Bedlinton Lurcher Dog Breed

The Bedlington Lurcher was intentionally bred to be a hunter. regardless of the sighthound used (Whippet, Greyhound, etc.) both parent breeds have a lot of admirable traits that, it was found, produced a strong, fast, and tenacious hunting dog. these dogs are good with other dogs, mature children, and on farms and rural homesteads where they have plenty of space to run long and fast. They are not for first-time dog-owners, and not recommended for homes with cats and other such small, non-canine pets.

Here are some facts about these fine dogs that should be considered by anyone seeking to adopt a Bedlington Lurcher:

These kinds of Lurchers tend to be a bit more predictable in that they often inherit more of their Beddy side. There is also the desire to swim and, usually, the curly coat of the Bedlington Terrier. From the sighthound side, there is the amazing speed and other hunting abilities of whichever other breeding parent was used.

Beddy Lurchers can be intelligent to a fault. Coupled with their strong prey drive and high speed of running, this can make for a difficult dog to train — and catch! If not used as hunting dogs, their remarkable smarts can be redirected to agility play and obstacle courses.

These Lurchers are on the smaller side, so they can be amazing escape artists. They also love to run and play. While they are extremely loyal, they do quite well by themselves for long periods of time. They require a lot of socialization lest the terrier in them comes out full and somewhat aggressively, however.

While they do like to just hang out most of the time, Bedlington Lurchers require a good bit of strenuous daily exercise once they have reached the age where their bodies and bones can endure it. They are very strong for their size, and if need be, they can go most the day at a high rate of speed.

As this type of Lurcher is crossed with a terrier, the Bedlington Lurcher temperament can be a tough one to handle. It's not because of any aggression, however, but a typical terrier stubbornness: a strong prey drive and the desire to run wild. They are lots of fun with kids but if you have small, non-canine pets in the home, there is bound to be trouble. These dogs require a lot of constant socializing, and even then, they should not be left alone with cats, hamsters, and other small furries.

The Beddy Lurcher, as they are affectionately called, can also be very difficult to train. To keep them happy and to train them successfully, they require patience as well as a place to get outside to truly stretch their legs. For the most part, they'll be happy to lie around. If they get overly vocal or get destructive, that may mean they need more daily exercise.

Because of hybrid vigor, the basic health profile of a Beddy Lurcher is said to be solid. Still, there is the concern that Bedlington Terriers can inherit a liver disease called Copper Toxicosis, which is more commonly known as "copper storage disease." The type of sighthound that is used may have breed-specific health concerns too, such as how Whippets have thin skin that can be easily scratched.

Here are some other health problems that may occur in a Bedlington Lurcher:

• Bloat
• Bone cancer
• Torn toenails
• Eye problems
• Hypothyroidism
• Foot or muscle injuries
• Heatstroke and exhaustion

Depending on the type of sighthound mated with the Beddy Terrier, this too Lurcher may have an average lifespan from 14 to 18 years.