The following description was formulated by the old Bedlington Terrier Club, which ceased to exist some years since. It must, however, be said that the comparison of the Bedlington's head to that of a ferret is neither a correct nor a happy one.

Head

The head rather resembles that of a ferret, and though wedge-shaped, like most Terriers, should be shorter in the skull and longer in the jaw, and narrow or lean muzzled; it should have a narrow, high skull, coned or peaked at the occiput, and tapering away sharply to the nose.

Ears

They should be filbert-shaped, lie close to the cheek, and be set on low like a Dandie, thus leaving the head clear and flat, and they should be feathered at the tips.

Eyes

In blue, or blue and tan, the eyes have an amber shade ; in livers, etc., it is much lighter, and is commonly called the "hazel eye." It should be small, well sunk into the head, and placed very close together; very piercing when roused.

Jaw And Teeth

The jaw should be long, lean, and powerful. Most of these dogs are a little "shot" at the upper jaw, and are often termed "pig-jawed." Many prefer what is called "pincer-jaw" - that is, the teeth should meet evenly together - but it is not very often they are found so. The teeth should be large, regular, and white.

Nose

The nose, or nostrils, should be large, and stand out prominently from the jaw. Blues or blue and tans have black noses; and livers and sandies red or flesh-coloured noses.

Neck And Shoulders

The neck is long and muscular, rising gradually from the shoulders to the head. The shoulder is flat and light, and set much like the Greyhound's. The height at the shoulder is less than at the haunch. More or less this is the case with all dogs, but is very pronounced with this breed, especially in bitches.

Body, Ribs, Back, Loins, Quarters, And Chest

A moderately long body, rather flat ribs, short straight back, slightly arched, tight, and muscular loins, just a little "tucked up" in the flank, fully developed quarters, widish and deep chest, the whole showing a fine muscular development.

Legs And Feet

Legs perfectly straight and moderately long; the feet should be rather large - that is a distinguishing mark of the breed; long claws are also admired.

Coat

This is the principal point on which fanciers differ; some prefer a hard, wiry coat, but the proper hair of these dogs is linty or woolly, with a very slight sprinkling of wire hairs, and this is still the fancy of the majority of North-country breeders.

Colour

The original colours of this breed of dogs were blue and tan, liver, and sandy, and these are still the favourite colours of the old breeders. The tan of these dogs is of a pale colour, and differs greatly from the tan of the Black-and-tan English Terriers ; and the blues should be a proper blue linty, not nearly black, which is sometimes seen now. In all colours the crown of the head should be linty or nearly white, otherwise white is objectionable.

Tail

The tail should be of moderate length (8in. to loin.), either straight or slightly curved, carried low, and feathered underneath. The tail should by no means be curled or carried high on to the back.

Weight

The weight of these dogs varies greatly, but the average is from 181b. to 231b., or at the outside about 251b.

The present Bedlington Terrier Club has issued an altered descriptive standard, as given below, but it cannot be regarded as a model of lucidity. A descriptive standard of excellence adopted and published by a club should largely aim at instructing the ignorant, as well as furnishing a criterion by which to test the merits of the dog described; but that many fall far short of this is very well known.

Skull

Narrow, but deep and rounded; high at occiput, and covered with a nice silky tuft or top-knot.

Paw

Long, tapering, sharp, and muscular; as little stop as possible between the eyes, so as to form nearly a line from the nose-end along the joint of the skull to the occiput. The lips close-fitting, and no flew.

Eyes

Should be small and well sunk into the head. The blues should have a dark eye; the blue-and-tan ditto, with amber shade; livers, sandies, etc., a light brown eye.

Nose

Large, well angled. Blues and blue-and-tans should have black noses; livers and sandies flesh-coloured noses.

Teeth

Level, or pincer-jawed.

Ears

Moderately large, carried well forward, flat to the cheek, thinly covered and tipped with fine silky hair; they should be filbert-shaped.

Legs

Of moderate length, not wide apart, straight and square set and with good-sized feet, which are rather long.

Tail

Thick at root, tapering to a point, slightly feathered on lower side, 9 in. to 11 in. long, and scimitar-shaped.

Neck And Shoulders

Neck long, deep at base, rising well from shoulders, which should be flat.

Body

Long and well proportioned, flat ribbed and deep; not wide in chest; back slightly arched, well ribbed up, with light quarters.

Coat

Hard, with close bottom, and not lying flat to the sides.

Colour

Dark blue, blue and tan, liver, liver and tan, sandy, sandy and tan.

Height

About 15 in . to 16 in.

General Appearance

A lightly made-up, lathy dog, but not shelly.

Weight

Dogs, about 241b. ; bitches, about 22lb.

Amongst the pillars of the Stud Book must be classed Sentinel (K.C.S.B. 16,047), bred by Mr. John Cornforth, of Leiston, Suffolk, and afterwards owned by Mr. W. S. Jackson, of Upper Canada College, Toronto. Sentinel won a considerable number of prizes in this country, and added to his laurels both in Canada and in the United States. The pedigree of Sentinel runs into that of Ask Im II., through Mr. T. J. Pickett's Tear 'Em and Tyne, and also through Mr. Snowball's Boxer. Indeed, this variety has for so many generations been bred pure that it is doubtful whether there are many dogs of any note living that cannot be traced back to the same old stock; although, in too many instances, links in the chain of evidence are lost or twisted, and give rise to much discussion, with rather fruitless results. Another of Mr. Cornforth's dogs was Newcastle Lad, and probably one of the best he ever owned.

