BEDLINGTON TERRIER 



wooden bench. Hay is not good, as it is easily beaten 

 down flat by the dogs lying on it, and the same observation 

 applies to shavings. The latter, however, forma very good 

 summer bedding, especially as the odour of pine, which 

 is associated with those most usually available, discourages 

 insects. Sawdust and peat-moss are not to be recom- 

 mended, as they work their way into the coats, and often 

 into the eyes, noses, and water-troughs as well ; but dried 

 bracken is not at all a bad bed for the large breeds if it 

 is spread thickly on the bench. (See Kenne/s.) 



Bedlin^on Terrier. — This is a most popular breed in 

 Northumberland and other parts of the north, but it is 

 not held in very high favour amongst exhibitors, owing 

 to the majority of those who show Bedlingtons indulging 

 freely in the objectionable practice of plucking the 

 coats of their dogs and other forms of trimming. Hence 

 classes provided for the breed at shows are rarely well 

 filled, and are often omitted from the schedules of im- 

 portant fixtures altogether. Consequently, the popularity 

 enjoyed by the Bedlington terrier may be regarded as 

 due to his courage, which is very great, and his ability 

 for hunting vermin, especially in w^ater. He possesses, 

 moreover, a strong individuality of his own, and even if 

 his temper is at times uncertain, his merits so far out- 

 number his tailings that he deserves mere support than 

 he receives. 



In general appearance the Bedlington terrier is rather 

 a leggy, lathy-built dog, a peculiarity about him which 

 strikes the observer at once being his flat sides, as the ribs 

 are not at all rounded. The head is domed at the top 

 and narrow ; the muzzle is long and tapering, but well 

 filled up under the eyes, and powerful ; the eyes are 

 small, sunken, and set obliquely ; whilst the nose is large, 

 its colour in the case of blues being black, and in the 

 livers flesh-coloured. The ears are long and lie flat to 

 the cheeks, the neck long and graceful, the shoulders 



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