320 British Dogs. 



of the origin of this cross, I hold that the matter may yet be regarded 

 as by no means satisfactorily determined. I have seen pedigrees of 

 crack dogs of the breed extending over a period of 100 years, but then 

 one has no means of knowing what the dog was like whose name we 

 see figuring as having lived in the last century. No doubt some 

 famous dogs of the breed of old Northumberland terriers were long ago 

 located about Thropton, Eothbury, Felton, and Alnwick, and it is not at 

 all unlikely that the Staffordshire nailmakers, who, some eighty or ninety 

 years ago, were brought down from the south and employed at Bedlington, 

 crossed the pure-bred native terrier with some of the stock they brought 

 with them, having, probably, fighting purposes in view. But it does not 

 matter how this clever and undoubtedly useful race has been produced ; it 

 is sufficient to know that we have it, and that it is as permanent and 

 breeds as truly as any other cross we know of. At the same time, 

 if the Staffordshire nailmakers made the cross with the intention of 

 breeding a fighting animal, they failed, so far as raising up an antagonist 

 to the bull-terrier is concerned. The Bedlington is as tenacious, 

 as resolute, and as indifferent to rough usage as the professional 

 gladiator he was pitted against ; but he lacks the formidable jaw and 

 the immense power of the bull-terrier, and the combat is emphatically 

 no part of his business. 



" The first show of Bedlingtons I can call to mind was got up by 

 Henry Wardle, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, a good judge, and an ardent 

 admirer of the canine species. That show took place on 12th April, 

 1870, and the first prize was won by Thomas John Pickett, with 

 Tip, a thorough game one, but I thought he had a dash of bull in 

 him. I would like to do justice to the ability and care displayed in those 

 early show days of the Bedlington by Thomas Thompson, of Wideopen, 

 and Joseph Ainsley, of Bedlington, who stood foremost as reliable judges 

 of the strain, and as acknowledged depositories of almost all that was 

 known concerning it, but I have not space at command to enter into the 

 intricacies of pedigrees, and I must hasten on to mention two or three of 

 the most famous prize takers of the race. Mr. Pickett, who has bred 

 Bedlingtons since 1844, has now three champions, who will often be 

 referred to by breeders in after times, namely, Tear'em, Tyne, andTyne- 

 side, all descended from Thomas Thompson's strain, and inheriting 

 pedigrees of portentous length. Tyne was first shown at the Crystal 



