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Legacy Breeder Biographies

Voices of Experience

Every great breed is built on the dedication of those who came before us. The Legacy Breeder Biographies celebrate the individuals whose vision, knowledge, and lifelong commitment have helped preserve and improve the Bedlington Terrier. We invite you to explore their stories and discover the experiences, principles, and achievements that continue to influence our breed today.

Contemporary American Breeders

Carrying the Legacy Forward

The Story of the American Bedlington did not end with the foundation kennels or the breeders who established the breed in America. Each generation has carried that legacy forward, adapting to new challenges while preserving the qualities that define the Bedlington Terrier.

These contemporary breeders represent the continuing evolution of the breed. Their programs reflect decades of accumulated knowledge, the influence of historic bloodlines, advances in health and genetic understanding, and an increasing emphasis on responsible preservation. Together, they demonstrate that a breeder’s greatest contribution is not simply the champion produced today, but the soundness, quality, knowledge, and genetic legacy passed to the next generation.

(These contemporary biographies are in alphabetical order)

Dennis N. Corash, Ph.D.

Bonnybrook Bedlingtons: A Lifetime Dedicated to the Preservation of the Bedlington Terrier

Few people have devoted as much of their lives to a single breed as Dennis N. Corash. His connection with the Bedlington Terrier began before he was old enough to realize he was becoming part of the breed’s history. In the late 1950s, Dennis’s parents, Peggy and Bob Corash, introduced the first Bedlington Terrier to Colorado. What began as their love for one remarkable dog soon evolved into a family tradition that has now spanned nearly seven decades, making Bonnybrook one of the longest-established Bedlington Terrier kennels in North America.

Dennis entered his first dog show at just five years of age and has never looked back. What began as a childhood experience alongside his parents quickly developed into a lifelong commitment to the Bedlington Terrier. Growing up in a home where every litter, every pedigree, and every weekend at a dog show became an opportunity to learn, Dennis developed an appreciation for the responsibilities that accompany preservation breeding. Those early experiences shaped not only his eye for breed type and structure but also his belief that every breeder serves as a temporary steward of a legacy entrusted to them by previous generations.

Dennis has devoted more than five decades to building Bonnybrook Bedlingtons into one of North America’s most respected preservation breeding programs. Their philosophy has always centered on producing Bedlington Terriers that exemplify correct breed type, structural soundness, stable temperament, and long-term health while preserving the breed’s athleticism, character, and unmistakable silhouette. Every breeding has been approached with a long-term vision—not simply to produce champions, but to improve upon the previous generation while safeguarding the qualities that define the Bedlington Terrier.

Bonnybrook has never been a kennel driven by numbers, popularity, or changing fashions. Each breeding has been carefully planned with specific objectives, balancing the preservation of valuable bloodlines with the continual pursuit of improved health, soundness, and genetic diversity. Dennis has long believed that the true measure of a preservation breeder is not the number of puppies produced, but the lasting contribution each generation makes to the future of the breed.

This thoughtful approach has resulted in more than seventy-five owner-handled AKC Champions, an accomplishment that reflects not only the quality of the dogs but also the dedication required to train, groom, condition, and campaign them personally. Bonnybrook-bred Bedlington Terriers have earned victories at the Bedlington Terrier Club of America National Specialties, regional specialties, Terrier Group specialties, and numerous all-breed competitions. More importantly, Bonnybrook dogs have become influential producers whose descendants continue to strengthen pedigrees across multiple generations.

The influence of Bonnybrook Bedlingtons extends far beyond North America. Dogs carrying the Bonnybrook prefix, together with generations of Bonnybrook descendants, have contributed to successful breeding programs throughout Europe, Asia, and South America. These international partnerships have strengthened breed type, expanded genetic diversity, and fostered lasting friendships among preservation breeders around the world. Dennis has always believed that preservation breeding is strengthened through the thoughtful exchange of bloodlines, knowledge, mentorship, and scientific collaboration, recognizing that safeguarding the future of the Bedlington Terrier is both a local responsibility and a global commitment.

Throughout his years in the breed, Dennis has believed that a breeder’s responsibility extends far beyond producing puppies. Preservation breeding requires understanding genetics, maintaining genetic diversity, protecting breed type, mentoring future breeders, and making breeding decisions that will benefit generations yet to come. These principles have guided every aspect of Bonnybrook Bedlingtons and have become the foundation of Dennis’s philosophy as a breeder, educator, and preservationist.

Professionally trained as an educator, Dennis has brought an evidence-based approach to canine health and genetics. Throughout his career, he has worked to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and practical breeding decisions, translating complex genetic research into information breeders can understand and confidently apply. His work has consistently demonstrated that successful preservation breeding is achieved when tradition, experience, and sound science work together in pursuit of healthier dogs and a stronger breed.

Service has been equally important throughout Dennis’s career. Within the Bedlington Terrier Club of America, he has served in numerous elected and appointed leadership positions, including President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, and member of the Board of Directors. As President, he helped guide the Club’s educational mission, health initiatives, and long-term preservation efforts. As a founding member of the Bedlington Terrier Club of Greater Denver, he has likewise served in numerous officer and leadership positions, helping build one of the nation’s only regional Bedlington Terrier clubs through breeder education, specialty events, mentorship, and community outreach. Whether serving as an officer, committee chair, mentor, or volunteer, Dennis has consistently viewed leadership not as recognition, but as a responsibility to strengthen both the breed and the people dedicated to preserving it.

Perhaps Dennis’s greatest contribution has been education. Recognizing that the future of every breed depends upon knowledgeable breeders, he developed the BTCA Preservation Breeder Education Initiative, one of the most comprehensive educational programs ever created for the Bedlington Terrier. The curriculum prepares both new and experienced breeders through modules covering breeding stock evaluation, pedigree analysis, genetics, health testing, whelping, puppy development, ethics, lifelong breeder responsibility, and mentorship. His philosophy is simple but enduring: preservation breeders are not born—they are educated.

His commitment to education extends well beyond the Bedlington Terrier community. Dennis has developed breeder education programs, judging resources, youth curricula, and mentoring materials that emphasize critical thinking, ethical breeding practices, and lifelong learning. He has been a passionate supporter of Junior Showmanship and 4-H youth programs, spending countless hours introducing young people to the responsibilities and rewards of breeding, exhibiting, grooming, and caring for dogs. Whether coaching a first-time Junior Handler ringside, teaching grooming techniques, or developing comprehensive educational materials for youth and volunteer leaders, Dennis has always believed that investing in young people is one of the most important investments that can be made in the future of the sport. Many of today’s breeders, exhibitors, and club leaders first developed their confidence and love for purebred dogs through his encouragement, mentorship, and example.

As scientific discoveries have reshaped modern breeding, Dennis has worked to ensure that the Bedlington community benefits from those advances. He has helped lead educational efforts involving copper toxicosis and, more recently, the discovery of the CFA12 FGF4 retrogene associated with chondrodystrophy (CDDY) and an increased risk of Hansen Type I Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD). Through collaboration with veterinary geneticists, the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, and the University of Missouri, he has encouraged breeders to make thoughtful, evidence-based breeding decisions that improve health while protecting the genetic diversity essential to the breed’s future.

Dennis has been recognized by the American Kennel Club as Breeders of Merit and by the Bedlington Terrier Club of America as a Breeder of Distinction, honors that reflect decades of dedication to breeding quality dogs while serving the broader breed community.

For Dennis, success has never been measured solely by championships or ribbons. It is reflected in healthy Bedlington Terriers, informed breeders, ethical decision-making, and a community committed to preserving the breed for future generations. His legacy is one of stewardship—honoring the vision of those who came before while preparing those who will follow.

The story of Bonnybrook Bedlingtons is more than the story of a successful kennel. It is the story of a family whose dedication has helped shape the modern Bedlington Terrier in North America while influencing preservation breeding around the world. Through nearly seventy years of commitment to health, education, scientific advancement, mentorship, and preservation, Dennis Corash has helped ensure that the Bedlington Terrier’s history, character, soundness, and future remain in capable hands. His greatest legacy is not simply the champions he has bred, but the breeders he has mentored, the knowledge he has shared, and the generations of Bedlington enthusiasts he has inspired to continue the work of preserving one of the world’s most distinctive terrier breeds.

 

 

Jacquelyn Fogel

First Class Bedlingtons: Preserving Excellence Through Vision, Science, and Global Collaboration

The history of First Class Bedlingtons is rooted in a lifelong passion for purebred dogs and an unwavering commitment to preserving excellence. Long before Jacquelyn “Jackie” Fogel became one of the world’s most influential Bedlington Terrier breeders, she had already established herself as a successful breeder of Basset Hounds. That experience taught her one of the most enduring lessons in preservation breeding: success begins with exceptional foundation stock, thoughtful planning, and an uncompromising commitment to quality. When she entered the Bedlington Terrier breed in 1995, she brought with her decades of breeding experience, but also the humility to learn from those who had devoted their lives to this remarkable terrier.

Jackie’s introduction to the breed came through an enduring friendship with David Ramsey of Willow Wind Bedlingtons. The two first met through International Canine Genetics, where Jackie worked while David was exporting frozen semen from his influential dogs around the world. Their friendship grew quickly, and David jokingly challenged her that she could own one of his Bedlington Terriers if she first learned to groom one properly. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Jackie mastered the art of Bedlington grooming while building Cedar Creek Pet Resort in Wisconsin. Three years later David fulfilled his promise, placing Willow Wind It’s My Party—”Leslie”—with her. Jackie would later describe Leslie as “the most expensive free dog I ever owned,” a lighthearted acknowledgment that preservation breeding demands far more dedication than financial reward. Leslie quickly finished her championship and earned prestigious wins at both Westminster Kennel Club and Montgomery County, firmly establishing Jackie’s future in the breed.

Drawing upon lessons learned in Basset Hounds, Jackie carefully built her Bedlington breeding program around exceptional bloodlines. She firmly believed that preservation breeders should begin with the finest females they can obtain from breeders whose vision they admire. That philosophy led her to combine the legendary Willow Wind and Tamarack bloodlines, purchasing First Class Twotone Joe Tamarack from Sally and Robert DeKold. Although Joey’s life was tragically cut short, his influence, together with Leslie’s, laid the foundation for what would become one of the most successful Bedlington Terrier breeding programs in modern history.

The unexpected suspension of David Ramsey from the American Kennel Club in 1999 created one of the greatest challenges of Jackie’s breeding career. Rather than allowing years of careful breeding to disappear, she undertook the enormous task of locating Willow Wind descendants throughout the world. She established partnerships with respected breeders including Frank Majocha of Barma Bedlingtons, Ann-Marie Lyberg of BlĂĄ Skuggans in Sweden, and Chantal LeNones of Celtic Odyssey in France. By exporting and importing breeding stock, Jackie rebuilt and expanded the Willow Wind legacy while establishing the distinctive First Class bloodline. These international collaborations reflected her belief that preservation breeding must balance respect for historic bloodlines with thoughtful genetic diversity and global cooperation.

One of the defining characteristics of Jackie’s career has been her determination to preserve important bloodlines for future generations. Her efforts helped secure David Ramsey’s reinstatement with the AKC, allowing him to witness the continued success of dogs carrying the Willow Wind heritage. Among them was GCHG Willow Wind Money’s Still Talkin’ At First Class, whose extraordinary show career and influence as a sire helped perpetuate one of the breed’s most significant families. Jackie has consistently emphasized that preservation breeding is measured not only by individual champions, but by the ability to carry forward generations of carefully developed genetics.

The accomplishments of First Class Bedlingtons are remarkable by any measure. The kennel has produced more than eighty Bedlington Terrier champions while maintaining an unwavering focus on soundness, breed type, and temperament. Among its many stars is GCHG First Class Victoria Berland Empress of Magic (“Tori”), whose twenty-one all-breed Best in Show victories established her as the most successful female Bedlington Terrier in history. Another standout is First Class Delta of the Raptor Squad, campaigned by Jackie’s daughter Andrea Rich, who rose to become the nation’s top-winning Bedlington Terrier. Yet Jackie measures success not only by ribbons and rankings, but by the ability of these dogs to become influential producers who strengthen the breed for generations to come.

Throughout her career Jackie has embraced a truly international vision for preservation breeding. First Class Bedlingtons have contributed to successful breeding programs across Europe and Asia, including Sweden, France, Japan, Korea, China, and Northern Ireland. Her willingness to share bloodlines, knowledge, and mentorship has strengthened the Bedlington Terrier worldwide while fostering friendships that transcend borders. In 2022 she further demonstrated this commitment by sending breeding stock to France to help revive the respected Celtic Odyssey breeding program, ensuring that valuable bloodlines would continue for future generations.

Jackie’s dedication to the breed extends beyond breeding into judging and education. An AKC judge approved for six breeds, including Bedlington Terriers, she has earned international respect for her knowledge of breed type and structure. Among the greatest honors of her judging career were invitations to judge the Bedlington Terrier Club of America National Specialty in 2015 and the historic Centenary Championship Show of the Bedlington Terrier Association in Coventry, England, in 2024. To be invited to judge the breed’s centennial celebration in its country of origin, with an entry exceeding one hundred dogs, represented one of the highest honors a Bedlington breeder and judge can receive.

Jackie’s understanding of the Bedlington Terrier extends well beyond pedigrees and championships. She has become an articulate advocate for preserving the breed’s unique structural characteristics, emphasizing the importance of correct front assembly, flexible athletic movement, crisp coat texture, and the distinctive outline that separates the Bedlington from every other terrier. Equally important to her is preserving the breed’s true temperament—a courageous working terrier beneath an elegant exterior. She believes that appreciating the Bedlington requires understanding both its history and its purpose, and she has devoted countless hours to educating breeders, judges, and exhibitors about those defining qualities.

Perhaps one of Jackie’s greatest contributions has been her advocacy for breeder education. She believes that preservation breeders must be encouraged to think independently, seek multiple mentors, study canine anatomy and genetics, and evaluate dogs objectively rather than relying solely on a single bloodline or breeder’s perspective. Drawing upon successful educational models from other parent clubs, she has championed structured breeder education that combines scientific knowledge with practical mentorship. Her vision is not simply to produce more breeders, but to develop knowledgeable, ethical preservation breeders capable of safeguarding this rare breed for generations to come.

The story of First Class Bedlingtons is one of resilience, innovation, and unwavering dedication to preservation. Through thoughtful breeding, international collaboration, judging, education, and mentorship, Jacquelyn Fogel has helped shape the modern Bedlington Terrier on a global scale. Her legacy is measured not only in championship titles or influential bloodlines, but in the countless breeders she has inspired to pursue excellence with integrity, curiosity, and an enduring respect for the remarkable breed they share.

 

Linda Miller Freeman

Chelsea Blue Bedlingtons: A Lifetime Built on Love, Health, and Preservation

Few breeders can point to a single dog that changed the course of their lives. For Linda Miller Freeman, that dog was Chelsea. Yet her journey toward the Bedlington Terrier began long before Chelsea entered her life. Linda often says she was born wanting a dog. From the time she was a small child, dogs captured her imagination, and by her eighth birthday she had received her first canine companion, a Border Collie. That lifelong love of dogs ultimately led her to grooming school in 1985, where a quiet Bedlington Terrier puppy would forever alter her future.

While learning to groom, Linda was assigned a sweet Bedlington puppy who calmly fell asleep on the grooming table during her lesson. Captivated by the breed’s gentle nature and unmistakable elegance, she casually remarked to the breeder that she would love to own one someday. The breeder’s unexpected reply—”She’s for sale”—began a remarkable journey that has now spanned four decades. Linda purchased the puppy, named her Chelsea, and often reflects that no decision in her life brought greater joy or opened more doors than bringing that little Bedlington home. Chelsea lived nearly eighteen years and became the foundation upon which Chelsea Blue Bedlingtons was built.

Like many newcomers to the breed, Linda initially intended Chelsea to be simply a beloved companion. She even planned to have her spayed before fate intervened. Entering a local dog show “just for fun” before scheduling the procedure proved to be one of the defining moments of her life. On a cold, rainy October day in 1985 at the Devon Horse Show Grounds, Chelsea earned a five-point major under breeder-judge Barbara Heller. Linda vividly recalls leaving the ring trembling with excitement, convinced the judge might somehow take the ribbon back. Instead, Chelsea continued her winning career, finishing her championship with three five-point majors and later earning an obedience title. More importantly, she became the cornerstone of an enduring breeding program whose influence continues to be found in Chelsea Blue pedigrees today.

Linda has always believed that true preservation breeding begins with an unwavering commitment to health. Long before DNA testing became commonplace, she routinely liver biopsied every puppy she produced, beginning with her very first litter in 1986. Her willingness to collect health information and share biological samples placed her among the breeders who contributed directly to the University of Michigan’s groundbreaking research that ultimately led to the development of the DNA test for copper toxicosis. Rather than viewing health testing as an expense, Linda has always regarded it as an investment in the future of the breed. Over the years she expanded her program to include CERF eye examinations, cardiac evaluations, and comprehensive health screening of breeding stock and puppies alike, setting a standard of responsibility that has benefited countless Bedlington Terriers.

Throughout her breeding career, Linda has remained guided by a simple philosophy that reflects the deepest traditions of preservation breeding: dogs are bred for the love of the breed, never for personal gain. That philosophy has shaped every decision she has made as a breeder. Her kennel has emphasized health, sound temperament, breed type, and longevity, always striving to produce Bedlington Terriers capable of serving both as successful show dogs and treasured family companions. The recognition she has received as both an AKC Breeder of Merit and a Bedlington Terrier Club of America Breeder of Distinction reflects decades of dedication to those principles rather than any single accomplishment.
No preservation breeder succeeds alone, and Linda has always been generous in acknowledging those who helped shape her journey. Early guidance came from Tom and Kristin Hamernik of Sayles Bedlingtons and Sally and Bob DeKold of Tamarack Bedlingtons. Her education expanded internationally through Steve Lockett of Skewhill Bedlingtons in England and Ian and Margaret Phillips of Rathsrigg Bedlingtons. Particularly meaningful were her long-standing partnerships with Mary Jo Dunn and later Howard Solomon of Jewelbox Kennel, as well as the Byberg-Eriksson family of Isotops Kennel in Sweden. Linda considers these friendships among the greatest blessings of her life, recognizing that collaboration, mentorship, and shared passion have strengthened both her breeding program and the breed itself.

Among the many Bedlingtons she has admired throughout the years, one dog has remained her enduring standard of excellence: Ch. D’Argo’s Orion. His elegance, balance, and breed character became the template against which she measured her own breeding program. Like many accomplished breeders, Linda has never believed perfection is achieved once and for all; rather, it remains a goal that inspires each successive generation.

Linda’s commitment to the breed has extended well beyond the whelping box. She has exhibited and owner-handled her own Bedlingtons throughout her career while also exploring the breed’s versatility through obedience, Earthdog, and Barn Hunt. Her appreciation for the Bedlington’s working heritage even inspired her to establish the Ratscallions rat-hunting club in the Washington, D.C., area, where terrier enthusiasts gathered weekly to celebrate the instincts and abilities that define the breed. These activities reflected her belief that Bedlington Terriers should be appreciated not only for their beauty but also for the intelligence, athleticism, and determination that have always distinguished them as true terriers.

