CHAPTER XXXV 

 THE BEDLINGTON TERRIER 



THIS games! of all the terriers has been known as a distinct 

 and thoroughly British breed for over a century, which is, 

 I think, a fairly ancient lineage. There are various theories 

 as to its original parentage, but the one which holds that he 

 was the result of a cross between the Otterhound and the 

 Dandie Dinmont suggests itself to me as the most probable 

 one. His characteristics strongly resemble in many points 

 both these breeds, and there can be but little doubt of his 

 near relationship at some time or other to the Dandie. 



The earliest authentic record we have of the Bedlington 

 was a dog named Old Flint, who belonged to Squire Trevelyan, 

 and was whelped in 1782. The pedigree of Mr. William 

 Clark's Scamp, a dog well known about 1792, is traced back 

 to Old Flint, and the descendants of Scamp were traced in 

 direct line from 1792 to 1873. 



A mason named Joseph Aynsley has the credit for giving 

 the name of " Bedlington " to this terrier in 1825. It was 

 previously known as the Rothbury Terrier, or the Northern 

 Counties Fox-terrier. Mr. Thomas J. Pickett, of Newcastle- 

 on-Tyne, was perhaps the earliest supporter of the breed on a 

 large scale, and his Tynedale and Tyneside in especial have 

 left their names in the history of the Bedlington. 



The present day Bedlington, like a good many other 

 terriers, has become taller and heavier than the old day 

 specimens. This no doubt is due to breeding for show points. 

 He is a lathy dog, but not shelly, inclined to be flatsided, 

 somewhat light in bone for his size, very lively in character, 



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