The Bedlington Terrier is one of the most deceptive dogs in the terrier group. With its arched back, pear-shaped trimmed head, and crisp curly coat, it looks for all the world like a lamb, and many owners are drawn in by that gentle, ornamental appearance. Underneath it is a fast, tough, determined working terrier that was bred in the mining country of Northumberland to kill vermin and poach rabbits and hares. There is sighthound in its build and its history, which gives the Bedlington a turn of speed and a chasing instinct most terriers do not have.
That mix of lamb and athlete is the key to training one. A Bedlington is affectionate, devoted, and milder-mannered at home than many terriers, but it carries a real prey drive, genuine energy, and the terrier's spark, including a willingness to stand its ground with other dogs if pushed. Channel those traits and you get a charming, adaptable companion that can switch from couch to chase in a heartbeat. Treat it as the decorative lapdog it resembles and you get a frustrated, barky, sometimes scrappy dog.
This guide covers what works with a Bedlington, week by week, built around how a fast, prey-driven working terrier actually learns.
What Makes Training a Bedlington Different
Four breed traits shape your approach.
1. A strong prey drive with sighthound speed. The Bedlington does not just chase; it is genuinely fast, with sighthound in its makeup. That means a fleeing squirrel or cat triggers a quick, committed pursuit, and recall around moving animals is the hardest skill you will teach. Off-leash freedom near wildlife or roads is a real risk.
2. Milder at home, but still all terrier. Compared to scrappier terriers, the Bedlington is calmer and more biddable indoors, and it responds well to reward-based training. But the terrier core is there: it can be stubborn, it can be scrappy with strange dogs, and it needs a real outlet for its drive.
3. Genuine energy and athleticism. This is not a sedate breed. A Bedlington needs solid daily exercise and enjoys running, games, and dog sports. Under-exercised, it becomes restless, barky, and prone to inventing its own entertainment.
4. Distinctive and watchful. The breed is alert and will announce visitors, so early quiet-shaping pays off. The unique curly coat also needs regular clipping and grooming, which is worth factoring into the dog's routine and handling.
Week-by-Week Training Plan for Your Bedlington
Below is the framework we use at TailorPup for a Bedlington-specific 12-week plan. Run it at home; the order and emphasis are the point.
Weeks 1 and 2 : Foundation and Socialization
Build engagement with high-value treats and socialize broadly, including calm, positive introductions to other dogs. Run three to four five-minute sessions a day: name, mark eye contact, reward. Begin grooming handling early so the coat care ahead is easy. This attention base is what later competes with a fleeing cat.
Weeks 3 and 4 : Core Commands
Bedlingtons learn well for terriers. Lure sit and down, mark, reward, and add cues once reliable. Build duration on stay, and keep sessions varied so the independent streak stays engaged rather than bored.
Weeks 5 and 6 : Leash Work and Prey Drive
Use stop-and-stand for pulling and a comfortable harness. Practice redirecting your Bedlington before it locks onto prey, rewarding a glance back at you, so you build an "ignore it and check in" habit rather than a full chase, which this fast breed can win.
Weeks 7 and 8 : Recall and Barking
Build recall on a long line, starting in low-distraction areas and paying every success generously, and never call the dog for anything it dislikes. In parallel, shape quiet: reward calm at windows and doors, manage triggers, and teach an "enough" cue. See our barking guide for the full protocol.
Weeks 9 and 10 : Channeling Drive and Energy
Give the breed's speed and drive legal outlets: flirt-pole play, fetch, lure coursing, and scent games all suit it beautifully. A Bedlington that gets to sprint and chase a toy on cue is far less interested in the neighbor's cat. Pair this with daily walks and a few thinking games.
Weeks 11 and 12 : Generalization
Prove the skills in the real world: calm loose-leash walking past distractions, recall in a fenced area with mild temptation, settled responses to dogs and people. A Bedlington that performs at home but unravels outside is only partly trained, and these last two weeks finish the job.
Common Bedlington Training Mistakes
Three mistakes show up repeatedly with this breed.
Mistake 1 : Mistaking the lamb look for a lapdog. Owners drawn in by the gentle appearance often under-exercise and under-train the Bedlington, then are surprised by the barking, restlessness, and chasing. Treat it as the athletic working terrier it is.
Mistake 2 : Trusting off-leash recall around prey. With sighthound speed and a real prey drive, a Bedlington can be gone in seconds. Until recall is heavily proofed on a long line, keep the dog leashed near wildlife and roads, and stay cautious even then.
Mistake 3 : Skipping dog socialization. The breed can be scrappy with strange dogs if not socialized well. Calm, positive early introductions and ongoing exposure keep it sociable. The full list is in our Bedlington Terrier training mistakes guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Bedlington Terriers easy to train ? Reasonably, for a terrier. They are milder and more biddable at home than many terriers and respond well to reward-based training. The challenges are the prey drive, the speed, and a stubborn streak, so recall and quiet take the most work.
How much exercise does a Bedlington Terrier need ? Around 60 minutes of activity daily plus mental work. The breed is athletic and enjoys running and games, and under-exercised Bedlingtons become restless and barky.
Can I let my Bedlington off-leash ? In a securely fenced area, yes. In open spaces near wildlife or traffic it is risky, because the prey drive and sighthound speed make recall unreliable. Use a long line until recall is genuinely proofed.
Are Bedlington Terriers good with other dogs ? They can be, with good socialization, but the breed can be scrappy with strange dogs if provoked or under-socialized. Calm, positive introductions from puppyhood are important.
Do Bedlington Terriers need a lot of grooming ? Yes. The distinctive curly, non-shedding coat needs regular clipping and brushing to keep its shape and stay mat-free. Build grooming tolerance early so it stays a positive routine.
Is positive reinforcement effective for Bedlingtons ? Yes. The breed is responsive and milder than many terriers, so reward-based training works well, while harsh handling tends to bring out stubbornness or reactivity.
Why does my Bedlington chase everything that moves ? Because it was bred to, with both terrier and sighthound instincts behind the behavior. Channel it into sanctioned outlets like a flirt pole, fetch, and lure coursing, and manage the environment so the dog is not constantly rehearsing the chase. Our recall and leash pulling guides cover the mechanics.
Why TailorPup Was Built for Bedlington Terriers
A generic plan treats your Bedlington like the lamb it resembles and ignores the speed, the prey drive, and the energy that make it a true working terrier. That mismatch is why standard advice produces restless, barky dogs.
TailorPup builds a 12-week plan around your specific dog: its terrier and sighthound instincts, its age, and the behaviors you are seeing. For a Bedlington that means careful recall work around movement, a real outlet for the prey drive and speed, calm dog socialization, and an early barking protocol.
Daily 12-minute sessions plus weekly adjustments based on your dog's progress. Free for 7 days, no card required.
Start your Bedlington Terrier's plan free at tailorpup.com →
Related: Bedlington Terrier Training Mistakes · Recall Training · Leash Pulling · Barking Solutions