Service has likewise been a hallmark of Linda’s career. She has devoted decades to the Bedlington Terrier Club of America, serving on its Board of Directors, chairing dog shows, and assuming responsibility for maintaining and updating the Illustrated Breed Standard. Since 1990 she has also played a leading role in Bedlington rescue, helping establish the Bedlington Terrier Welfare and Rescue Association (BTWRA) and ensuring that dogs in need would always have knowledgeable advocates willing to help them find safe and loving homes. These contributions demonstrate her belief that stewardship of the breed extends far beyond breeding and exhibiting dogs. It includes caring for every Bedlington Terrier, regardless of its pedigree or circumstance.

Looking toward the future, Linda remains optimistic. She is encouraged by the enthusiasm and dedication of today’s new breeders and exhibitors and believes the breed is in capable hands. At the same time, she reminds future generations that there is no substitute for experience gained through travel, observation, and lifelong learning. By attending specialties across the United States and abroad, studying diverse pedigrees, and learning to recognize both strengths and weaknesses, breeders sharpen their eye and develop the objectivity necessary to make thoughtful breeding decisions. Honest evaluation of one’s own dogs, she believes, is among the greatest responsibilities of every preservation breeder.

Linda Miller Freeman’s legacy reaches far beyond the champions produced under the Chelsea Blue prefix. Her greatest contributions have been her unwavering commitment to health, her willingness to support scientific research, her dedication to rescue, and her generosity in sharing knowledge with fellow breeders. Through Chelsea Blue Bedlingtons, she has demonstrated that preservation breeding is built upon love of the breed, informed by science, strengthened through collaboration, and sustained by an enduring commitment to leave the Bedlington Terrier healthier and stronger for the generations that follow.

 

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Sally Schill

A Legacy of Leadership, Mentorship, and Dedication to the Bedlington Terrier

For Sally Schill, the Bedlington Terrier was more than a breed discovered through research or admired from afar—it was a cherished childhood memory that quietly waited decades to become a lifelong passion. As a young girl, family visits from Ohio to New Jersey brought her into the company of a Bedlington Terrier owned by a cousin. Though she could not have known it at the time, that distinctive dog left an impression that would remain with her throughout her life. Years later, when her own family decided it was time to welcome a dog into their home, those memories resurfaced, setting Sally on a journey that would ultimately lead her to become one of the Bedlington Terrier Club of America’s most dedicated leaders and preservation breeders.

Finding a Bedlington Terrier in the early 1990s required determination. Long before internet searches and breeder websites, Sally relied on personal connections within the dog community. Through the Central Ohio Kennel Club she was introduced to Ernie Matzner, a past president of the Bedlington Terrier Club of America, whose guidance eventually led her to Lois D’Ambrosio of Chimneyhouse Bedlingtons. From Lois came a remarkable young dog named Lord Derby of Chimneyhouse, born on Kentucky Derby Day in 1992. Derby quickly proved to be much more than a family companion. After beginning puppy kindergarten, his natural quality became apparent to experienced dog people, and under Lois’s encouragement Sally entered the world of conformation competition.

One of the defining moments of Sally’s early career came in the fall of 1993 when Derby made his first appearance at Montgomery County. Winning the Sweepstakes under respected judge Ron Menaker confirmed that her instincts about the breed had been well founded and strengthened her commitment to learning everything she could about preservation breeding. Derby would later complete his championship and earn Best of Opposite Sex at the Bedlington Terrier Club of Chicago Specialty, establishing the foundation for what would become a distinguished breeding program.

Every successful breeding program begins with exceptional mentors and foundation dogs. For Sally, both arrived in quick succession. In 1994 she acquired a beautiful bitch from Vanassa Sypher’s Meadowsweet Bedlingtons. Lillee, as she was affectionately known, became the foundation bitch upon which her breeding program was built. Equally important were the friendships she formed with Lois D’Ambrosio and Vanassa Sypher. Together they spent countless hours studying old editions of Tassels and Tales, examining pedigrees, photographs, and the history of the breed. Those informal gatherings became an education in Bedlington type, bloodlines, and preservation breeding that no textbook could have provided. Sally has often credited these women not only as mentors but as lifelong friends whose influence shaped both her breeding philosophy and her appreciation for the breed’s rich heritage.

Throughout her years in the breed, Sally has embraced the belief that successful preservation breeders are lifelong students. Her breeding program has consistently emphasized quality over quantity, producing homebred champions while also celebrating the versatility of the Bedlington Terrier. She has taken particular pride in watching puppies bred under her guidance succeed not only in conformation but also in obedience and agility, demonstrating that correct structure, sound temperament, and working ability remain compatible goals in preservation breeding.

Few individuals have contributed as extensively to the leadership of the Bedlington Terrier Club of America as Sally Schill. Since attending her first annual meeting in 1993, she has served the Club in virtually every major leadership capacity, including President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, and member of the Board of Directors. Her willingness to accept responsibility reflected a deep commitment to preserving not only the breed itself but also the strength and effectiveness of its parent club. Through years of thoughtful leadership, Sally helped guide educational initiatives, governance, and the continued advancement of the Bedlington Terrier community.

Education has been another hallmark of Sally’s contribution to the breed. Representing the Bedlington Terrier Club of America, she traveled throughout the United States presenting educational seminars for current and prospective judges in Michigan, California, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. These presentations helped promote consistent understanding of correct Bedlington Terrier type while strengthening judging education across the country. She has also had the privilege of judging Sweepstakes for the Bedlington Terrier Club of the West, another reflection of the respect she has earned within the breed community.

Throughout her career, Sally has believed that preservation extends beyond breeding outstanding dogs. It includes preserving knowledge, encouraging mentorship, and fostering a welcoming community for newcomers. She understands that every accomplished breeder once relied upon experienced mentors willing to share their time and expertise. In turn, she has worked to provide that same encouragement to future generations, believing that education and kindness are among the greatest gifts experienced breeders can offer.

Looking toward the future, Sally remains optimistic about the Bedlington Terrier and those who will carry the breed forward. Her advice reflects the values that have guided her own remarkable journey: seek knowledgeable mentors, attend seminars, study pedigrees, learn to evaluate puppies objectively, and approach fellow breeders with respect and an open mind. She believes that technical knowledge and personal integrity are equally important qualities for preservation breeders and that the future of the breed depends upon individuals who never stop learning.

Sally Schill’s legacy is measured not only by the champions she has bred, the offices she has held, or the seminars she has presented, but also by the countless breeders, judges, and exhibitors she has influenced through her leadership and generosity. Her story reminds us that preservation breeding is built upon shared knowledge, lasting friendships, and an unwavering commitment to protecting the Bedlington Terrier for generations yet to come.

 

Diane Stille

Elante Bedlingtons: Building Quality One Generation at a Time

The most enduring preservation breeding programs are rarely built overnight. They are shaped by thoughtful decisions, careful observation, and a willingness to continually learn. Diane Stille’s journey with the Bedlington Terrier reflects each of those qualities. Since entering the breed in 1994, she has earned a reputation as a respected breeder, exhibitor, judge, mentor, and club leader whose influence extends well beyond the dogs carrying the Elante prefix.

Ironically, Diane never intended to become deeply involved with Bedlington Terriers. At the time she was managing a large Afghan Hound kennel and had previously been active with Australian Terriers. Believing that one Bedlington would satisfy her curiosity and remind her why she had left the terrier breeds behind, she acquired her first Bedlington, CH Touchwood Foolish Pleasure II, “Oliver,” from Lynn Hall of Touchwood Bedlingtons. A year later, she welcomed CH Touchwood Command Performance, “Alice,” into her home. What began as a casual interest quickly became a lifelong passion, and the foundation of Elante Bedlingtons was established.

Like every accomplished preservation breeder, Diane credits much of her success to outstanding mentors. Lynn Hall patiently taught her the art of grooming long before digital photography and instant communication existed. Diane would trim Oliver, mail photographs to Lynn, and receive them back with red markings showing where to remove coat or leave additional hair. It was a slow but invaluable education that sharpened both her grooming skills and her eye for correct breed presentation. At the same time, Stephen Fisher and Bruce Clark, under whom Diane managed a prominent Afghan Hound kennel, refined her understanding of canine structure, whelping, and breeding management. Dennis Corash also provided encouragement and practical guidance as she learned the unique challenges of presenting the Bedlington Terrier. Together, these mentors helped shape the thoughtful breeder she would become.

From the beginning, Diane’s breeding philosophy emphasized quality over quantity. Rather than pursuing large numbers of litters or champions, she focused on producing dogs that consistently represented the Bedlington Terrier at its best. Every breeding decision began with a simple question: “What can I improve in this bitch?” She understood that preservation breeding is a process of continual refinement, requiring honesty, patience, and a willingness to evaluate each generation objectively. Over nearly three decades of breeding, Elante Bedlingtons became recognized for producing dogs that combined correct breed type, sound movement, and lasting influence within the breed.

Several dogs have come to define the Elante breeding program. Alice, Diane’s foundation bitch, possessed an independent personality and little enthusiasm for the show ring, yet she proved exceptional in the whelping box. Producing offspring that consistently surpassed her own accomplishments, Alice became the cornerstone of every Elante pedigree that followed. Another influential producer was CH Elante Evening News, “Tori,” whose spirited personality and multiple Group wins established her as one of the kennel’s standout performers while passing her quality to future generations.

Perhaps no dog better represents Diane’s breeding philosophy than RBIS, BISS, GCH Elante Eight Second Ride, affectionately known as “Bucky.” The result of a carefully planned frozen semen breeding, Bucky brought Diane’s breeding program full circle by combining generations of pedigrees stretching back to her first Bedlington. While never considered flashy in the show ring, Bucky exemplified the virtues Diane values most: exceptional breed type, a beautifully constructed head, effortless ground-covering movement, and the ability to consistently produce quality offspring. His descendants continue to earn top honors at specialties, Montgomery County Kennel Club, and throughout the country, ensuring that his influence will be felt for many years to come.

Although conformation has always been central to Diane’s breeding program, she has embraced the Bedlington Terrier as a versatile working companion. Her dogs have earned titles in Obedience, Rally, FAST CAT, Canine Good Citizen, and Temperament Testing, demonstrating that sound structure and stable temperament naturally complement performance. These accomplishments reflect her belief that the Bedlington Terrier should remain not only beautiful, but also capable, athletic, and mentally sound.

Diane’s influence extends far beyond the whelping box and show ring. A member of the Bedlington Terrier Club of America for more than thirty years, she has served the parent club in numerous leadership positions, including President, Recording Secretary, member of the Board of Directors, Editor of Tassels and Tales, and Co-Chair of the Judges Education Committee. Each role reflected her commitment to preserving not only the dogs themselves, but also the educational resources, institutional knowledge, and organizational strength necessary for the breed’s continued success.

At the regional level, Diane has been equally committed to service. As a charter member of the Bedlington Terrier Club of Greater Denver, she has helped build one of only two regional Bedlington Terrier clubs in the United States. Serving as President, Vice President, member of the Board of Directors, and Legislative Liaison, she has worked tirelessly to strengthen breeder education, promote responsible ownership, and preserve the camaraderie that has long characterized the Bedlington community.

Education has remained a central theme throughout Diane’s career. She judged Sweepstakes for the Bedlington Terrier Club of America in 2005 and today is approved by the American Kennel Club to judge both Bedlington Terriers and Afghan Hounds. Whether evaluating dogs in the ring or mentoring newcomers outside of it, Diane consistently emphasizes understanding anatomy, structure, and the relationship between form and function. She believes that successful preservation breeding requires far more than recognizing beauty—it requires understanding why a correctly built Bedlington Terrier moves, works, and functions as the breed was originally intended.

Looking toward the future, Diane is encouraged by the growing number of newcomers entering the breed through both conformation and performance events. She hopes they will seek out educational opportunities, embrace mentorship, and remain open to learning throughout their careers. She reminds future breeders that every experienced exhibitor still has something to learn and something to teach. That spirit of lifelong education, she believes, is one of the greatest strengths of the Bedlington Terrier community.

The story of Elante Bedlingtons is one of patience, craftsmanship, and steady improvement. Through her accomplishments as a breeder, exhibitor, judge, educator, and club leader, Diane Stille has helped shape the modern Bedlington Terrier while inspiring others to pursue excellence with integrity and purpose. Her legacy reminds us that preservation breeding is measured not by the number of dogs produced, but by the lasting influence those dogs—and the knowledge behind them—have on future generations.

 

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Brent Wright

Wrightwyn Bedlingtons: A Lifetime Pursuing Excellence Through Knowledge and Breed Type

For more than half a century, Brent Wright has devoted himself to the pursuit of the ideal Bedlington Terrier. His journey began not with ownership, but with curiosity. As a teenager, Brent learned that a Bedlington Terrier had won Best in Show, sparking an interest in a breed that was both uncommon and unlike any other. Fascinated by its distinctive appearance and rich history, he immersed himself in everything he could find about Bedlington Terriers through the pages of Dog World magazine. Even before owning his first dog, he knew he had found the breed that would become his lifelong passion.

At just sixteen years of age, Brent acquired his first Bedlington Terrier, an eighteen-month-old male from the renowned Center Ridge Kennels of Wisconsin. The dog already possessed five championship points, but more importantly, he represented generations of thoughtful breeding and exceptional quality. Although Brent quickly discovered the considerable grooming demands of the breed, he embraced the challenge. With few mentors available nearby, he studied photographs of the nation’s finest Bedlington Terriers, patiently teaching himself the art of presentation while developing the keen eye for breed type that would later define his career.

One of the defining moments in Brent’s early years occurred at a specialty-supported show near Seattle. Surrounded by beautifully prepared dogs, he worried that his grooming skills would prevent his own dog from being competitive. Instead, his Bedlington earned the major, and the respected terrier judge quietly reminded him that the best dog should always prevail, regardless of presentation. Those words became a guiding principle that Brent carried throughout both his exhibiting and judging careers. Whether evaluating his own dogs or those of others, he has consistently believed that structural quality, breed character, and soundness must always take precedence over cosmetic perfection.

As Brent’s understanding of the breed deepened, so too did his appreciation for the people who shaped his education. Martha McVay sponsored his membership in the Bedlington Terrier Club of America, while Robert and Paula Scherff of Center Ridge Kennels, their accomplished handler Charles Prager, Connie Willemsen, and Dess June each contributed invaluable knowledge about pedigrees, structure, and breeding. Brent has often acknowledged that his accomplishments are rooted not only in his own dedication but also in the generosity of experienced breeders who willingly shared their wisdom with the next generation.

His education extended well beyond North America. During a visit to Europe in the early 1970s, Brent attended a dog show in Switzerland where he encountered a Bedlington Terrier that exemplified the balance, elegance, and athleticism described in the breed standard. Decades later, he fulfilled another lifelong dream by attending Crufts, where once again he had the opportunity to examine one of the finest Bedlington Terriers he had ever seen. These experiences reinforced his conviction that truly outstanding dogs possess a timeless quality that transcends geography, and they continually refined the vision that guided the Wrightwyn breeding program.

Under the Wrightwyn prefix, Brent established one of Canada’s most respected Bedlington Terrier breeding programs. His breeding philosophy emphasized moderation, balance, sound movement, and adherence to the breed standard, producing dogs that excelled not only in the show ring but also as breeding animals whose influence extended for generations. Among the dogs that best represent his program are Am. & Can. Ch. Wrightwyn’s Coral Gem, a multiple Group winner and Canada’s youngest Best Puppy in Show-winning Bedlington; Am. & Can. Ch. Wrightwyn’s Maybe I Know, a multiple Group winner with more than sixty Group placements; Am. Ch. Wrightwyn’s Told You So, a multiple Best in Show winner and influential producer; and Am. Ch. Wrightwyn’s Power Play, whose own success was matched by the impact he made as a sire of National Specialty winners. Particularly meaningful to Brent is the fact that only two Canadian-bred Bedlington Terriers have earned all-breed Best in Show victories in the United States—and both were bred under the Wrightwyn prefix.

The pinnacle of Brent’s breeding career came in 2013 when he bred both the Number One Bedlington Terrier in the United States and the Number One Bedlington Terrier in Canada. Remarkably, the two top-ranked dogs were littermates and both were owner-handled. Having achieved goals that exceeded even his own expectations, Brent chose to conclude his active breeding program while it stood at its height, a decision reflecting both confidence in what had been accomplished and satisfaction in leaving a lasting contribution to the breed.

While breeding formed the foundation of his career, education and judging became equally important chapters. Brent has spent more than thirty years as an all-breed judge, earning respect throughout North America and internationally for his thoughtful evaluations and deep understanding of canine structure. He has judged throughout Canada, the United States, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand. Among the greatest honors of his judging career were invitations to judge the Bedlington Terrier Club of America National Specialty and the Bedlington Terrier Club of Greater Denver Specialty—recognition bestowed only upon those who have demonstrated exceptional knowledge and dedication to the breed. He has also enjoyed presenting educational seminars for judges, finding particular satisfaction when attendees later shared how those lessons influenced their own evaluations in the ring.
Brent’s commitment to the breed has extended beyond breeding and judging. He has served as show chairman for a local all-breed kennel club and has quietly supported Bedlington rescue by providing homes for rescued dogs. Throughout his career he has viewed service not as an obligation but as an opportunity to strengthen the sport and the breed he loves.

Reflecting on more than fifty years with Bedlington Terriers, Brent believes the breed has made significant progress in overall soundness, rear structure, and moderation. Yet he continues to encourage breeders to remain vigilant in preserving correct head properties and front construction, qualities he believes are essential to maintaining the breed’s unique identity. He reminds breeders that honest self-evaluation is among the most valuable tools available to any preservation breeder. By setting aside emotion, studying pedigrees, and remaining open to continual learning, breeders can make decisions that strengthen future generations while honoring those that came before.

Perhaps more than ribbons, championships, or judging assignments, Brent values the friendships formed throughout his remarkable journey. The Bedlington Terrier has introduced him to dedicated breeders, exhibitors, and judges across the world, united by a common passion for one extraordinary breed. Those relationships, built upon shared knowledge, mutual respect, and a commitment to excellence, have become the enduring legacy of a lifetime devoted to the preservation of the Bedlington Terrier.

The story of Wrightwyn Bedlingtons is one of quiet excellence, disciplined study, and unwavering adherence to the breed standard. Through his accomplishments as a breeder, educator, mentor, and respected judge, Brent Wright has left an enduring mark on the Bedlington Terrier in both Canada and the United States. His legacy reminds future generations that true preservation begins with knowledge, is strengthened by integrity, and is measured not only by the dogs we produce, but by the wisdom we leave behind.

 

The Foundational Generation

The story of the Bedlington Terrier in America begins with a remarkable generation of breeders, exhibitors, and devoted owners who transformed a breed with deep English roots into a thriving American tradition. They imported important dogs, established the first enduring kennels, developed breeding families, organized the national breed club, and laid the foundation upon which every subsequent generation would build.

