it would work. I manage a horse farm, and my dog comes to work with me. She's off leash all day around horses, dogs, cats, and a variety of people coming and going. My biggest concern with Medley would have been that he wouldn't have hung around the barn all day like Meg - he'd be out chasing the muskrats, squirrels, mice (actually, that would be nice!), etc. That terrier independence would be hard to deal with in my current life.
I adored Medley, and I think the breed is a great fit for a lot of people. It just isn't right for me, right now. If my life changed a bit, and I could find an older one to adopt, I might consider it.
Keep me updated if you get a puppy! I'd love to hear how it's going.