How long does a Bedlington Terrier live?

The listed lifespan for a Bedlington Terrier is 11–16 years.

How tall is a Bedlington Terrier?

The listed height for a Bedlington Terrier is 15–17.5 in.

Is a Bedlington Terrier good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Bedlington Terrier is 3 out of 5.

When is a Bedlington Terrier full grown?

The growth size band for a Bedlington Terrier is 8–12 months.

Terrier Group

Bedlington Terrier

Bedlington Terrier is a small dog in the Terrier Group. Adult weight is 17–23 lb, height is 15–17.5 in, and the listed lifespan is 11–16 years. AKC describes the temperament as Loyal, Charming, Frollicking.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Bedlington Terrier dog — Photo: Wojciech Pędzich · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan11–16 years

Weight17–23 lb

SizeSmall GroupTerrier Group

Height

15–17.5 in

Energy

4 / 5

Shedding

1 / 5

Grooming

3 / 5

Trainability

3 / 5

Good with kids

3 / 5

The breed record

Across 45 single-size small breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 13.5 years is about the same as the 13.6-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 20 lb is about 4 lb heavier than the 16 lb average for those small breeds.

The listed origin is England. The coat is described as curly, medium. The AKC energy score is 4 out of 5, 0.4 points above the group average of 3.6 for the Terrier Group. Shedding scores 1 out of 5, so loose hair is limited. Grooming scores 3 out of 5. Trainability scores 3 out of 5. Good with children scores 3 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 3 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 147 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in 8–12 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): very small dogs reach maturity at 8-12 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Patella Evaluation, Ophthalmologist Evaluation, and Copper Toxicosis DNA Test. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

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