These early breeders did more than produce champions. They studied pedigrees, exchanged bloodlines, preserved breed type, and made the difficult breeding decisions that shaped the Bedlington we know today. Their kennels—among them Tyneside, Firenze, Rock Ridge, and the programs that followed—became the building blocks of the American breed.

The Foundational Generation honors the individuals who made that development possible. Their legacy is found not only in the names that remain in pedigrees, but in the dogs, breeding principles, traditions, and commitment to preservation that continue to influence Bedlington Terriers more than a century later.

Joseph Ainsley

Joseph Aynsley (Ainsley)

The Man Who Gave the Bedlington Terrier Its Name

From the Rothbury Terrier to the Bedlington Terrier

There are moments in the history of a breed when one individual becomes associated with a transformation that had been taking place for generations. For the Bedlington Terrier, one of those individuals was Joseph Aynsley, a mason from Northumberland whose name is forever connected with the emergence of the breed as we know it today.

Aynsley did not create the Bedlington Terrier from nothing. The dogs that came into his hands were the product of generations of Northumberland terriers—hardy, athletic working dogs that had been used to hunt vermin, foxes, badgers, and otters. What Aynsley did was help bring together an existing strain of terriers and give it a distinct identity.

That distinction matters.

The Bedlington did not begin with a written standard, a kennel club, or a formal breeding program. It emerged from a regional population of working terriers whose owners selected dogs for the qualities they needed: courage, speed, stamina, intelligence, determination, and the ability to work independently.

Aynsley became one of the men who helped turn that local working terrier into a recognizable breed.

The Dog That Became a Legend

Joseph Aynsley’s name is inseparable from Aynsley’s Piper, sometimes referred to in historical accounts as Young Piper.

Piper was the product of an early breeding that brought together two dogs from the developing Rothbury Terrier population. Historical accounts identify his parents as Anderson’s Piper and Coates’ Phoebe. Phoebe had previously been associated with the Coates family and eventually came into Aynsley’s possession. The resulting dog, Piper, became one of the most celebrated working terriers of his time. 

Piper was not famous because he looked like a modern show Bedlington. He was famous because he demonstrated the qualities that were at the heart of the breed.

He was courageous.

He was extraordinarily tough.

And, above all, he was a working terrier.

According to historical accounts, Piper began hunting badgers when he was only eight months old. He continued working for many years, taking on badgers, otters, foxes, and other vermin. Even in old age, when he was described as nearly blind and almost toothless, he retained his determination and ability as a hunter.

One of the most famous stories associated with Piper tells of an encounter with a large sow that threatened a child. Piper reportedly kept the animal at bay until assistance arrived. Whether every detail of the traditional account can be independently verified today, the story endured because it captured the reputation Piper had earned: a small dog with extraordinary courage.

That reputation became part of the mythology—and ultimately the identity—of the Bedlington Terrier.

Giving the Breed a Name

Before the name Bedlington Terrier came into common use, these dogs were known by several names, including Rothbury Terrier and Rothbury’s Terrier.

The dogs were associated with the villages and countryside of Northumberland, particularly the Rothbury area. They were working terriers of the northern border country, valued by people who needed a capable dog rather than simply a fashionable one.

Aynsley’s significance was his recognition that these dogs represented something distinctive.

Historical sources credit him with giving the breed the name Bedlington Terrier, after the Northumberland town of Bedlington. The date is generally given as 1825, although some BTCA historical material gives 1845. The discrepancy is worth preserving in a historical project because the precise date is less important than the larger development taking place: the dogs were beginning to be recognized as something more specific than simply another variety of northern working terrier.

The name ultimately endured.

And with it came the beginning of a breed identity.

A Working Dog Before a Show Dog

It is important when remembering Joseph Aynsley not to view him through the lens of the modern show ring.

The Bedlington Terrier of Aynsley’s time was not groomed into the sculptured outline we recognize today. There was no modern breed standard defining the precise head, coat, topline, movement, or presentation.

Instead, the value of the dog was demonstrated in the field.

Piper’s reputation tells us something important about the foundation of the breed. The Bedlington’s famous courage was not something added later to a beautiful show dog. Courage was there first.

The elegance came later.

The refined silhouette came later.

The exhibition coat came later.

The underlying terrier remained.

This is one of the most important lessons Aynsley’s legacy provides to modern breeders. When we preserve the Bedlington’s appearance, we are preserving the outward expression of a dog whose original purpose demanded exceptional athletic ability and character.

The Pedigree Legacy

Aynsley’s importance also lies in the dogs connected to him through pedigree.

Piper’s ancestry reaches backward into the early Northumberland terrier population, including dogs associated with the Allan family and earlier strains of Rothbury Terriers. Historical records connect Piper’s maternal ancestry with Old Flint, a dog whelped in 1782 and associated with Squire Trevelyan. (Project Gutenberg)

Thus, Aynsley’s Piper represents an important bridge:

Old Northumberland Terriers → Rothbury Terriers → Aynsley’s Piper → Bedlington Terrier

That is why Piper occupies such an important place in Bedlington pedigrees and breed history.

He was not simply one good dog.

He represented a point at which generations of working terriers began to be recognized as a breed with its own identity.

The Lesson of Joseph Aynsley

For today’s breeder, Joseph Aynsley’s legacy is a reminder that breeds are not created by names or standards alone.

They are created by people who recognize something valuable in a population of dogs and make conscious decisions to preserve it.

Aynsley recognized the qualities of the northern terrier in front of him.

He valued courage.

He valued working ability.

He valued the distinctive character of these dogs.

And through Piper, that legacy became visible to later generations.

Legacy Statement

Joseph Aynsley stands at the threshold between the early Rothbury Terrier and the modern Bedlington Terrier. Through his association with Aynsley’s Piper and his role in establishing the name Bedlington Terrier, he helped give a distinct identity to a remarkable Northumberland working terrier. His greatest legacy was not creating a fashionable breed, but helping preserve and define a dog whose courage, athleticism, and determination would become inseparable from the Bedlington Terrier.

The lesson of Aynsley is simple: before there was a breed standard, there was a dog—and that dog had to work.

 

William Allan

The Early Guardian of the Rothbury Terrier

The Man Behind the Dogs Before There Was a Bedlington Terrier

Long before the name Bedlington Terrier appeared, before formal breed standards and kennel clubs, there were the working terriers of Northumberland.

Among the people associated with those early dogs, William Allan—known as “Old Will”—occupies a particularly important place.

Allan lived in Northumberland during the eighteenth century and became associated with the Rothbury area and its working terriers. Historical accounts describe him as an accomplished hunter, particularly renowned for hunting otters, and as a man who maintained a valued strain of rough-coated terriers.

His importance to Bedlington history is not that he bred a modern Bedlington Terrier in the way we understand breeding today. Rather, he represents the working foundation from which the later breed emerged.

The Rothbury Terrier

In William Allan’s lifetime, there was no officially recognized Bedlington Terrier.

The dogs associated with Allan were generally described as Rothbury or Rothbury-type terriers. They were practical working dogs of the Northumberland border country, selected for their ability to hunt and dispatch vermin and game.

Allan was known to keep several dogs, but historical accounts specifically identify Charley, Phoebe, and Peachem as particular favorites.

Those names are important.

They did not disappear with Allan.

Names such as Peachem, Phoebe, Pincher, and Piper recur in the early history and pedigrees of the dogs that eventually became Bedlington Terriers. Their repetition provides one of the links connecting the early Rothbury terriers with the later breed. 

A Hunter and His Dogs

William Allan’s reputation was built largely upon his ability as an otter hunter.

Historical accounts describe him as being called upon by landowners to deal with otters that threatened valuable fish ponds. One particularly memorable account concerns Lord Ravensworth, who sought Allan’s assistance when otters were causing problems at Eslington Hall.

Allan successfully carried out the task.

Afterward, Lord Ravensworth’s steward reportedly attempted to purchase Allan’s dog Charley, offering to pay whatever price Allan demanded.

Allan refused.

The story has survived because it reveals something more than the value of a particular dog. It illustrates the relationship between the working terrier and its owner.

Charley was not simply livestock.

He was a trusted hunting partner.

And, in Allan’s eyes, there was no price that could replace him.

The Allan Family and the Next Generation

William Allan’s importance extends through his son, James Allan, one of Northumberland’s most colorful historical figures and a celebrated piper.

James inherited his father’s dogs.

This inheritance is critical to the Bedlington story because the dogs and names associated with the Allan family appear again in the historical development of the breed. The American Kennel Club’s archival history specifically identifies William Allan as a keeper of the early Rothbury Terriers and James Allan as an important figure associated with the earliest true Bedlington-type dogs. (AKC Library)

Through this family connection, the Allan dogs became part of the foundation from which later breeders selected and developed the Bedlington.

The story therefore is not simply about one breeder.

It is about a family strain of working terriers carried forward through generations.

Before the Breed Had a Name

William Allan’s place in history is especially important because his dogs existed before the breed had a formal identity.

There was no Bedlington Terrier standard.

There was no championship title.

There was no kennel club registration.

There was no requirement that the dogs conform to a particular silhouette.

The selection pressure was practical.

Could the dog hunt?

Could it endure?

Was it courageous?

Could it work independently?

Could it keep going when another dog would quit?

These were the characteristics that mattered.

And they are precisely the characteristics that continued to define the Bedlington long after its appearance became more refined.

The Allan Dogs in Later Pedigrees

The appearance of Allan-associated names in later pedigrees is one of the reasons William Allan deserves recognition in a Legacy Breeder project.

Historical accounts connect dogs such as Peachem and Pincher with the Allan strain, while later generations contain names such as Piper and Phoebe. The repetition of these names provides evidence of a continuing tradition rather than a single isolated dog. (AKC Library)

The historical record is not complete enough to reconstruct every breeding with certainty, and modern accounts sometimes disagree about dates, ownership, and precise relationships.

That uncertainty should not diminish Allan’s importance.

In fact, it teaches today’s breeders an important lesson.

The farther we go back in a breed’s history, the more important it becomes to distinguish documented fact from tradition.

What can be said with confidence is that William Allan was associated with a valued strain of Northumberland working terriers and that those dogs became part of the historical foundation from which the Bedlington Terrier emerged.

Preserving Function Before Appearance

William Allan’s legacy provides perhaps the clearest illustration of the phrase:

“Head like a lamb, heart like a lion.”

The lamb-like appearance of the modern Bedlington developed over generations. But the heart came first.

Allan’s dogs were hunters.

They were expected to face difficult quarry.

They had to possess stamina, courage, determination, and intelligence.

Those qualities became embedded in the breed’s identity and survived the Bedlington’s transition from working terrier to show dog.

For modern breeders, that is an important distinction.

Breed preservation is not simply preserving a silhouette.

It is preserving the function and character that created the silhouette in the first place.

Legacy Statement

William Allan was one of the early guardians of the Northumberland working terrier from which the Bedlington Terrier emerged. His celebrated hunting dogs—particularly Charley, Phoebe, and Peachem—and the continuation of his dogs through his son James Allan connect the early Rothbury Terrier with the foundation of the modern breed. Long before there was a Bedlington Terrier by name, William Allan was preserving the qualities that would ultimately define one.

The legacy of William Allan is the legacy of function: the courage, stamina, intelligence, and determination that existed before the breed ever entered a show ring.

 

S. Tarprel Holland

One of the First Great Breeders and Exhibitors

Among the men who helped carry the Bedlington Terrier from its Northumberland working origins into the emerging world of organized dog shows, S. Taprel Holland occupies an important place. His name belongs to the earliest generation of breeders and exhibitors who recognized that the Bedlington was more than a regional working terrier. At a time when the breed was beginning to attract attention outside Northumberland, Holland helped establish the Bedlington as a dog worthy of serious breeding, exhibition, and public recognition.

Holland’s importance is particularly notable because he was active during the formative years of the breed’s transition into the show ring. The first organized dog shows were creating an entirely new environment for breeders. Dogs that had previously been judged primarily by their ability to work were now being evaluated against one another for structure, coat, movement, outline, and recognizable breed character. Holland was among the breeders who helped define what the Bedlington would look like in this new era.

Two of Holland’s Bedlingtons, Peachem and Fan, became particularly well known when illustrations of them were published in The Field in 1869. Their appearance in one of Britain’s leading sporting publications was significant. The Field was an influential voice in the sporting world, and having Bedlington Terriers illustrated in its pages helped introduce the breed to a much wider audience. Holland’s dogs were therefore not simply successful examples of the breed; they became representatives of the Bedlington at a moment when its identity was still being established.

Holland’s influence continued as the first Bedlington classes began appearing at organized shows. A dedicated Bedlington class was held at Bedlington in 1870, followed by the breed’s appearance at Crystal Palace in 1871. At Crystal Palace, Miner, owned by H. Lacy, won first prize, while dogs belonging to S. T. Holland—Procter, Lassie, and Jessie—took several of the remaining prizes. These results place Holland among the earliest exhibitors whose dogs were competing successfully as the Bedlington entered the national exhibition scene.

This period was a defining moment for the breed. The Bedlington was beginning to develop a recognizable show identity, but the qualities that had created the breed remained essential. The dogs were still expected to possess the courage, athleticism, intelligence, and determination of their working ancestors. Holland belonged to a generation that helped demonstrate that the Bedlington could enter the show ring without losing the character of the terrier that had been developed in Northumberland.

The names associated with Holland are especially valuable because they provide a glimpse into the Bedlington before the modern kennel system and modern pedigree records had fully developed. Peachem, in particular, is a name deeply embedded in early Bedlington history. The name appears repeatedly among the early dogs associated with the Northumberland terrier strains, linking the emerging show Bedlington to the working terriers that preceded it. Holland’s use of the name provides another reminder that nineteenth-century breeders were not creating an entirely new dog; they were developing and refining an established local population.

Holland was part of a small group of breeders who dominated the early exhibition period. Historical accounts identify him alongside Thomas Pickett as one of the most successful Bedlington breeders and exhibitors of the mid-to-late nineteenth century. Pickett became known as “The Duke of Bedlington” and is remembered particularly for dogs such as Tear’em, Tyne, and Tyneside. Holland’s influence was somewhat different. His importance lies in the dogs he presented, the visibility he brought to the breed, and his role during the critical period when the Bedlington was establishing itself in the show ring.

The distinction is important because the history of a breed is rarely created by a single celebrated individual. The Bedlington’s emergence depended upon a community of breeders and exhibitors who made the breed visible, established expectations for quality, and encouraged others to take an interest. Holland was one of those early advocates.

His work also came at a time when the organizational structure surrounding the breed was still developing. The first Bedlington Terrier Club was formed in 1875, although the organization went through several periods of dissolution and reorganization before the National Bedlington Terrier Club was established in 1893. The breed standard followed in 1897. Holland’s active years therefore preceded the mature institutional structure that modern breeders take for granted. He was breeding and exhibiting while the very definition of the breed was still being formalized.

That makes his contribution particularly significant. Holland was not working from a fully developed blueprint. He was one of the people helping create it.

For today’s breeder, S. Taprel Holland’s legacy offers an important lesson about the relationship between breed type and breed history. A breed standard does not create a breed overnight. It records and formalizes qualities that breeders have already been selecting for over generations. Holland and his contemporaries were part of that process. Through their dogs, their choices, and their participation in the earliest shows, they helped establish the visual and structural identity that later generations would refine.

The Bedlington’s modern elegance can make it easy to forget that the dogs first attracted attention because they were remarkable working terriers. Holland’s generation stood at the point where those two identities were coming together. The challenge was to develop a beautiful, recognizable show dog without losing the courage and athleticism that gave the breed its reason for being.

That is the significance of S. Taprel Holland.

Charles J. McNulty

Tyneside Bedlingtons

A Foundation of the American Bedlington Terrier

Among the individuals who established the Bedlington Terrier in America, Charles J. McNulty of Tyneside deserves recognition as one of the breed’s true foundation breeders. His name belongs to the earliest chapter of the American Bedlington story, when the breed was still relatively unfamiliar in the United States and a small number of dedicated breeders were responsible for establishing its identity, developing its bloodlines, and introducing it to the American show ring.

McNulty’s contribution was significant not simply because he owned and bred Bedlingtons, but because Tyneside became one of the important early American families from which later breeders could build. The Tyneside name appears repeatedly in the pedigrees and show records of the first generations of American Bedlingtons and became part of the genetic foundation from which the breed developed.

Bringing the Bedlington Forward

The early American history of the Bedlington was shaped by breeders who understood that importing dogs was only the beginning. Once the breed arrived in America, someone had to establish breeding programs capable of producing dogs consistently recognizable as Bedlingtons while adapting the breed to the American show environment.

Charles J. McNulty was part of that first generation.

His Tyneside kennel became associated with dogs that were bred, exhibited, and used in subsequent breeding programs. The importance of those dogs can be seen most clearly when their names are followed forward through pedigrees.

This is one of the reasons historical breeding records are so important. A kennel may disappear as an active breeding establishment, yet its influence can remain for decades through the dogs it produced.

Tyneside was such a kennel.

The Tyneside Family

One of the best-known Tyneside dogs was Tyneside Gypsey Maid, a bitch whose name appears in early American pedigrees and later became connected with other influential breeding programs.

Her importance is demonstrated by her offspring and descendants. Canis Calpurina, for example, was recorded as being by Canis Caesar out of Tyneside Gypsey Maid, bringing Tyneside blood directly into the important Canis family developed by Marie L. Christman.

That connection is historically significant.

Tyneside → Canis

It illustrates how the early American breeders were not operating independently. They were exchanging dogs and combining families, gradually building a broader American gene pool.

Tyneside therefore belongs in the same foundational conversation as Rock Ridge, Canis, Rowanoaks, Bo-Peep, and the other early programs that helped establish the American Bedlington.

Tyneside and the Early American Breeders

The development of the American Bedlington was a collaborative process.

No single breeder created the American breed.

Instead, a relatively small community of breeders worked with imported English dogs and the offspring of earlier American programs. They evaluated the resulting puppies, selected breeding stock, exchanged dogs, and developed families that became increasingly recognizable.

McNulty’s Tyneside program was part of that network.

The importance of Tyneside becomes particularly clear when examining pedigrees from the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. Tyneside names occur alongside dogs from Firenze, Rowanoaks, Canis, and other early American families.

This means that McNulty’s influence was not confined to dogs carrying the Tyneside prefix.

His contribution became embedded in the broader American Bedlington population.

The Importance of the Breeder’s Name

One of the challenges in reconstructing early Bedlington history is that the surviving records often preserve the names of the dogs more clearly than the stories of the people who bred them.

A champion’s name appears in a catalog.

A pedigree records a sire and dam.

A kennel prefix survives for generations.

But the breeder’s day-to-day work can disappear.

For that reason, recognizing Charles J. McNulty is important.

Behind every early pedigree was a breeder making decisions with incomplete information. Veterinary genetics was in its infancy. There were no modern DNA panels, no computerized pedigree databases, and none of the population-genetics tools available to breeders today.