As in all breeds, we find a few years completely changes the name-list of famous winners, and, although more slowly, the owners of famous kennels. Mr. A. N. Dodd, Mr. J. A. Baty, and others, have given up breeding to any great extent. In the capacity of judge the late Lieut.-Colonel Cowen long headed the list. Mr. John Cornforth was in the van of breeders, and Mr. A. E. James; of Stonehouse, Devon, was in the same category. Mr. W. E. Alcock, Hon. Sec. to the Club, had one of the largest and best kennels; while Mr. C. T. Maling, jun., made an already strong kennel formidable by purchasing Mr. J. A. Baty's dogs. In Scotland Mr. Donald Ross, Glasgow, and Mr. J. Smith, Montrose, were the chief breeders. Near London Messrs. Simmonds and Duffitt, of Lower Norwood, and Mr. Lambert, of Stratford, had representative kennels. In fact, so popular did the Bedlington Terrier become that he had enthusiastic admirers everywhere, although naturally the variety has always been found in greatest abundance in the northern districts. Bedlingtons have never been much kept in the Midlands, South, or West of England, but some years since they had some zealous supporters in South Wales, and the classes for them at the Welsh shows have usually filled well, Mr. Fred Roberts, of Cardiff, being a keen fancier of the variety.

At present there seems to be a revival of interest in this variety that has not been apparent for some years. It is not that the dog has fallen into disfavour with the actual breeders and fanciers, but either the classes or the judges have not been satisfactory, or the question of what trimming is allowable has been an obstacle, resulting in a marked decrease of entries at most of the shows.

As one long and deeply interested, as breeder, exhibitor, and judge, in the Dandie Dinmont, which is usually considered a blood-relation of the Bedlington Terrier, the writer can from experience state that while it does not do to show either of these varieties without plenty of grooming, both are greatly overdone. Instances of it are abundant, and although every fancier worthy of the name loves to see any kind of dog turned out in good form, yet there are several varieties that often suffer from the excessive zeal of their owners or their attendants, and Bedlingtons are certainly amongst them. It is a practice very commonly indulged in to pluck the hair from the face and muzzle. Dogs thus trimmed look cleaner and longer in the jaw; this is so commonly done that it has been accepted by judges as a matter of course, but it is better to discountenance "faking," even in its mildest forms, and a trimmed dog should be penalised. The tail and topknot also often come in for a share of the "faker's" art.

The writer has been much struck with the small entries of Bedlingtons at such shows as the Kennel Club, Birmingham, and Cruft's, where at one time they were features of the Terrier section, and workmanlike-looking animals, shown for the most part in natural condition, giving full play to that. rough-and-ready, gipsy-like style so valued by their early admirers. Of late years the coat has greatly suffered from the excessive toilet attentions of some of the dog's admirers. This is rather a delicate subject, but, as a well-wisher to the variety, the writer would like to see more of the old enthusiasm revived, and more ardent fanciers come forward to help a breed the exhibitors of which for some years past have been very few in number.

The best entry at a large show of late years, at any rate in the Midlands or South, was at the Royal Agricultural Hall in 1901, when there were nearly forty, and even there most of the prizes were taken by the inmates of one kennel. This, however pleasing it may be to the fancier in question, is not good for the breed. Amongst the best of the dogs noticed of late are Breakwater Squire, Jethart Jim, Breakwater Terror, and Beaconsfield Temporise, and of bitches, Champion Breakwater Girl, Beaconsfield Turquoise, Bellerby Maid, Beaconsfield Tedious, and Miss Oliver (the last named, a well-shaped, typical specimen, winner of many prizes for her owner, Mr. Harold Warne, is selected to illustrate this variety), (Fig. 101), all of whom possess style and quality, and are fair representatives of the breed.

Fig. 101. - Mr. Harold Warne's Bedlington Terrier Miss Oliver.

The Bedlington is one of the breeds that has the credit, and rightly, of being what is known as a dainty feeder. This must be borne in mind by the owner keeping the dog for show. It is also a breed that is not easily selected when young, as it is not until the dog is practically adult that the characteristic topknot is produced. Still, from the first the narrow, domed skull should be in evidence ; while straight fore legs and flat ribs should characterise a puppy even if but a few months old. As stated elsewhere, the Bedlington is one of the best of water dogs. He is also one of the fastest and smartest of the whole Terrier group, thereby suited to either sport or companionship. He is, however, inclined to be quarrelsome.

A brief recent description is as follows: -

Skull

Narrow and domed, adorned with a silky top-knot.

Jaws

Extremely punishing and the lips tight.

Nose

Large, and either black or flesh-coloured, according to the shade of the coat.

Eyes

Small, and rather deeply sunken, their colour following that of the body.

Ears

Filbert-shaped, fine, tipped with soft hair, and carried flat to the sides of the head.

Neck

Long, and shoulders sloping.

Body

Rather narrow at the chest, but deep at this point; the ribs flat, slightly arched at the loins, which should be powerful.

Fore Legs

Straight; feet of fair size.

Hindquarters

Graceful-looking and not too heavy.

Tail

Tapering neatly from the root, and scimitar shaped.

Coat

Hard, and close below, of the texture known as "linty"; colours, blue, liver, sandy, or any of the above mixed with tan of a light shade.