The early breeders had to rely upon observation, pedigree knowledge, conformation, temperament, reproductive performance, and experience.

They were building the breed without the scientific tools available to today’s breeder.

Tyneside’s Lasting Influence

The strongest evidence of a breeder’s legacy is often found in what happens after the breeder’s own kennel has faded.

Tyneside blood continued to appear in subsequent generations.

The connection to Canis is particularly important because the Canis family became an important component of the American Bedlington’s development. Dogs descending from Tyneside therefore became part of a larger network of bloodlines that later reached other influential American breeders.

This is the pattern that will recur throughout the Legacy Project.

A breeder establishes a family.

Another breeder recognizes something valuable in that family.

A dog or bitch is incorporated into a new program.

The resulting offspring are bred again.

Eventually, the original kennel may be several generations back in the pedigree, but its influence remains.

That is genetic legacy.

The Tyneside Lesson

For today’s breeder, the Tyneside story offers an important lesson about the meaning of preservation.

Preservation does not mean keeping a bloodline isolated.

The early American breeders preserved the breed precisely by building relationships among bloodlines.

They retained desirable characteristics while introducing new ancestry.

They evaluated dogs rather than relying solely upon kennel reputation.

And they passed their best dogs into other programs where those qualities could continue.

That is how a relatively small population can develop without becoming completely closed.

The Tyneside legacy is therefore not simply a historical curiosity. It illustrates a principle that remains relevant to breeders today:

A breeding program is strongest when its influence can contribute to the breed beyond the boundaries of one kennel.

A Place in the Foundational Generation

Charles J. McNulty belongs near the beginning of the Legacy Project because his work predates the generation that made the Bedlington famous in the American show ring.

Before Night Rocket.

Before the great Rock Ridge victories.

Before the expansion of Rowanoaks, Canis, Hughcliff, Valgo, and South Wind.

There were breeders establishing the basic American families.

McNulty and Tyneside were part of that foundation.

Their work helped provide the genetic material upon which later breeders could build, and the Tyneside name survived through its incorporation into subsequent pedigrees.

Legacy Statement

Charles J. McNulty of Tyneside was one of the early American breeders who helped establish the Bedlington Terrier during the formative years of the breed in the United States. His Tyneside dogs became part of the developing American breeding population and contributed to later families, including the important Canis line.

The significance of Tyneside lies not only in the dogs bred under its name but in the bloodlines that continued after the kennel itself passed from prominence. Through dogs such as Tyneside Gypsey Maid, Tyneside became part of the interconnected pedigree foundation from which later American Bedlington breeders developed their programs.

Charles J. McNulty’s legacy is found in the foundation he helped establish—a foundation that continued to live through the pedigrees and breeding families of generations that followed.

 

Colonel M. Robert Guggenheim

Firenze Kennels — A Pioneer of the American Bedlington Terrier

Colonel M. Robert Guggenheim occupies a distinguished place in the history of the Bedlington Terrier in America. Through his Firenze Kennels, his commitment to importing quality English Bedlingtons, his success in the American show ring, and his leadership in establishing the national parent club, Guggenheim helped shape the Bedlington Terrier in the United States during one of the breed’s most formative periods.

A member of the prominent Guggenheim family, Colonel Guggenheim was a serious sportsman and accomplished dog enthusiast long before the Bedlington became the principal focus of his kennel. His interest in the breed developed through his exposure to Bedlington Terriers in England, and he subsequently began importing dogs that would become the foundation of his American breeding program.

Under the Firenze prefix, Guggenheim developed one of the most influential Bedlington programs in America during the 1920s. His approach was not simply to acquire successful show dogs, but to establish a breeding program based upon carefully selected English bloodlines and to produce Bedlingtons capable of competing successfully under American conditions.

The scale of his success was remarkable. During the 1920s, Firenze dogs dominated the American Bedlington show scene, with Guggenheim owning a substantial proportion of the champions produced during that decade. At the 1927 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Firenze dogs represented an extraordinary portion of the Bedlington entry. The success of the kennel established Firenze as one of the preeminent Bedlington breeding programs of its era.

Perhaps the most celebrated of Guggenheim’s dogs was the imported blue male Ch. Deckham O’Lad of Firenze. In 1927, he became the first Bedlington Terrier to win Best in Show in the United States, achieving the honor at Rochester. His victory was a milestone for the breed and demonstrated that the Bedlington could compete successfully for the highest honors in the American show ring.

Another celebrated Firenze dog was Ch. Deckham O’Great of Firenze, a liver male imported from England. Before coming to the United States in 1930, he had won twelve Challenge Certificates in England. His inclusion in the Firenze program further reflected Guggenheim’s willingness to seek outstanding English bloodlines and incorporate them into his American breeding program.

The influence of Firenze extended beyond the dogs that Guggenheim personally campaigned. Firenze-bred dogs became part of the breeding programs of other American Bedlington breeders, allowing the bloodlines developed by Guggenheim to spread throughout the American breed population. This dissemination of his breeding stock was an important part of his lasting influence. His legacy therefore cannot be measured solely by the number of championships won by dogs carrying the Firenze name; it must also be measured by the contribution of Firenze bloodlines to subsequent generations of American Bedlingtons.

Guggenheim’s influence also extended into the organization and preservation of the breed. In 1932, the Bedlington Terrier Club of America was formed, and Colonel Guggenheim became its first president. His involvement placed one of the country’s most successful Bedlington breeders at the center of the effort to establish a national organization dedicated to the breed.

The formation of the BTCA was an important turning point. American Bedlington breeders were beginning to establish their own bloodlines and a stronger national identity for the breed, while maintaining connections with the English dogs and breeders from which many American lines originated. Guggenheim’s experience, resources, breeding success, and standing within the dog world made him an important figure during this transition.

His association with other influential Bedlington people further strengthened this period of development. Among them were Anthony and Anna Neary, who were also involved in the early organization of the BTCA. The Nearys would later become closely associated with William Rockefeller’s Rock Ridge Kennels. This connection provides an important link between the Firenze era and the subsequent Rock Ridge era, when another extraordinary Bedlington breeding program would emerge.

During the 1930s and 1940s, other American kennels gradually became prominent, and the center of influence in the breed began to shift. The Rock Ridge program, guided by Anthony Neary, would eventually produce some of the most famous Bedlingtons of the mid-twentieth century, including Ch. Rock Ridge Night Rocket, whose extraordinary Best in Show record at Morris & Essex and Westminster became part of Bedlington history.

Yet the emergence of later great kennels does not diminish Guggenheim’s contribution. Rather, it illustrates the progression of the breed in America. Firenze helped establish a foundation upon which later breeders could build.

Colonel M. Robert Guggenheim’s legacy therefore encompasses far more than a successful show record. He was an importer, breeder, exhibitor, club leader, and steward of the breed during a critical period of American Bedlington history. Through Firenze Kennels, he helped transform imported English bloodlines into an influential American breeding program. Through his champion dogs, he brought national attention to the breed. Through the distribution of Firenze bloodlines, he influenced breeders beyond his own kennel. And through his role as the first president of the Bedlington Terrier Club of America, he helped establish the organizational foundation for the breed’s future in the United States.

The legacy of Colonel M. Robert Guggenheim can be seen not only in the famous names that carried the Firenze prefix, but in the generations of Bedlington Terriers that followed.

His contribution was not simply to win with the Bedlington Terrier of his time, but to help establish the foundation from which the American Bedlington Terrier would continue to develop.

 

 

Anthony and Anna Neary

Founders, Breeders, Ambassadors, and Architects of the American Bedlington Terrier

Anthony and Anna Neary hold a special place in the history of the Bedlington Terrier in America. They were not simply the husband-and-wife team behind one of the most successful kennel programs in the breed’s history. They were among the people who helped establish the Bedlington Terrier as a recognized and respected breed in the United States during a critical period of its development.

Their story is one of dedication, perseverance, and an extraordinary commitment to a breed they loved.

Anthony and Anna Neary emigrated from England to the United States in 1929, bringing with them two Bedlington Terriers, Exiled Laddie and Hasty Morn. They came from the very region associated with the breed and brought with them not only their dogs, but a deep personal connection to the Bedlington Terrier. The American Kennel Club describes the Nearys as coming from Bedlington and identifies them as among the breed’s greatest early American supporters. (American Kennel Club)

The Nearys did not arrive in America with the wealth or resources enjoyed by many of the prominent dog fanciers of the era. According to later historical accounts, they rented a modest home on Long Island and began breeding their Bedlingtons with the hope of establishing their beloved breed in their new country. They devoted their limited resources to breeding, exhibiting, and traveling to the major Eastern dog shows. Their determination placed them in direct competition with the well-financed kennels and professional handlers of the period. 

Their foundation male, Exiled Laddie, became an American champion and ultimately sired six champions. His success provided the Nearys with an important foundation for their breeding program and demonstrated that they were capable of producing Bedlingtons of championship quality from their own kennel. (Everand)

The Nearys quickly became active promoters of the breed. Their participation was not confined to the show ring. They worked to increase awareness of the Bedlington Terrier, encouraged registration, supported breeding, and participated in the growing organization of Bedlington fanciers in America.

Their involvement in the formation of the Bedlington Terrier Club of America was particularly significant. On May 28, 1932, Anthony and Anna Neary, together with Dr. Charles J. McAnulty, organized the first meeting of the BTCA at the Morris & Essex Kennel Club dog show in Madison, New Jersey. Colonel M. Robert Guggenheim was elected president, Ethel Blake vice president, Anna Neary second vice president, and Dr. McAnulty secretary-treasurer. 

Anna’s role in the early club was therefore much more than ceremonial. She was one of the people who helped build the national organization from its beginning.

She also became one of the breed’s earliest and most effective public voices.

In October 1936, the first Bedlington Terrier breed column appeared in the AKC Gazette, and Mrs. Anthony Neary was its columnist. Her writing demonstrates that she understood an important truth about breed preservation: increasing the number of people who knew, appreciated, registered, bred, and properly promoted Bedlington Terriers was essential to the breed’s future.

In her first column, she encouraged owners to register their dogs and urged breeders and owners to work together for the good of the breed. She even took the time to assist owners who had difficulty completing registration procedures. Her message was fundamentally one of advocacy and education. 

Anna’s enthusiasm for the breed also found expression in her writing. She famously described the Bedlington in verse:

Though he’s not a dog with a chip on his shoulder,
Let this not fool others to think themselves bolder;
For no matter what they do, he can do better—
Own one and see, you will not be a fretter;
The sages all say, if life you wish merrier
Go thou and get a Bedlington Terrier.

The poem captures something important about Anna Neary herself. She was not merely documenting the breed; she was promoting it with warmth, humor, and conviction. The AKC later identified her as a founding member and legendary breeder-owner-handler of the Bedlington Terrier. (American Kennel Club)

Anthony was equally active in the practical development of the breed. The 1932 Morris & Essex catalog provides contemporary evidence of the Nearys’ breeding program. Their dogs were entered under their ownership and breeding, including Little Boy Blue, by Exiled Laddie out of Hasty Morn, and Blue Devil, by Ch. Deckham O’Great of Firenze out of Hasty Morn. Other dogs bred by Anthony Neary were also entered at the show. 

These records are particularly valuable because they demonstrate that the Nearys were not simply exhibitors of imported dogs. They were actively breeding, raising, exhibiting, and developing Bedlington Terriers in America.

Their dedication eventually brought them to one of the most important turning points in their lives—and in Bedlington history.

At the 1940 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, one of their Bedlingtons was awarded Best American-Bred Terrier, an important achievement at a time when imported English dogs still exerted enormous influence in the American show ring. William A. Rockefeller was present at Westminster and took notice of the Nearys’ success. Soon afterward, Rockefeller contacted them and offered Anthony the position of kennel manager for his Rock Ridge Kennels. 

The decision transformed the scale of their work, but it did not change its essential purpose.

At Rock Ridge, Anthony became responsible for one of the most important Bedlington breeding programs ever established in America. Working with William and Mrs. William A. Rockefeller, he helped produce generation after generation of champions. The partnership between the Rockefellers and the Nearys became, in Muriel Lee’s words, an exceptionally successful combination.

The culmination of Anthony’s career as a breeder, handler, and advocate came with Ch. Rock Ridge Night Rocket.

Owned by William and Mrs. William A. Rockefeller and handled by Anthony Neary, Night Rocket became one of the most celebrated Bedlington Terriers in American history. In 1947, he won Best in Show at the prestigious Morris & Essex Kennel Club show. He repeated that victory in 1948, becoming the only dog ever to win Best in Show at Morris & Essex twice. In 1948 he also won Best in Show at Westminster Kennel Club, giving the Bedlington Terrier one of the most memorable victories in the breed’s American history. 

Night Rocket’s success was not simply the achievement of a great dog. It represented the culmination of nearly two decades of work by the Nearys—from the arrival of two Bedlingtons in America in 1929, through their own modest breeding program, their involvement in establishing the BTCA, their promotion of the breed, and finally their stewardship of the Rock Ridge program.

Anthony’s contribution to the breed extended beyond his work as a kennel manager. He became one of the most recognizable Bedlington handlers of his era. Photographs from the great American shows repeatedly place him beside the breed’s most celebrated winners, including Night Rocket. His presentation of the Bedlington helped establish the elegant, distinctive show-ring image that became associated with the breed during the middle decades of the twentieth century. 

Anna’s contribution continued alongside him. She remained a breeder, exhibitor, writer, and advocate for the breed. Photographs of the couple with their Bedlingtons document their continuing involvement, and the BTCA’s historical record recognizes the Nearys as central figures in the organization’s formative years.

Together, Anthony and Anna represented something particularly important in the history of the American Bedlington Terrier: the breeder who built the breed from the ground up.

They did not begin with a great estate, a large kennel, or unlimited resources. They began with two dogs, knowledge of the breed, determination, and a willingness to work.

From those beginnings, they helped establish the national parent club, promoted the breed to the American public, bred and exhibited championship Bedlingtons, encouraged registration and participation, and ultimately helped guide one of the most successful Bedlington breeding programs in American history.

Their influence can be traced through the dogs they bred, the champions they handled, the bloodlines they helped establish, the club they helped create, and the generations of breeders who followed.

The Nearys’ legacy is therefore larger than Rock Ridge and larger than Night Rocket.

Anthony and Anna Neary helped create the American Bedlington community itself.

They were breeders, exhibitors, writers, promoters, organizers, mentors, and advocates. Most importantly, they were people who believed that the future of the Bedlington Terrier depended upon people who were willing to work for the breed—not simply for their own kennel or their own trophies.

Their story remains one of the clearest examples of how dedication, knowledge, and perseverance can influence the course of an entire breed.

For that reason, Anthony and Anna Neary deserve recognition not merely as successful Bedlington breeders, but as foundational figures in the history and preservation of the Bedlington Terrier in America.

For the BTCA Legacy Breeder project, I would consider Anthony and Anna as a joint biography, as above. The historical evidence strongly supports treating them as a team: they emigrated together with their foundation dogs, bred together, exhibited together, helped organize the BTCA together, and Anna’s work as a writer and advocate complemented Anthony’s work as breeder, exhibitor, handler, and later Rock Ridge manager. 

William A. & Mrs. Rockefeller

Rock Ridge Kennels

The Kennel That Put the Bedlington on the American Stage

Among the great names in the early history of the Bedlington Terrier in America, William A. Rockefeller and his wife, through Rock Ridge Kennels, occupy a place of extraordinary importance. Their contribution was not simply the establishment of a prestigious kennel or the production of a remarkable champion. Rock Ridge became one of the defining American Bedlington programs of the mid-twentieth century, and its greatest ambassador, Ch. Rock Ridge Night Rocket, brought the breed unprecedented attention when he captured Best in Show at both Morris & Essex and Westminster.

The Rock Ridge story also illustrates the importance of collaboration. William Rockefeller provided the resources and commitment to establish a serious breeding program, while Anthony and Anna Neary brought decades of Bedlington knowledge, experience, and practical expertise. The partnership between the Rockefellers and the Nearys became one of the most successful collaborations in American Bedlington history.

The Rockefeller and Neary Partnership

William A. Rockefeller was already an influential figure in the American dog world when the Bedlington became part of his life. According to the American Kennel Club’s history of the breed, Rockefeller persuaded Anthony Neary and his wife, Anna, to relocate to his estate and manage the Rock Ridge breeding program in the late 1930s.

The partnership was particularly significant because the Nearys were not newcomers to the breed. Anthony and Anna had emigrated from England to the United States in 1929 with their Bedlingtons, and Anthony had already established himself as a breeder, exhibitor, and handler. Their knowledge of the breed complemented Rockefeller’s resources and enthusiasm.

The result was a kennel capable of breeding, raising, conditioning, grooming, and exhibiting Bedlingtons at the highest level.

The AKC has described Rockefeller and the Nearys as an exceptionally successful combination, with numerous champions produced from Rock Ridge over more than three decades. 

Rock Ridge and the American Bedlington

Rock Ridge emerged during an important period in the development of the American Bedlington.

The foundation had already been laid by breeders such as Colonel M. Robert Guggenheim, Dr. Charles J. McNulty, Anthony and Anna Neary, and Colonel P. V. G. Mitchell and Constance Willemsen. Rock Ridge inherited and built upon that foundation.

The objective was no longer simply to introduce the breed to America. It was to establish the Bedlington as a serious American show dog while maintaining the characteristics that made the breed distinctive.

Rock Ridge became one of the kennels through which that transformation occurred.

The kennel produced numerous champions and developed a recognizable family of Bedlingtons. Contemporary show records demonstrate the depth of the program. At the 1954 Bedlington Terrier Club of America specialty, for example, Mr. and Mrs. William A. Rockefeller were listed as breeders and owners of Ch. Rock Ridge Flarelight and Ch. Rock Ridge Ballerina, while other Rock Ridge champions included Ch. Rock Ridge Nightingale. 

These were not isolated successes. They were members of a continuing Rock Ridge family.

Ch. Rock Ridge Night Rocket

The dog who would forever define the Rock Ridge name was Ch. Rock Ridge Night Rocket.

Whelped in 1946, Night Rocket was bred by Mr. and Mrs. William A. Rockefeller and handled by Anthony Neary. He quickly established himself as one of the most extraordinary Bedlington Terriers ever exhibited in America.

In 1947, at the prestigious Morris & Essex Kennel Club show, Night Rocket won Best in Show and Best American-Bred. The following year he returned to Morris & Essex and again won Best in Show.

Then came Westminster.

In 1948, Night Rocket became the first Bedlington Terrier to win Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

The achievement was extraordinary for the breed.

Westminster was—and remains—one of the most visible stages in American dogdom. A Bedlington winning Best in Show placed the breed before an audience far beyond the relatively small community of Bedlington breeders and exhibitors.

Night Rocket became the face of the breed.

His victories were followed by a dramatic increase in interest in Bedlingtons. The AKC’s historical account notes that the breed’s registrations increased substantially following his success, reaching a high point in the early to mid-1960s. 

For that reason, Night Rocket’s importance cannot be measured only by his three major Best in Show victories.

He changed the visibility of the breed.

The Dog Behind the Fame

Night Rocket was admired not simply because he won.

He represented the qualities that experienced breeders recognized as characteristic of an exceptional Bedlington. The AKC has described him as one of the breed’s great “templates”—a dog whose combination of breed type, structure, movement, and temperament represented an unusually complete expression of the standard. 

Contemporary descriptions emphasized his distinctive head, carriage, and movement. He possessed the elegant outline expected of the breed while retaining the athleticism and character of a terrier.

This distinction matters.

A famous dog can win because of circumstances, competition, or presentation.

A truly influential dog changes the breed because breeders want to reproduce what they see.

Night Rocket became such a dog.

The Rock Ridge Family

The legacy of Rock Ridge extended well beyond Night Rocket himself.

His offspring became important breeding animals, and the Rock Ridge name continued to appear prominently in American show catalogs through the 1950s and into the 1960s.

The 1954 BTCA specialty provides a particularly revealing snapshot. Rock Ridge champions included dogs descended from Night Rocket, including Ch. Rock Ridge Flarelight, Ch. Rock Ridge Ballerina, and Ch. Rock Ridge Nightingale. Flarelight and Nightingale were littermates by Night Rocket out of Ch. Rock Ridge Maine Gale. Ballerina was by Night Rocket out of Ch. Rock Ridge Foggy Dew.

The significance is clear.

Rock Ridge was not built around one exceptional dog and then allowed to disappear.

The Rockefellers and Neary were developing a family.

Night Rocket became the foundation for another generation of Rock Ridge champions.

A Broader Contribution to the Breed

William Rockefeller’s influence also extended beyond his own kennel.

He was active in the Bedlington Terrier Club of America, serving as its president in 1949 and 1950.

His service came during a particularly important period. The BTCA had been founded in 1932 and recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1937. By the postwar years, the club was working to establish a strong national community of breeders and exhibitors while promoting the breed and maintaining its standard. 

Rockefeller therefore contributed in two ways:

He helped develop the dogs.

He helped develop the breed’s national organization.

That combination is characteristic of the breeders who deserve recognition in a Legacy Project.

The Importance of the Nearys

No history of Rock Ridge should separate the Rockefeller name from Anthony and Anna Neary.

The Rockefellers provided the setting and resources for the kennel, but the Nearys supplied extraordinary practical knowledge. Anthony served as kennel manager, breeder, exhibitor, and handler, while Anna was herself an important Bedlington breeder and advocate.

Anthony’s handling of Night Rocket was instrumental to the dog’s extraordinary show career.

The Rock Ridge story is therefore best understood as a partnership.

Rockefeller + Neary = Rock Ridge.

It was the combination of commitment, resources, breed knowledge, breeding judgment, grooming expertise, and showmanship that produced one of the most important periods in American Bedlington history.

The Enduring Influence of Rock Ridge

Rock Ridge’s influence did not end when Night Rocket retired.

The kennel continued producing champions, and Rock Ridge blood became part of the pedigrees of later American programs. The earlier biography of Eunice and Evelyn Clark / Hughcliff, for example, documents Hughcliff Hughie as being by Ch. Rock Ridge Night Rocket out of Ch. Rock Ridge Emblem. That connection demonstrates how Rock Ridge blood moved into the next generation of American breeding programs.

This is precisely why Rock Ridge belongs near the beginning of the Legacy Project.

It was not simply a successful kennel.

It was a source kennel.

Its dogs became part of the foundation upon which later breeders built.

A Legacy Beyond the Show Ring

The Rock Ridge story also offers an important lesson about what happens when a breed receives extraordinary public recognition.

Night Rocket’s victories brought attention to the Bedlington that breeders could never have generated through advertising alone.

But increased popularity creates responsibility.

When a breed suddenly becomes fashionable, breeders must resist allowing popularity to replace purpose. The objective remains to preserve the breed’s essential qualities—not simply to reproduce the appearance of the latest famous champion.

The Rock Ridge generation established a standard of excellence that later breeders inherited.

The responsibility of those later breeders was to build upon it thoughtfully.

Legacy Statement

William A. and Mrs. Rockefeller’s Rock Ridge Kennels stands among the most important American Bedlington programs of the twentieth century. Through their partnership with Anthony and Anna Neary, the Rockefellers developed a kennel that produced numerous champions and helped establish the Bedlington as a nationally recognized American show breed.

The kennel’s defining achievement came with Ch. Rock Ridge Night Rocket, who won Best in Show at Morris & Essex in 1947 and 1948 and Best in Show at Westminster in 1948—the first Bedlington Terrier to achieve Westminster’s highest honor. His success dramatically increased public awareness of the breed and helped usher in one of the most prominent periods of Bedlington popularity in America.

But the true Rock Ridge legacy extends beyond one extraordinary champion. The kennel developed a family of influential dogs whose descendants entered other important American breeding programs. William Rockefeller also served as president of the Bedlington Terrier Club of America in 1949 and 1950, demonstrating a commitment to the breed beyond his own kennel.

Rock Ridge helped move the Bedlington from a relatively obscure American breed to a breed capable of standing at the center of the American dog world. Its legacy is found not only in the trophies won by Night Rocket, but in the generations of Bedlingtons that followed him.

Building the American Bedlington

With the foundation firmly established, a new generation of breeders began shaping the Bedlington Terrier into the American breed we know today. They built upon the early English imports and pioneering American bloodlines, carefully combining families, refining type, and producing dogs that could consistently succeed in the show ring while preserving the distinctive character of the breed.

This generation transformed individual foundation kennels into enduring breeding families. Their influence can still be traced through pedigrees today, connecting one generation to the next and demonstrating that the American Bedlington was built not by one kennel, but through the thoughtful work of many dedicated breeders.

P. V. G. Mitchell & Constance Willemsen / Rowanoaks

Constance M. Willemsen and Colonel P. V. G. Mitchell

Rowanoaks Kennels

The Guardians of American Bedlington Type and Tradition

Few names in Bedlington Terrier history carry the weight and influence of Rowanoaks Kennels. Established in 1936 by Colonel P. V. G. Mitchell and his daughter, Constance “Connie” Mitchell Willemsen, Rowanoaks became one of the most important Bedlington Terrier kennels in the United States. For nearly seven decades, Rowanoaks represented dedication to breed preservation, excellence in breeding, and an unwavering commitment to maintaining the distinctive character and quality of the Bedlington Terrier.

The Beginning of a Legacy

The story of Rowanoaks began during a formative period for the Bedlington Terrier in America. The breed had been recognized by the American Kennel Club in the early 20th century, but dedicated breeders were still working to establish consistent type, soundness, and quality within the American population. Colonel P. V. G. Mitchell, one of the founding members of the Bedlington Terrier Club of America, recognized the importance of preserving the breed’s unique combination of elegance, courage, and working terrier character.

Together with his daughter Connie, Mitchell developed Rowanoaks into a breeding program that would become synonymous with quality. Their approach reflected the philosophy of the great preservation breeders of the era: study the pedigrees, understand the dogs behind the names, and breed for the future rather than for a single generation of success. 

Constance Willemsen — A Lifetime Devoted to the Bedlington Terrier

While Rowanoaks began as a family endeavor, it became Connie Willemsen’s lifelong passion. She was widely regarded as one of the foremost authorities on the Bedlington Terrier and devoted more than six decades to studying, breeding, exhibiting, and preserving the breed. 

Connie’s influence extended far beyond her own kennel. She became a mentor and resource for generations of breeders, sharing her knowledge of pedigrees, structure, movement, and breed history. Her understanding of the Bedlington was not limited to the show ring; she appreciated the complete dog—the temperament, athletic ability, and character that made the breed unique.

Her philosophy reflected an important lesson in preservation breeding: champions are important, but the true measure of a breeder is the influence their dogs have over generations.

The Dogs That Defined Rowanoaks

The Rowanoaks name became permanently established through some of the most influential Bedlington Terriers of the 20th century. Among the most famous was Ch. Tarragona of Rowanoaks, a dog whose influence shaped American Bedlington pedigrees for decades. Tarragona became a foundation sire whose descendants contributed to many successful breeding programs. 

Another celebrated Rowanoaks dog was Ch. Sir Lancelot of Rowanoaks, whose image was captured in the famous 1935 painting by artist Edwin Megargee alongside Ch. Tyneside, a historic representation of two outstanding Bedlington Terriers of their era. 

The importance of these dogs was not simply in their show records. Their greatest contribution was the consistency and quality they brought to future generations. Rowanoaks bloodlines became woven throughout American Bedlington pedigrees, influencing breeders long after the kennel itself had passed into history.

Rowanoaks and the Growth of the Breed

During the 1930s and 1940s, Rowanoaks was among the leading producers of champion Bedlington Terriers. The kennel played a central role during a golden period when American breeders were establishing the foundation of modern Bedlington type. 

The kennel’s influence coincided with other legendary programs, including Tyneside and Rock Ridge. Together, these breeders shaped the American Bedlington Terrier and created the foundation from which many modern pedigrees developed. 

A Legacy of Preservation

Rowanoaks Kennels continued under Connie Willemsen’s guidance until her passing in 2003. Following her death, the American Kennel Club retired the Rowanoaks kennel name, recognizing the historical significance of the program and its place in Bedlington Terrier history.

In recognition of her extraordinary contributions, the Bedlington Terrier Club of America established the Constance M. Willemsen Breed Betterment Award, considered the highest honor bestowed upon a BTCA member. The award reflects the qualities Connie represented throughout her life: dedication, knowledge, sportsmanship, and commitment to improving the breed. 

The Rowanoaks Lesson for Today’s Breeders

The legacy of Rowanoaks is not merely a collection of famous dogs or historic wins. It represents a philosophy of breeding that remains relevant today:

  • Know your pedigrees.
  • Understand the strengths and weaknesses behind every dog.
  • Breed for the next generation, not just the next title.
  • Preserve both the appearance and the character of the breed.
  • Share knowledge with those who follow.

Rowanoaks reminds breeders that the greatest legacy is not the number of champions produced—it is the lasting influence of thoughtful decisions made with respect for the breed.

Legacy Statement

Rowanoaks Kennels stands among the great preservation kennels in Bedlington Terrier history. Through the vision of Colonel P. V. G. Mitchell and the lifelong dedication of Constance Willemsen, Rowanoaks helped define American Bedlington type and created bloodlines that continue to influence the breed today. Their legacy is a testament to the power of knowledge, stewardship, and a lifetime devoted to preserving the Bedlington Terrier.

Marie L. Christman

Canis Bedlingtons

Building a Family That Became Part of the American Foundation

Among the breeders who helped build the American Bedlington Terrier during the middle decades of the twentieth century, Marie L. Christman of Canis deserves an important place. Her contribution came during a period when the breed was moving from its earliest American foundation into a more established and recognizable breeding population. Through Canis, Christman developed a family of Bedlingtons that connected important early bloodlines and contributed to the programs of breeders who followed.

The importance of Canis can be seen most clearly through its pedigrees. Christman’s dogs were not isolated from the rest of the developing American breed. They were part of the network of families being carefully combined by breeders who were trying to preserve the essential qualities of the Bedlington while producing dogs capable of competing successfully in the American show ring.

Canis and Tyneside

One of the most significant examples is Ch. Canis Calpurina, bred by Marie L. Christman.

Calpurina was by Canis Caesar out of Tyneside Gypsey Maid. That pedigree places a Tyneside bitch directly within the Canis family and demonstrates the relationship between two important early American breeding programs.

The significance of this breeding is greater than the name of one champion.

It demonstrates how early breeders built the American Bedlington: they combined established families, evaluated the resulting offspring, and retained the qualities they believed would strengthen the next generation.

Tyneside → Canis

That connection is an important part of the genetic history of the breed.

Tyneside represented one of the early American foundations. Canis took that ancestry and developed it within a new breeding program. The resulting dogs could then contribute to still other kennels.

This process of combining and redistributing valuable bloodlines was fundamental to the development of the American Bedlington.

The Canis Family

The Canis name appears repeatedly in American Bedlington records of the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. The kennel produced dogs that were bred, exhibited, and incorporated into subsequent programs.

This is one of the strongest measures of a breeder’s influence.

A kennel does not have to dominate the show ring for decades to become historically important. Sometimes its greatest contribution is the dogs it sends into other breeding programs.

Canis was such a program.

Christman’s dogs became part of the broader American Bedlington population, helping connect earlier foundation bloodlines with the breeders who would shape the breed after World War II.

Ch. Canis Calpurina

Calpurina provides one of the clearest windows into Christman’s breeding philosophy.

Her pedigree brought together Canis and Tyneside, demonstrating that Christman was working with established American ancestry while developing her own family.

The 1948 Morris & Essex Kennel Club records identify Ch. Canis Calpurina as bred by Marie L. Christman, with the pedigree of Canis Caesar x Tyneside Gypsey Maid.

For a breeder studying the development of the breed, that pedigree is especially valuable because it shows how the major early families were beginning to interconnect.

Pedigrees such as this are the threads from which the history of the American Bedlington can be reconstructed.

Canis and the Breeders Who Followed

The Canis influence did not end with Christman’s own dogs.

The Canis name appears in pedigrees connected to subsequent American programs, illustrating how bloodlines moved from one breeder to another. This is particularly important when considering the later development of kennels such as Hughcliff, Valgo, South Wind, and other postwar programs.

The history of the American Bedlington is therefore better understood as a network than as a straight line.

Rock Ridge influenced Hughcliff.

Tyneside influenced Canis.

Canis influenced subsequent families.

Those families were combined again.

Over several generations, the original kennel names became increasingly distant in pedigrees while their genetic influence remained.

That is the real meaning of a foundation breeder.

A Breeder in a Formative Era

Christman worked at a time when breeders had few of the scientific tools available today.

There were no commercial DNA tests for inherited disease. There were no computerized pedigree databases calculating coefficients of inbreeding. Breeders could not search thousands of pedigrees instantly or compare genetic diversity through digital databases.

They relied on what they could see and what they could learn from generations of dogs.

They evaluated conformation.

They watched movement.

They studied coat and head.

They considered temperament.

They observed reproductive performance.

And, most importantly, they learned from pedigrees.

The decisions made by breeders such as Marie Christman helped determine which early American bloodlines would continue into the future.

The Importance of Canis Today

The Canis story has particular relevance for today’s breeders because it demonstrates why historical pedigrees matter.

A breeder looking only at the first three generations may see a collection of relatively recent names.

A breeder looking deeper may discover Tyneside, Canis, Rock Ridge, Rowanoaks, and other foundation families still present in the background.

Those connections tell us where the breed came from.

They can also help us understand why certain characteristics appear repeatedly within families and why some breeding decisions have consequences many generations later.

Modern breeders have tools that Marie Christman could never have imagined. But the fundamental responsibility remains the same:

Know the dogs behind the names.

Legacy Statement

Marie L. Christman of Canis was an important American Bedlington breeder during the formative middle decades of the twentieth century. Through Canis, she developed a breeding family that became part of the interconnected foundation of the American breed.

Her breeding of Ch. Canis Calpurina, by Canis Caesar out of Tyneside Gypsey Maid, provides a documented connection between the Canis and Tyneside families and illustrates the thoughtful blending of early American bloodlines that helped build the breed.

The importance of Canis lies not simply in the champions produced under its name, but in the bloodlines that moved forward into subsequent breeding programs. Through those descendants, Marie Christman’s work became part of the continuing genetic history of the American Bedlington.

Canis was one of the threads that connected the foundation generation to the breeders who built the American Bedlington for the generations that followed.

Dorothy E. Morrison

Canis Kennels

Carrying a Great Bloodline Forward

The history of the Bedlington Terrier is often told through the names of the great foundation kennels—Firenze, Tyneside, Rowanoaks, and Rock Ridge. But the preservation of a breed is never accomplished by a handful of famous kennels alone. Between the celebrated foundation dogs and the Bedlingtons of later generations were breeders who recognized the value of exceptional bloodlines and carefully carried them forward.

Dorothy E. Morrison of Canis Kennels was one of those breeders.

Her name appears repeatedly in the American Bedlington records of the 1940s, a period when the breed was experiencing extraordinary growth and when a relatively small number of influential families were shaping the future American population.

Morrison’s importance lies particularly in her association with the Canis bloodline, a family of Bedlingtons that became one of the significant threads running through American breeding during the middle of the twentieth century.

The Canis Foundation

The Canis story began before Dorothy Morrison’s involvement.

The foundation bitch Ch. Canis Prima was bred by Elisabeth M. J. Funkhouser, who became one of the important breeders of the period. Prima produced a remarkable family of champions and influential descendants. The 1954 Bedlington Terrier Club of America specialty catalog carried a Canis Kennels advertisement celebrating Prima as the “ancestress” of an extraordinary number of the dogs being shown at the time. The advertisement stated that her descendants accounted for 21 of the 23 entries at the 1953 BTCA Specialty and 23 of the 27 entries at the 1953 Westminster show—a remarkable indication of how concentrated and influential the Canis family had become. (Amazon Web Services, Inc.)

Dorothy Morrison became an important part of the next generation of that story.

Rather than being the person who created Canis Prima, Morrison’s contribution was to recognize and preserve the quality contained within the Canis family and continue breeding from it.

That distinction is important.

Great bloodlines do not preserve themselves.

They require breeders who recognize what they have inherited.

Dorothy Morrison’s Canis Dogs

The historical show records provide a remarkable picture of Morrison’s breeding program.

At the 1946 Suffolk County Kennel Club show, Dorothy E. Morrison was recorded as the owner of Braemar Bridget, bred by Morrison from Ch. Canis Floris and Braemar Bonnie. At the same show, Ch. Canis Laris and Canis Prudens were also shown, demonstrating the growing influence of the Canis family. (Amazon Web Services, Inc.)

The following year, the 1947 Morris & Essex Kennel Club catalog recorded Morrison exhibiting:

  • Ch. Canis Ida
  • Ch. Canis Floris
  • Braemar Barney

Canis Ida and Canis Floris were both bred by Elisabeth M. J. Funkhouser, but Morrison was their owner. Braemar Barney, however, was bred by Morrison herself, from Ch. Tarragona of Rowanoaks and Ch. Canis Ida. (Amazon Web Services, Inc.)

That breeding is particularly significant.

It brought together two major American Bedlington families:

Rowanoaks Ă— Canis

The combination illustrates how the leading breeders of the era were not working in isolation. They were making deliberate breeding decisions between the great bloodlines of the time.

From Canis to Braemar

Morrison’s breeding program subsequently developed the Braemar family.

At the 1949 Morris & Essex show, Ch. Braemar Rascal was recorded as bred by Mary Morrison and owned by Dorothy E. Morrison. His parents were Ch. Braemar Barney and Ch. Braemar Rose. (Amazon Web Services, Inc.)

The progression is significant:

Canis → Ch. Canis Ida → Braemar Barney → Braemar Rascal

This is precisely the kind of generational continuity that a Legacy Breeder Project should recognize.

The goal was not simply to own a champion.

It was to create a family of dogs in which desirable qualities could be carried from one generation into the next.

A Breeder During the Golden Age

Morrison was breeding during one of the most extraordinary periods in American Bedlington history.

The 1940s brought together many of the dogs and breeders who would define the breed for decades. Rock Ridge was producing the dogs that would take the national show ring by storm. Rowanoaks was establishing an enduring influence. Tyneside bloodlines continued to contribute important foundation stock.

And within this increasingly interconnected breeding community, the Canis family became another important thread.

The historical records show Canis dogs appearing not only in Morrison’s kennel but in the programs of other influential breeders.

For example, the 1947 Morris & Essex catalog records Ch. Canis Pan at Rowanoaks Kennels and Ch. Canis Laris with L. H. Terpening. Both were bred by Elisabeth Funkhouser from Idol Ă— Ch. Canis Prima. (Amazon Web Services, Inc.)

This demonstrates the larger significance of Canis.

It was not simply a kennel name.

It was becoming a bloodline.

And breeders such as Morrison helped make that bloodline useful to the broader Bedlington community.

The Importance of the Breeder Behind the Pedigree

Dorothy Morrison’s story provides an important lesson for modern breeders.

When looking backward through a pedigree, it is easy to focus on the famous kennel names or the dogs that won Best in Show.

But the development of a breed depends upon many breeders whose contributions may be less obvious.

Morrison’s work demonstrates the importance of the breeder who takes a valuable inheritance and asks:

What can I do with this bloodline to make the next generation better?

Her breeding decisions brought together Canis, Rowanoaks, and Braemar families. Her dogs appeared in major American shows. And her breeding program produced dogs that continued the Canis influence into subsequent generations.

That is preservation breeding.

A Legacy of Continuity

The Canis story also reminds us that breed history is not a series of isolated kennels.

It is a network.

Funkhouser’s Canis dogs influenced Morrison.

Morrison incorporated those dogs with Rowanoaks bloodlines.

Other breeders acquired and bred Canis descendants.

Those descendants became part of still later pedigrees.

In this way, the work of one breeder becomes part of another breeder’s foundation.

That is how a breed survives.

The Legacy of Dorothy Morrison

Dorothy Morrison may not have the same public recognition today as Rockefeller, Neary, or Willemsen, but the historical record shows why she belongs among the breeders remembered in the BTCA Legacy Project.

She was part of the generation that transformed the great foundation bloodlines of the 1930s and 1940s into the interconnected American pedigrees that would shape the breed for decades.

Her contribution was not simply ownership of famous dogs.

It was continuity.

She took dogs from an influential family, bred from them, developed their descendants, and helped ensure that the qualities contained within the Canis line did not end with a single generation.

Legacy Statement

Dorothy E. Morrison of Canis Kennels represents the breeder behind the pedigree—the person who recognized the value of an important bloodline and carried it forward. Working with descendants of Elisabeth Funkhouser’s influential Canis family, Morrison bred and exhibited dogs such as Ch. Canis Ida, Ch. Canis Floris, Braemar Barney, and Ch. Braemar Rascal, bringing Canis together with other important American lines, including Rowanoaks. Her legacy is a reminder that the preservation of a breed depends not only upon the breeders who establish great bloodlines, but upon those who have the knowledge and commitment to carry them responsibly into the next generation.

Dorothy Morrison’s legacy was continuity: taking something valuable that she had inherited and making certain it would not end with her.

I would keep this biography slightly more historically cautious than the earlier ones. The surviving records give us excellent evidence of Morrison’s dogs and breeding decisions, but considerably less biographical information about Morrison herself. That actually strengthens the Legacy Project if we are transparent about it rather than filling the gaps with assumptions. The archival record clearly establishes her as an active breeder and exhibitor in the 1940s, and the Canis Kennels advertisements show that the kennel remained an important Bedlington name into the 1950s. 

Wilda K. Woehr

Bo-Peep Bedlingtons

A Mid-Century American Foundation

Wilda K. Woehr and Bo-Peep Kennels deserve recognition among the important American Bedlington breeders of the mid-twentieth century. Her breeding program emerged during a critical period when American breeders were consolidating the foundation established by the earlier English imports and developing families that would influence the Bedlington for generations to come.

Woehr’s name appears in important American show records as both breeder and owner of quality Bedlington Terriers. Among the most significant were Ch. Blue Iris of Bo-Peep and Ch. Blue Investigator of Bo-Peep, littermates bred by Woehr. Both were by Sir Lionel of Rowanoaks out of Ch. Bo-Peep’s Blue Antonia. Their pedigree provides a particularly important connection between the emerging Bo-Peep family and the influential Rowanoaks bloodline.

The importance of this combination should not be underestimated. Rowanoaks represented one of the great American Bedlington families of its generation, while Bo-Peep demonstrated that its influence could be incorporated into another carefully developed breeding program. Woehr was therefore participating in the process by which the early American families were being combined, evaluated, and carried forward.

The appearance of two champion littermates is also significant. It suggests that Woehr was not simply producing individual show dogs by chance, but was working toward consistency within her breeding program. Producing quality across a litter is one of the clearest indications that a breeder is beginning to establish a recognizable family rather than merely acquiring successful dogs.

Bo-Peep and the American Bloodline

The Bo-Peep dogs belong to an important period in Bedlington history. By the 1940s and 1950s, American breeders had moved beyond the earliest stage of establishing the breed. The challenge was becoming one of selection and consolidation.

Breeders had to determine which imported and established American bloodlines could be combined successfully. They were evaluating head, coat, body, movement, size, temperament, and overall breed character while attempting to maintain sufficient genetic diversity.

Woehr’s use of Sir Lionel of Rowanoaks demonstrates her participation in that process.

The resulting dogs carried the Rowanoaks influence while being bred under the Bo-Peep name. This is precisely the kind of connection that becomes important when tracing the development of later Bedlington families.

A pedigree is not simply a list of names. It is a record of the decisions made by breeders.

The Bo-Peep pedigrees tell us that Wilda Woehr was making those decisions during an important period in the breed’s American development.

Ch. Blue Iris of Bo-Peep and Ch. Blue Investigator of Bo-Peep

The two littermates, Ch. Blue Iris of Bo-Peep and Ch. Blue Investigator of Bo-Peep, stand among the clearest documented successes of the kennel.

Their sire, Sir Lionel of Rowanoaks, brought the influence of one of America’s most important Bedlington families. Their dam, Ch. Bo-Peep’s Blue Antonia, represented Woehr’s own developing family.

The combination produced two champions.

That achievement is significant not simply because of the championship titles, but because it demonstrates the ability of the Bo-Peep program to take established bloodlines and produce successful offspring from them.

For today’s breeder, this is an important lesson. The value of a breeding program is not determined by how famous the parents are. The real test comes with the offspring and with the generations that follow.

Woehr’s Bo-Peep program contributed to that continuing process.

A Woman Building a Breeding Program

Wilda Woehr also belongs in the larger history of women who played central roles in the development of the American Bedlington Terrier.

During the middle decades of the twentieth century, many of the breed’s most important breeding decisions were being made by women whose names now appear in historic pedigrees and show catalogs. They bred the litters, raised the puppies, selected the keepers, exhibited the dogs, and maintained the relationships that connected one kennel to another.

Woehr was part of that generation.

Her work illustrates how the American Bedlington developed through a network of dedicated breeders rather than through one dominant kennel. Rowanoaks, Bo-Peep, Canis, Hughcliff, Rock Ridge, and other programs were interconnected through the dogs they bred and exchanged.

The breed’s development was therefore cumulative.

One breeder established a family.

Another breeder recognized its strengths.

A third breeder combined it with another family.

And a fourth breeder carried the resulting dogs into the next generation.

That is how a breed evolves.

Bo-Peep in the Legacy of the Breed

The historical significance of Bo-Peep is therefore best understood through its place in this network.

Rowanoaks → Bo-Peep → succeeding American families

The Bo-Peep name represents one of the links connecting the early American Bedlington to the more developed breeding programs of the postwar era.

Although Woehr is not as widely remembered today as some of the larger kennel names, the surviving records show that her dogs were competitive and that her breeding program was connected to important bloodlines.

That alone makes Bo-Peep worthy of preservation in the Legacy Project.

Legacy Statement

Wilda K. Woehr of Bo-Peep Kennels was an important mid-century American Bedlington breeder who contributed to the development of the breed during the critical postwar period. Her breeding program produced champions including Ch. Blue Iris of Bo-Peep and Ch. Blue Investigator of Bo-Peep, littermates by Sir Lionel of Rowanoaks out of Ch. Bo-Peep’s Blue Antonia.

Through these dogs, Woehr combined the influence of the established Rowanoaks family with her own developing Bo-Peep line. Her work represents the careful blending of American Bedlington bloodlines that characterized the breed’s development during the middle decades of the twentieth century.

Bo-Peep’s legacy is found in the pedigrees that connect one generation of American Bedlingtons to the next—and in the work of a breeder who helped build those connections.

Chloe Nunn

Nunn’s Bedlingtons

A Link in the Developing American Bloodline

Among the breeders whose names appear in the early development of the American Bedlington Terrier, Chloe Nunn of Nunn’s deserves recognition for helping establish and carry forward an important family of dogs during the formative decades of the breed in America.

The Nunn’s name appears in the pedigrees and show records of the period when American breeders were moving beyond the earliest foundation dogs and beginning to establish recognizable breeding families. Chloe Nunn was part of that generation of breeders who worked with the bloodlines available to them, selected breeding stock, exhibited their dogs, and contributed to the interconnected network from which the modern American Bedlington developed.

Nunn’s in the American Bedlington

The significance of Nunn’s is perhaps best understood through its place in the pedigrees of other important American kennels.

Rather than viewing each early kennel as an isolated program, the history of the Bedlington becomes clearer when the relationships among them are examined.

Tyneside.

Canis.

Rowanoaks.

Nunn’s.

Valgo.

South Wind.

These names were not separate chapters with no connection between them. They were families that were repeatedly combined, evaluated, and carried forward by successive breeders.

The Nunn’s bloodline became part of that process.

The Importance of Pedigree Connections

One of the most important reasons to preserve the story of Nunn’s is the appearance of its dogs in later pedigrees.

A particularly significant connection can be seen in the ancestry leading into the Valgo and South Wind generations. Nunn’s dogs appear among the ancestors of Bedlingtons bred by later American breeders, demonstrating that the work of Chloe Nunn continued after the period in which she was actively producing dogs.

This is an important distinction.

A breeder’s historical importance should not be measured only by the number of champions carrying the breeder’s kennel name. Some of the most influential breeders contributed through individual dogs that were subsequently incorporated into other programs.

Those dogs could carry a kennel’s influence forward for generations.

That appears to be part of the story of Nunn’s.

Building the American Bedlington

Chloe Nunn belonged to the generation that inherited the foundation established by the earliest American breeders.

By this period, breeders were faced with a new challenge.

The breed had been established.

The question was now how to develop it without losing it.

Breeders needed to determine which dogs possessed the strongest combination of breed type, structure, movement, coat, temperament, and overall character. They needed to identify which bloodlines complemented one another and which combinations should be repeated.

This required knowledge of pedigrees and an understanding of families.

The breeder had to look beyond the individual dog.

A beautiful dog could win in the show ring.

But the breeder needed to ask a more important question:

What will this dog produce?

That question was at the heart of the developing American breeding programs of the period.

The Nunn’s Contribution

Nunn’s represents one of the many breeding programs through which those early American families were connected.

The value of such a program is often most apparent only when pedigrees are examined several generations later. A kennel may no longer exist, yet its influence can remain embedded in the ancestry of successful dogs.

That is the nature of a true breeding legacy.

The breeder establishes a family.

The best individuals are selected for breeding.

Those dogs are placed with other breeders.

Their offspring are combined with other families.

Eventually, the original kennel name may appear several generations back in a pedigree—but the genetic contribution remains.

For this reason, the Nunn’s name deserves to be preserved as part of the American Bedlington story.

Women Who Built the Breed

Chloe Nunn also belongs to the important history of women who played central roles in developing the American Bedlington.

The story of the breed is sometimes told through the names of prominent male owners and handlers, but the actual work of breeding and maintaining families was performed by many women.

They raised litters.

They studied pedigrees.

They selected puppies.

They conditioned and exhibited dogs.

They exchanged breeding stock.

And they maintained the continuity of their kennel families.

Women such as Chloe Nunn, Marie Christman, Wilda Woehr, Eunice and Evelyn Clark, and later breeders such as Marjorie Hanson and others were instrumental in developing the American Bedlington.

Their contributions are particularly important because they demonstrate that breed history is not simply the history of famous champions.

It is the history of the people who produced them.

Nunn’s and the Next Generation

The importance of Nunn’s becomes even clearer when its influence is followed into the breeders who came afterward.

The appearance of Nunn’s ancestry in later Valgo and South Wind pedigrees helps demonstrate the movement of bloodlines through the American breeding community.

That movement was essential.

No single kennel could preserve the entire breed.

Each breeder had a responsibility to preserve something valuable and, when appropriate, make that quality available to the next generation.

In that sense, the early American Bedlington developed as a shared legacy.

Nunn’s was one of the links in that chain.

What Today’s Breeder Can Learn

The Nunn’s story offers a lesson that remains relevant today.

Breeders sometimes focus too heavily on the most visible names in a pedigree—the famous champions and the kennels that produced them.

But the genetic history of a breed is much broader.

Behind every famous dog are less famous ancestors.

Behind every major kennel are breeders whose names may eventually disappear from casual memory.

Those breeders can nevertheless have made contributions that remain present in the breed.

For today’s preservation breeder, that is why studying pedigrees beyond the immediate generations matters.

The past is still present in the pedigree.

Legacy Statement

Chloe Nunn of Nunn’s was part of the generation of American Bedlington breeders who helped transform the breed from its early foundation into established American breeding families. Through Nunn’s, she contributed dogs and bloodlines that became part of the pedigrees of later American programs, including families associated with the Valgo and South Wind generations.

Her story illustrates an essential truth about breed history: influence is not always measured by fame. A breeder may leave a lasting legacy through the dogs that enter other programs and carry a kennel’s contribution forward for generations.

Nunn’s was one of the threads woven into the developing American Bedlington—a contribution that deserves to be remembered because the breed we inherit today was built by many breeders, not by a few famous names alone.

Eunice B. & Evelyn A. Clark

Hughcliff Bedlingtons

Breeders, Club Stewards, and Builders of an American Family

Among the breeders who helped shape the American Bedlington Terrier during the important postwar years, Eunice B. and Evelyn A. Clark of Hughcliff Kennels deserve special recognition. Their contribution extended beyond the breeding and exhibition of successful Bedlingtons. They developed a recognizable family of dogs, participated actively in the national show scene, and devoted significant time to the work of the Bedlington Terrier Club of America. Hughcliff represents an important link between the foundation kennels of the earlier generation and the American breeding programs that followed.

The Clarks established Hughcliff Kennels in Ohio, developing their program during a period when American breeders were increasingly focused on establishing consistent families of Bedlingtons rather than simply importing or exhibiting individual dogs.

Their work was part of a broader transformation taking place within the breed.

The foundation had been established.

Now breeders had to build upon it.

Hughcliff and Rock Ridge

One of the earliest documented connections between Hughcliff and another major American kennel is found in the pedigree of Hughcliff Hughie.

At the 1948 Morris & Essex Kennel Club show, Eunice B. Clark was listed as breeder and owner of Hughcliff Hughie, born July 29, 1947. Hughie was by Ch. Rock Ridge Night Rocket out of Ch. Rock Ridge Emblem.

That pedigree provides a direct connection between Hughcliff and the extraordinary Rock Ridge family of William A. Rockefeller and Anthony Neary.

This was precisely how the American Bedlington developed during this period. Breeders drew upon successful established families, evaluated the resulting offspring, and then developed those dogs within their own programs.

The Clarks were therefore not working in isolation.

They were participating in the developing network of American Bedlington breeders.

Developing the Hughcliff Family

By the early 1950s, Hughcliff had become an established breeding and exhibiting program.

At the 1954 Bedlington Terrier Club of America specialty, Eunice and Evelyn Clark were recorded as breeders and owners of Hughcliff Headliner, born July 7, 1953, by Hughcliff Blue Berne out of Hughcliff’s Desert Dawn.

The same specialty records the Clarks exhibiting other dogs connected with the Hughcliff family, including Hughcliff Blue Elve and Hughcliff Red Wendie.

These records are important because they show that Hughcliff was not built around a single successful dog.

The Clarks were developing a family.

The repeated appearance of Hughcliff-bred dogs across several generations demonstrates a deliberate breeding program in which the Clarks retained, evaluated, and exhibited dogs carrying their kennel’s name.

That is the hallmark of a true breeding kennel.

Ch. Hughcliff Headliner

Among the early Hughcliff successes was Ch. Hughcliff Headliner.

By the mid-1950s, Headliner was being exhibited as a champion bred and owned by Eunice and Evelyn Clark. His success reflected the developing consistency of the Hughcliff family and established the kennel among the recognized American Bedlington programs of the period.

But Headliner’s importance should not be measured only by his championship.

For a breeder, the more important question is what a champion contributes to the next generation.

The Clarks were working within a breeding system in which successful dogs could become breeding stock, their offspring could be evaluated, and valuable characteristics could be carried forward.

That process was central to the development of the American Bedlington.

Hughcliff and the American Breeding Network

The story of Hughcliff becomes even more meaningful when viewed alongside the other kennels of its generation.

Rock Ridge.

Rowanoaks.

Canis.

Bo-Peep.

Hughcliff.

Valgo.

South Wind.

These were not isolated programs.

Marjorie Hanson

Valgo Bedlingtons

A Breeder, Handler, and Builder of Bloodlines

Among the women who helped shape the American Bedlington Terrier during the middle decades of the twentieth century, Marjorie Hanson deserves a prominent place. Her name is closely associated with Valgo, a breeding program whose influence can be traced through the pedigrees and show records of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Hanson was not simply an owner of successful Bedlingtons. She was a breeder, exhibitor, handler, and advocate for the breed whose involvement continued for decades.

Hanson’s connection with Bedlingtons began early in her life. Born in 1925 and raised in Coronado, California, she developed an interest in dogs as a child. According to her obituary, she acquired her first Bedlington at approximately twelve years of age and thereafter maintained a lifelong involvement with the breed. Her interest eventually developed into showing, breeding, handling, judging, and participation in the organizations that supported the breed. She became an AKC-licensed handler and later an AKC judge, judging dogs in the United States and internationally. She served as president of the Bedlington Terrier Club of the West, was a founding member of the Great Western Terrier Association, and represented the Bedlington Terrier Club of America as an AKC delegate. 

But it was through Valgo that Hanson left one of her most enduring marks on Bedlington history.

The surviving show records show that Valgo was already an established breeding family in the 1950s. At the 1957 Intermountain Kennel Club show, Valgo’s Star Cap was recorded as bred by Marjorie Hanson and Anne Graham, by Ch. Van Dee Snowcap of Valgo and out of Ch. Starlight of Valgo. The entry provides a glimpse of an established breeding program in which Hanson was already producing and developing dogs under the Valgo name. 

The Valgo name was also becoming recognized beyond a single breeder’s kennel. In 1955, Am. Ch. Night Express of Valgo and Jan’s Snow Queen of Valgo were shown in Canada, with K. H. Doyle and M. Hanson recorded as owners. Night Express had already earned championship recognition, demonstrating the competitive quality of the Valgo dogs Hanson was producing and exhibiting. 

One of the most important aspects of Hanson’s breeding program was the way Valgo bloodlines connected with other significant American Bedlington families. The 1959 Evansville Kennel Club catalog provides an especially revealing snapshot. South Wind’s Sno-Fluff of Valgo, bred by Mrs. Lester E. Cabage and Marjorie Hanson, was entered by D. L. Buckles. Her pedigree went back through Ch. Nunn’s Little Guy and Ch. Elsted’s Bright Cap of Valgo. At the same show, South Wind’s Sno-Magic of Valgo was recorded as bred by Marjorie Hanson and Mrs. Lester E. Cabage, by Ch. Bonnell’s Candidate of Bo-Peep and Ch. Snowwhite of Valgo. Another dog, MarMac’s Blue Sage of Valgo, was bred by Hanson and Margot E. McElroy. 

These records are particularly important to the Legacy Project because they show that Hanson and Cabage were not working independently. Valgo and South Wind were becoming connected breeding families. The relationship would ultimately become especially significant because South Wind’s most famous dog, Ch. South Wind’s Blue Velvet, descended from this Valgo influence.

This is one of the clearest examples of how a breeder’s legacy can be greater than the name of her own kennel. Hanson was contributing dogs and bloodlines that other breeders incorporated into their programs. The result was a network of pedigrees in which Valgo became part of the genetic and competitive foundation of later Bedlingtons.

Hanson’s own dogs continued to achieve recognition. In 1969, Ch. Gould’s Top Flight of Valgo was recorded as bred by Mrs. Marjorie Hanson, by Ch. Power’s Adventurer and out of Ch. Valgo’s Whirlwind. At the same show, Sir Lancelot of Valgo was listed as bred by Hanson, by Gould’s Top Flight of Valgo and Ch. Naughty Sadie of Pamper Hill. Hanson was also handling Aire-Bell’s Windfall of Valgo, which she had bred with Jack Gould. 

The significance of these records is that Hanson was not simply breeding champions and turning them over to professional handlers. She herself was a skilled Bedlington handler. The BTCA’s historical material specifically features her handling Ch. Sir Lancelot of Valgo to his championship at the Orange Empire Dog Show. That image captures something important about her contribution: Hanson was both the breeder behind the pedigree and the person capable of presenting the result in the ring. 

This combination of skills was unusual and valuable. The breeder had to understand pedigrees, structure, type, temperament, and the qualities she wanted to reproduce. The handler had to understand presentation, conditioning, movement, and how to reveal those qualities to a judge. Hanson possessed both perspectives.

Her career also demonstrates that her contribution to the breed extended far beyond her own kennel. Later in life, she became an AKC judge and judged Bedlingtons and other breeds internationally, including in Australia, Romania, Ireland, Sweden, and throughout the United States. She remained involved in the Bedlington community for decades and ultimately served as the AKC delegate for the Bedlington Terrier Club of America. 

That long involvement is important when considering Hanson’s legacy. She was part of the generation that connected the great foundation breeders of the earlier twentieth century with the modern American Bedlington. She worked during a period when breeders were becoming increasingly sophisticated about pedigrees and breeding combinations, while the show ring was becoming an increasingly important measure of breed type.

The Valgo dogs demonstrate how those decisions worked. Bloodlines were not simply preserved unchanged. They were combined, evaluated, and carried into new generations. Hanson worked with breeders such as Anne Graham, Lester Cabage, and Margot McElroy, while Valgo dogs appeared in the programs of other breeders. The resulting pedigrees demonstrate the interconnected nature of the American Bedlington community.

Perhaps the clearest example is the relationship between Valgo and South Wind. Hanson and Cabage jointly bred dogs carrying the Valgo name into the South Wind program. Cabage then produced Ch. South Wind’s Blue Velvet, who became one of the dominant Bedlington show dogs of the late 1960s and early 1970s. The Valgo influence was therefore not an isolated branch of the pedigree; it became part of a much larger breeding story.

This is why Marjorie Hanson belongs in the Legacy Project.

Her legacy is not based upon a single Best in Show win or a single famous champion. It is found in the bloodlines she developed, the dogs she bred and handled, the breeders with whom she collaborated, and the generations of Bedlingtons that followed.

She also represents something that deserves particular recognition in the history of the breed: the contribution of women who built serious breeding programs during an era when the public history of dog breeding often focused on men. Hanson bred her own dogs, handled them herself, established a recognizable bloodline, participated in breed-club leadership, and eventually became an AKC judge. Her career encompassed virtually every aspect of the sport.

For today’s breeder, the Valgo story offers an important lesson. A successful breeding program is not defined simply by the number of champions produced. Its true significance is revealed by what those dogs contribute to the generations that follow.

Marjorie Hanson understood that.

She developed dogs that other breeders wanted to breed from. She recognized the value of combining families. She continued to work with her bloodlines rather than treating a champion as the conclusion of a breeding program. And she remained involved in the breed long enough to see generations of Bedlingtons develop from the work of her earlier years.

The name Valgo therefore deserves to be remembered not simply as an old kennel prefix, but as one of the important American Bedlington families of the mid-twentieth century.

And behind Valgo was a breeder who devoted her life to the breed.

Legacy Statement

Marjorie Hanson was one of the important American Bedlington breeders, exhibitors, handlers, and judges of the twentieth century. Through Valgo, she developed a family of Bedlingtons whose influence extended well beyond her own kennel and into the programs of other important breeders. Her collaborations with breeders including Anne Graham, Lester E. Cabage, and Margot McElroy helped connect Valgo to other influential American bloodlines, while dogs such as Ch. Night Express of Valgo, Ch. Gould’s Top Flight of Valgo, and Ch. Sir Lancelot of Valgo established the quality and consistency of her breeding program.

Her legacy was not simply in the champions she bred or handled. It was in the bloodlines she left behind, the breeders she influenced, and the generations of Bedlingtons that carried Valgo forward.

Marjorie Hanson’s greatest legacy was the understanding that a breeder’s work does not end when a champion enters the ring. It begins with the pedigree, is tested in the dog, and is ultimately measured by the generations that follow.

Mrs. Lester E. Cabage

South Wind Kennels

The Breeder Behind Blue Velvet

Among the Bedlington breeders of the 1960s, Mrs. Lester E. Cabage of South Wind Kennels deserves recognition as one of the women who helped carry the breed into the modern American era. Her name is inseparably associated with one of the most successful Bedlington Terriers of the period, Ch. South Wind’s Blue Velvet, but the South Wind story began before Blue Velvet entered the national spotlight. Cabage was already breeding, exhibiting, and developing her own family of Bedlingtons when Blue Velvet was born in 1964.

The South Wind program was built around a developing family of dogs that included bloodlines from several established American programs. The records show Cabage breeding dogs under the South Wind name as early as the 1950s. In 1959, for example, South Wind’s Sno-Magic of Valgo was entered under Mrs. Lester E. Cabage, bred by Marjorie Hanson and Mrs. Cabage, while South Wind’s Sno-Fluff of Valgo, born in 1957, was bred by Cabage and Marjorie Hanson. These records demonstrate that South Wind was not simply the kennel name attached to a single famous champion; it was an active breeding program developing its own bloodline. 

From this foundation came Ch. South Wind’s Blue Velvet, born September 19, 1964. Cabage was both her breeder and owner. Blue Velvet was sired by Ch. South Wind’s Don Juan and out of Ch. South Wind’s Sno-Fluff of Valgo, bringing together the developing South Wind family with the important Valgo influence already present in Cabage’s breeding program. The pedigree is significant because it demonstrates the deliberate continuation of a family rather than the production of an isolated show dog. 

Blue Velvet quickly established herself as an exceptional representative of the breed. Under the guidance of professional handler Jack L. Funk, she became one of the outstanding Bedlington Terriers of the late 1960s. The historical breed record identifies Ch. Southwind’s Blue Velvet as America’s number-one Bedlington in both 1969 and 1970, and she was also among the top-winning terriers in the country during those years. Funk was the handler responsible for presenting her in the national show ring, while Cabage remained the breeder and owner behind the dog. (Everand)

The partnership between Cabage and Funk is an important part of Blue Velvet’s story. The great show dogs of the period were rarely the product of one person’s work alone. The breeder had to recognize the potential of the young dog, make the breeding decisions that produced her, raise and develop her, and then place her in capable hands. The handler had to translate that potential into performance in the ring. In Blue Velvet’s case, Cabage and Funk formed an effective partnership, with Cabage providing the breeding program and Funk presenting its finest representative to the country.

The surviving show records show just how consistently Blue Velvet was exhibited. At the 1967 Louisville Diamond Jubilee Show, Mrs. Cabage was listed as breeder and owner of Blue Velvet, with Norman A. Austin handling her on that occasion. Two years later, the 1969 Louisville catalog records Cabage as owner and breeder and Jack L. Funk as handler. The same record identifies Blue Velvet as a daughter of Ch. South Wind’s Don Juan and Ch. South Wind’s Sno-Fluff of Valgo. 

By 1970, Blue Velvet’s reputation was firmly established. At the Sheboygan Kennel Club show, she was again entered as Mrs. Lester E. Cabage’s Ch. South Wind’s Blue Velvet, with Jack L. Funk as her handler. The record places her in competition with other significant Bedlingtons of the period, including Center Ridge dogs, illustrating the level of competition among the leading American kennels of the time. 

Blue Velvet’s influence did not end with her show career. Cabage continued to breed from her. At the 1973 Bedlington Terrier Club of America specialty, South Wind’s Christo B. Velvet was recorded as bred by Helen Wood, sired by Ch. South Wind’s Blue Velvet and owned by Mrs. Lester E. Cabage. This is an important indication that Cabage was working to continue Blue Velvet’s genetic contribution rather than simply retiring a successful champion and moving on. 

That distinction is important to the Legacy Project. A champion can make a kennel famous, but a breeder’s legacy is measured by what happens after the champion. Did the qualities of that dog enter another generation? Were they preserved in descendants? Did other breeders recognize and use the bloodline? South Wind’s history provides evidence that Cabage continued to work with the Blue Velvet family and that her influence extended into the next generation.

The South Wind story also illustrates the interconnected nature of American Bedlington breeding during the middle of the twentieth century. Cabage’s dogs carried the South Wind name, but their pedigrees connected them to other important American families, including Valgo. This was characteristic of the best breeding programs of the period. Successful breeders were not working in isolation. They were studying pedigrees, exchanging breeding stock, and combining families in an effort to produce the next generation.

Mrs. Lester E. Cabage’s contribution should therefore not be reduced to owning a famous champion. She was the breeder who produced Blue Velvet, developed the South Wind family from which she came, and continued working with that bloodline after Blue Velvet had established herself as a national winner. Her story belongs to the generation that helped move the Bedlington from the great foundation programs of the earlier twentieth century into the increasingly sophisticated breeding programs of the 1960s and 1970s.

There is also something particularly meaningful about recognizing Cabage as a woman breeder during this period. The history of the Bedlington, like the history of many breeds, often highlights the men whose names became prominent in the show ring or whose kennels became famous. Yet women were breeding, raising, exhibiting, managing, and preserving dogs throughout the same period. Cabage’s record demonstrates that a woman breeder could establish a bloodline, produce a nationally dominant champion, and maintain responsibility for that breeding program while working with a professional handler to bring the results to the public stage.

For today’s breeder, the lesson of South Wind is especially relevant. Blue Velvet did not happen by accident. She was the product of a breeding program that had already been developing dogs and combining bloodlines before her birth. Cabage’s achievement was recognizing the potential contained within those families and producing a bitch capable of standing at the highest level of American competition.

The South Wind legacy is therefore not simply the story of a great show dog. It is the story of the breeder behind the dog.

Mrs. Lester E. Cabage represents a generation of breeders who understood that a successful breeding program was a continuing process. One generation had to be evaluated, another selected, and another developed. The champion was not the end of the work. The champion was the opportunity to begin again.

Legacy Statement

Mrs. Lester E. Cabage of South Wind Kennels deserves recognition as one of the important American Bedlington breeders of the 1960s. Through her breeding program she produced Ch. South Wind’s Blue Velvet, America’s number-one Bedlington in 1969 and 1970 and one of the leading terriers in the country during those years. With Jack L. Funk presenting Blue Velvet in the show ring, Cabage’s breeding program gained national recognition, but her contribution went beyond the wins. She continued breeding from the South Wind and Blue Velvet families, carrying their influence into another generation. Her legacy is that of the breeder behind the champion—the person whose knowledge, planning, and commitment created the opportunity for a great dog to emerge.

South Wind’s greatest legacy was not simply that Blue Velvet won. It was that Blue Velvet was bred.

The American Bedlington Comes of Age

The decades from the 1960s through the 1980s were a defining era in the development of the American Bedlington Terrier. The foundation families had been established, and a new generation of breeders now took on the responsibility of refining, expanding, and preserving what earlier breeders had built.

During these years, Bedlingtons such as Center Ridge Minute Man, Center Ridge Lady Caroline, Femar’s Cable Car, and others brought increasing recognition to the breed in the American and Canadian show rings. Behind these champions were breeders who carefully studied pedigrees, developed breeding families, campaigned their dogs, and shared bloodlines with other programs.

This was also an era of important connections. Femar, Center Ridge, Elders, Pamperhill, Valgo, South Wind, Claremont, Sudor, Willow Wind, and other kennels became part of an increasingly interconnected American breeding community. The influence of an individual dog or kennel could extend far beyond its own show career, becoming part of the pedigrees and breeding decisions of generations that followed.

The breeders of this era inherited an established breed—but they also inherited a responsibility. Their challenge was to improve without losing type, to preserve without becoming stagnant, and to recognize that the true measure of a breeding program was not simply the champion it produced today, but the quality and influence it passed to the next generation.

The 1960s through the 1980s were therefore more than decades of successful show dogs. They were the years in which the American Bedlington came of age and the foundation laid by earlier breeders became the modern American Bedlington we know today.

Robert E. Scherff / Center Ridge

Robert E. Scherff

Center Ridge Bedlingtons — A Legacy of Excellence

Among the important American breeders who helped shape the Bedlington Terrier during the middle decades of the twentieth century, Robert E. Scherff and his Center Ridge kennel occupy a particularly significant place.

Based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Scherff developed Center Ridge into a nationally recognized Bedlington breeding program whose dogs achieved remarkable success in both the American and Canadian show rings. More importantly, the Center Ridge dogs became part of the continuing foundation of the breed, with their influence extending through subsequent generations.

The story of Center Ridge belongs to the period when the American Bedlington Terrier was moving beyond the great foundation kennels of the early twentieth century and becoming a breed supported by a growing community of serious breeders throughout the United States and Canada.

Robert E. Scherff was one of those breeders.

The historical record places Center Ridge firmly in the American Bedlington community by the late 1950s. A 1959 catalog of the Scottish Terrier Club of America lists Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Scherff among the supporters of the Bedlington Terrier Club of America, demonstrating their involvement in the breed’s organized community at that time.

By the early 1960s, the Center Ridge program was producing dogs of exceptional quality.

Among the most important was Ch. Center Ridge Minute Man, born January 20, 1958. Contemporary show records identify him as bred by Center Ridge and sired by Ch. Canis Furor out of Ch. Fridol’s Sultanna. At the 1963 Sheboygan Kennel Club show, Minute Man was exhibited as a champion by Center Ridge Kennel, with Charles Prager as his handler.

Minute Man was far more than a successful show dog.

He became one of the defining sires of the Center Ridge program.

His influence can be seen through his daughter, Ch. Center Ridge Lady Caroline, who would become one of the most celebrated Bedlington bitches of her generation.

Lady Caroline’s record was extraordinary.

A 1970 issue of Dogs in Canada described her as 11½ years old and still holding the top show record for Bedlington bitches. Her record was reported as 15 Best in Show wins, 62 Group Firsts, 30 other Group placings, and 95 Best of Breed wins. She is currently the number 2 bitch of all time. The same article identified her as a member of the famous Center Ridge family and noted that she was still considered an exquisite representative of the breed despite her age.

Her accomplishments made Lady Caroline one of the most important show bitches in Bedlington history.

But her importance went beyond the show ring.

She was also a highly influential brood bitch.

The Center Ridge breeding program demonstrated something fundamental about successful breeding: the best dogs are not necessarily those with the longest list of individual awards, but those capable of transmitting their virtues to their offspring.

Lady Caroline did exactly that.

Minute Man and Lady Caroline became the foundation of another generation of Center Ridge champions. Among their offspring was Ch. Center Ridge Mister Charles, born November 18, 1963. The 1965 Illinois Valley Kennel Club catalog identifies Mister Charles as bred and owned by Center Ridge Kennel and records his pedigree as Ch. Center Ridge Minute Man Ă— Ch. Center Ridge Lady Caroline. The catalog also identifies Charles Prager as his agent.

The significance of this breeding is difficult to overstate.

It represents a concentrated Center Ridge family: a great sire bred to an exceptional daughter, producing another champion who was then successfully presented in the show ring.

Mister Charles became part of the next chapter of the Center Ridge story.

The success of the Center Ridge family was also recognized internationally.

A 1969 Canadian publication advertised Ch. Center Ridge M.G., a son of International Ch. Center Ridge Minute Man and International Ch. Center Ridge Lady Caroline. The advertisement described him as a Group winner and emphasized the qualities he was expected to reproduce, including soundness, style, eye, and expression.

The same advertisement described his parents in terms that reveal how highly the Center Ridge dogs were regarded. Minute Man was identified as a two-time Best in Show winner, while Lady Caroline was described as a multiple Best in Show winner and “top Bedlington bitch of all time.”

By this point, the Center Ridge name represented far more than one successful kennel.

It represented a family of Bedlingtons whose quality had been demonstrated repeatedly across generations.

The international reach of the program is particularly significant. Center Ridge dogs were being shown and bred in both the United States and Canada, and their descendants were becoming part of other important breeding programs.

The 1969 Dogs in Canada record provides an excellent example. Ch. (Can. & Am.) Center Ridge M.C. completed his American championship by going Best of Winners and Best of Breed for a four-point major at the Peninsula Dog Fanciers Association show in Bremerton, Washington. He had been shown in Kentucky, Wisconsin, and Washington and, according to the publication, had never placed lower than Reserve Winners during his career. He was bred by Center Ridge Kennels and owned by Wrightwyn Kennels in British Columbia, with Brent Wright as his exclusive handler.

This is an important illustration of the way Center Ridge bloodlines traveled.

Scherff’s breeding program was producing dogs that could be successfully transferred to other breeders and exhibitors while retaining their ability to compete at the highest level.

Center Ridge was therefore contributing not just champions, but breeding stock.

That distinction is central to understanding Robert Scherff’s legacy.

The great breeders of a breed are not simply those who win with their own dogs. They are those whose breeding decisions continue to influence dogs they never personally owned or exhibited.

Center Ridge achieved that kind of influence.

Robert Scherff’s commitment to the Bedlington Terrier also extended beyond his own kennel. The 1973 Bedlington Terrier Club of America specialty catalog lists Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Scherff among the individuals providing financial support for the specialty.

This may seem like a small detail, but it is historically meaningful. It demonstrates that Scherff was not simply operating a private breeding program. He was participating in and supporting the larger Bedlington community.

His involvement was part of the network of breeders, owners, exhibitors, handlers, and supporters who maintained the breed’s national organization and specialty events.

The Center Ridge story also illustrates the importance of professional handling during this period.

Charles H. Prager was closely associated with the Center Ridge dogs in the show ring. Contemporary catalogs identify him as the handler or agent for Center Ridge champions, including Minute Man and Mister Charles.

This partnership between breeder and professional handler was an important part of the success of many major American kennels during the period.

The breeder developed the dog.

The handler presented it.

Together they allowed the quality of the breeding program to be evaluated on the national stage.

For Center Ridge, that formula proved remarkably effective.

The program’s accomplishments were built upon several generations of careful breeding. Ch. Center Ridge Minute Man provided the foundation of a remarkable family. Ch. Center Ridge Lady Caroline demonstrated the extraordinary potential of that family in the show ring and as a brood bitch. Ch. Center Ridge Mister Charles and other descendants carried the line forward.

The records show that the Center Ridge dogs were not isolated successes.

They formed a family.

And family is ultimately what defines a successful breeding program.

The story of Robert E. Scherff also belongs within the broader development of the American Bedlington.

The earlier generations had established the breed in America through kennels such as Firenze, Rock Ridge, Fremar, Valgo, Canis, Hughcliff, and South Wind. By Scherff’s era, the challenge was no longer simply to establish the breed. It was to maintain quality while developing breeding programs capable of producing excellence generation after generation.

Center Ridge met that challenge.

The kennel became one of the programs through which the American Bedlington matured.

Its dogs were competitive nationally.

They were successful internationally.

They produced other champions.

And their bloodlines moved into other breeding programs.

That is the measure of a true legacy kennel.

Robert E. Scherff’s contribution should therefore not be reduced to the impressive records of individual dogs, although those records are extraordinary.

His greater contribution was the creation and maintenance of a family of Bedlingtons whose quality was demonstrated across generations.

The Center Ridge name became associated with the qualities that serious breeders sought: soundness, style, expression, movement, coat, and the distinctive character that makes a Bedlington unmistakably a Bedlington.

The record of Ch. Center Ridge Lady Caroline is perhaps the clearest symbol of that achievement.

Fifteen Best in Show awards.

Sixty-two Group Firsts.

Thirty additional Group placements.

Ninety-five Best of Breed wins.

And, even at eleven and a half years of age, she was still being described as an exquisite representative of the breed.

Those numbers tell us how successful she was.

But the pedigree tells us why she matters.

She was part of a carefully developed Center Ridge family, bred from Minute Man and then used to produce the next generation.

That is the essence of breeding.

Win with them. Breed them. Build the family. Pass it forward.

Robert E. Scherff did exactly that.

The Center Ridge legacy therefore belongs among the important chapters in the history of the American Bedlington Terrier. It represents a period when the breed’s most dedicated breeders were not simply preserving what had been given to them, but actively refining and strengthening the breed for the generations that would follow.

Through Center Ridge, Robert E. Scherff left a lasting mark on that process.

His legacy lives in the dogs he bred, the champions they produced, the bloodlines that moved into other kennels, and the breeders who continued to build upon the foundation he helped establish.

For the Legacy Breeder project, Robert E. Scherff / Center Ridge deserves recognition as one of the breeders who helped carry the American Bedlington from its great postwar era into the modern breed.

His story is ultimately not about one dog.

It is about a family of dogs—and the breeder who built that family.

Robert W. and Patricia Elder

Elder Bedlingtons

The Bloodline Behind Power’s Adventurer

Among the American Bedlington breeders of the mid-twentieth century, Robert W. and Patricia Elder of Elder Kennels deserve recognition for a contribution that reached far beyond their own kennel. Their breeding produced dogs that became part of some of the most important American Bedlington pedigrees of the 1960s and 1970s, most notably Ch. Power’s Adventurer.

The Elder story is an important example of how a breeder’s influence can extend well beyond the period in which a kennel was actively producing dogs.

A kennel may have a relatively small number of champions, yet one exceptional sire or dam can influence the breed for generations.

For Elder, that dog was Power’s Adventurer.

Ch. Power’s Adventurer

Power’s Adventurer became one of the significant sires of the American Bedlington during the transition from the foundation generation into the modern breed.

His importance is particularly evident when his descendants are followed through later pedigrees.

Among the most notable examples is Gregory of Rowanoaks, bred by Constance Willemsen. The 1973 Eastern Dog Club catalog lists Gregory as by Ch. Power’s Adventurer out of Ch. Tiffany of Rowanoaks.

That pedigree is historically important because Rowanoaks was one of the great American breeding programs of its generation.

Power’s Adventurer therefore became part of the Rowanoaks family and helped carry the influence of Elder into one of the most important later American bloodlines.

His influence also appears in the Valgo family. A 1969 show catalog lists Ch. Gould’s Top Flight of Valgo as by Ch. Power’s Adventurer out of Ch. Valgo’s Whirlwind Doi.

These connections demonstrate why Power’s Adventurer deserves particular attention in the Legacy Project.

He was not simply a champion.

He was a bridge dog.

The Importance of a Sire

For a breeder, the true test of a male is often not the number of ribbons he wins himself but the quality of the offspring he leaves behind.

Power’s Adventurer became important because breeders recognized his value and incorporated him into other breeding programs.

His name subsequently appears behind dogs from families such as Rowanoaks and Valgo.

That is how a breeder’s influence survives.

The kennel name may eventually disappear from the front of a pedigree, but the genetic contribution remains.

Elder’s Otto Mashum

The Elder program also produced Ch. Elder’s Otto Mashum, another dog whose story illustrates the connections among breeders of this period.

Otto Mashum was bred by Robert W. and Patricia Elder and was by Ch. Titan of Tartania out of Ch. Elder’s Blue Minx.

He was subsequently owned by Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Waterman.

The 1969 Kern County Kennel Club catalog records the Watermans as owners of the champion, demonstrating the movement of Elder bloodlines into another important American Bedlington home.

This is an especially useful example for understanding how the breed developed.

The Elder family produced the dog.

The Watermans recognized and campaigned him.

His success added visibility to the Elder breeding.

And the relationship between breeder and owner became part of the larger network through which Bedlington bloodlines were distributed.

Breeder and Owner Relationships

The Elder and Waterman connection also illustrates an important feature of the American Bedlington community of this era.

The breeder did not necessarily have to retain every successful dog.

A good breeder could place an exceptional puppy with another knowledgeable owner who would campaign it successfully.

That arrangement could benefit both parties—and more importantly, benefit the breed.

The breeder’s bloodline gained exposure.

The owner gained a quality dog.

The show ring provided an opportunity to demonstrate the dog’s merit.

And the breed gained another successful representative.

These relationships were fundamental to the development of the American Bedlington.

Power’s Adventurer and the Next Generation

The significance of Power’s Adventurer becomes particularly clear when his offspring and descendants are followed into later breeding programs.

The Rowanoaks connection is especially important.

Gregory of Rowanoaks, by Power’s Adventurer out of Tiffany of Rowanoaks, became part of the extensive Rowanoaks family developed by Constance Willemsen.

The Valgo connection is equally revealing.

Gould’s Top Flight of Valgo, by Power’s Adventurer out of Valgo’s Whirlwind Doi, demonstrates that his influence was not confined to one later kennel.

Through these dogs, the Elder contribution became woven into multiple important American breeding programs.

That is the definition of lasting genetic influence.

The Elder Contribution to the Modern American Bedlington

The Elders belonged to a generation that inherited the foundation laid by breeders such as Tyneside, Rock Ridge, Canis, Rowanoaks, Hughcliff, and others.

Their challenge was to develop those foundations into stable and successful modern American families.

They did this by selecting individuals that could contribute to the next generation and by making those dogs available to other breeders.

The result was a network of related families.

A dog from one kennel could become a sire in another.

A daughter could return to a different bloodline.

A champion could become more important as a producer than as a show dog.

Power’s Adventurer is an excellent example of this process.

Why the Elders Belong in the Legacy Collection

The Legacy Project should recognize not only the breeders whose kennel names became famous but also those whose most important contribution can be found several generations later.

Robert and Patricia Elder belong in that category.

Their name is important because of the dogs they produced and, especially, because of the influence those dogs carried into subsequent American breeding programs.

Elder → Power’s Adventurer → Rowanoaks and Valgo

That simple sequence illustrates the way the American Bedlington was actually built.

Not through isolated kennels.

Not through one breeder.

But through generations of breeders making decisions about which dogs should be bred, which bloodlines should be combined, and which qualities were worth carrying forward.

The Legacy of Elder

The story of Elder Kennels is therefore a story of influence rather than numbers.

Robert W. and Patricia Elder produced dogs that became part of the developing American Bedlington population. Their most important contribution, Ch. Power’s Adventurer, became a sire whose influence can be traced into later generations and into major breeding families.

That influence is especially meaningful because it reached both Rowanoaks and Valgo, two programs that played major roles in the development of the American Bedlington during the latter twentieth century.

The Elder name may not be as familiar to today’s breeders as some of the great foundation kennels.

But the pedigree remembers.

And pedigrees are where a breeder’s true legacy is often found.

Legacy Statement

Robert W. and Patricia Elder of Elder Kennels were important American Bedlington breeders of the mid-twentieth century whose influence extended well beyond their own kennel. Their breeding produced Ch. Power’s Adventurer, a significant sire whose descendants became part of important later American families.

Power’s Adventurer appears behind Gregory of Rowanoaks, bred by Constance Willemsen, and behind Gould’s Top Flight of Valgo, demonstrating his influence on two major American breeding programs. The Elder program also produced Ch. Elder’s Otto Mashum, later owned by Joe and Pauline Waterman, illustrating the close relationships among breeders and owners that helped distribute successful bloodlines throughout the American Bedlington community.

The Elder legacy is found in the pedigree. Robert and Patricia Elder contributed not simply champions, but bloodlines that other breeders recognized, developed, and carried forward. Through Power’s Adventurer and the dogs that followed him, the Elder name became part of the foundation of the modern American Bedlington.

Fred A. and Margaret Young

Fremar Bedlingtons — Breeders, Handlers, and Teachers of the Terrier

The history of the Bedlington Terrier in America during the 1950s and 1960s includes the name Fremar, the kennel prefix of Fred A. and Margaret Young. Their influence extended well beyond the dogs they bred and exhibited. They were accomplished terrier people, respected handlers, breeders, judges, and mentors whose knowledge of the Bedlington Terrier influenced a generation of dog people.

Fred and Margaret Young were part of the great generation of American professional dog people who helped carry the Bedlington Terrier from the celebrated show-ring successes of the 1940s into the increasingly sophisticated breeding and exhibiting world of the 1950s and 1960s.

Fred Young was a hands-on dogman. He was a breeder, handler, groomer, and eventually a judge, with a particular understanding of terriers. His daughter, Christine Erickson, later recalled that her parents were highly successful handlers who specialized in terriers and that they passed their knowledge of dogs to the next generation. Fred’s mother, Velma Nichols, was herself a successful breeder of Norwegian Elkhounds, making Fred part of a family tradition of serious dog breeding that extended across generations. 

It was through this combination of breeding knowledge and practical experience that Fred Young became particularly associated with the Bedlington Terrier.

He understood that the breed could not be judged simply by its distinctive appearance. He recognized the combination of qualities that made a truly outstanding Bedlington: the quickness and athleticism associated with a sighthound combined with the intelligence, determination, and keenness of a terrier.

That philosophy was evident in his handling of one of the most famous Bedlingtons associated with the Fremar name, Ch. Fremar’s Cable Car.

Cable Car became a highly successful show dog and an important representative of the Bedlington Terrier during the 1950s. Fred Young handled him extensively, and the dog attracted the attention of some of the most respected judges and authorities of the period, including Percy Roberts and Alva Rosenberg. Patricia Craige Trotter later recalled that Cable Car impressed experts because he combined the quickness of a sighthound with the keenness of a terrier and possessed the strength of underjaw and proper rise over the loin that distinguished a quality Bedlington. 

Cable Car’s success was not limited to the ordinary show ring. He was campaigned at the highest levels of competition and became sufficiently prominent to be featured in major national media.

A photograph taken in Santa Barbara on July 28, 1958, shows Fred Young handling Ch. Fremar’s Cable Car. The photograph was subsequently used for the cover of Sports Illustrated dated February 8, 1960. The image is an extraordinary visual record of the period: a nationally recognized Bedlington being presented by one of the breed’s leading handlers. (Getty Images)

Cable Car’s appearance on the Sports Illustrated cover was significant for the Bedlington Terrier. The breed had already received enormous attention following Ch. Rock Ridge Night Rocket’s Best in Show victories at Morris & Essex and Westminster in the late 1940s. A decade later, Cable Car represented another generation of Bedlington excellence and demonstrated that the breed continued to command attention at the highest levels of American dog showing.

The Youngs’ involvement with the breed extended beyond Cable Car.

Contemporary AKC Gazette material from the 1950s records the Youngs’ Fremar Bedlingtons among the successful dogs being shown on the West Coast. In 1957, The AKC Gazette reported on the Bedlington Terrier Club of the West specialty and identified the Youngs’ Ch. Fremar’s Cable Car as Best of Breed and fourth in the Terrier Group. The same report identifies other Fremar dogs competing successfully, including Fremar’s Susy Marmac of Valgo and Fremar’s Copy Girl of Valgo. 

These records demonstrate that Fremar was not simply the kennel name attached to one famous champion. Fred and Margaret Young were actively developing a family of Bedlingtons and placing their dogs into the breeding and showing programs of other exhibitors.

That is an important measure of a breeder’s influence.

A great show dog can make a kennel famous. A successful breeding program creates a legacy.

The Youngs’ influence also extended through mentorship. Patricia Craige Trotter later wrote that Fred and Margaret became important mentors to her shortly after she moved to California in 1961. She described Fred as a terrier expert who allowed her to learn from him while sharing their setup at numerous Southern California dog shows. It was Fred who taught her to appreciate the Bedlington as a breed combining the quickness of a sighthound with the keenness of a terrier. (Everand)

That recollection is especially valuable because it provides something that show records alone cannot provide: evidence of how the Youngs influenced other breeders and exhibitors.

Fred was willing to teach.

He shared his observations, evaluated dogs honestly, and encouraged younger people to learn how to assess breeding stock rather than simply follow fashionable winners. Trotter recalled that when she once admired a young dog and considered breeding to him, Fred discouraged her from doing so because he believed the dog’s quality was largely attributable to his sire rather than his dam. His advice reflected the kind of critical pedigree and family analysis that characterizes an experienced breeder.

This aspect of Fred Young’s career deserves particular recognition. His contribution was not simply the production of champions; it was the transmission of breeder judgment.

Margaret Young was equally important to the family’s success.

Together, Fred and Margaret formed a partnership that extended across breeding, exhibiting, traveling, and the demanding daily work of maintaining a competitive kennel. Their involvement in the terrier world continued well beyond their years with the Bedlington Terrier.

Margaret’s influence also continued into the next generation. Their daughter, Christine Young Erickson, grew up in the dog world and later became a respected breeder and judge. She has acknowledged the enormous influence her parents had on her development. The Young family’s involvement in dogs therefore represents a true multigenerational legacy. 

Fred and Margaret’s reputation eventually extended throughout the terrier community. Fred became known not only for his success as a handler and breeder but for his ability to recognize quality. His eye for a dog, his understanding of breed character, and his willingness to share his knowledge made him an important mentor to people who would themselves become significant figures in the sport.

The Youngs’ Bedlington legacy is therefore represented by more than the names Ch. Fremar’s Cable Car and Ch. Fremar’s Cable Dancer.

Those dogs are important markers of their breeding program, but the deeper legacy lies in the knowledge and influence that surrounded them.

The Fremar years belonged to a period when the American Bedlington Terrier was developing rapidly. The breed had moved from the extraordinary national attention generated by Rock Ridge and Night Rocket into an era in which a growing number of knowledgeable breeders were establishing their own families of dogs. The Youngs were part of that transition.

They helped preserve the qualities that had made the great Bedlingtons of earlier generations successful while bringing their own understanding of structure, movement, breed character, and presentation to the breed.

Their work also demonstrates how the influence of a breeder cannot always be measured by a list of Best in Show awards.

Fred Young’s greatest contribution may have been his ability to recognize quality, develop it, and teach others how to recognize it themselves.

Margaret shared that commitment and helped establish a family tradition of excellence that continued into the next generation.

The image of Fred Young standing beside Ch. Fremar’s Cable Car captures only one moment in that history. Behind that photograph were years of breeding, grooming, traveling, showing, studying pedigrees, evaluating dogs, and learning from the successes and failures that are part of every serious breeding program.

The Fremar name became associated with Bedlingtons that possessed the qualities Fred valued: athleticism, terrier character, strength, proper construction, and the distinctive elegance of the breed.

For the history of the Bedlington Terrier in America, Fred and Margaret Young represent an important bridge between the great kennels of the 1940s and the breeders who would shape the breed in the decades that followed.

Their legacy was built not only on champions, but on knowledge.

And knowledge, shared from one generation to the next, may be the most enduring legacy any breeder can leave.

A note on the names and dogs

I would retain “Fremar” throughout the Legacy Breeder project. The contemporary 1957 AKC Gazette scan renders the kennel as Fremar, and the later biographical account specifically identifies Ch. Fremar’s Cable Car. 

I would also list the principal dogs separately in the webpage’s sidebar or header:

  • Ch. Fremar’s Cable Car

  • Ch. Fremar’s Cable Dancer

  • Fremar’s Susy Marmac of Valgo

  • Fremar’s Copy Girl of Valgo

One particularly interesting historical point is that Cable Car was not merely a successful Bedlington—he became a national image of the breed, appearing on the Sports Illustrated cover in 1960. (Getty Images)

I would make that photograph a centerpiece of the Young Legacy Breeder page if you can obtain appropriate publication rights.

Clare J. Kilar

Claremont Bedlingtons — Building a Lasting American Bloodline

Among the breeders who helped shape the American Bedlington Terrier during the second half of the twentieth century, Clare J. Kilar holds an important and distinctive place. Through her Claremont kennel, Kilar developed a family of Bedlington Terriers whose influence extended well beyond the dogs carrying the Claremont name. Her breeding program became part of the foundation for several important American families and, ultimately, contributed to the development of some of the breed’s most influential modern bloodlines.

Clare Kilar’s involvement with Bedlingtons was already well established by the late 1960s. The 1967 Lima Kennel Club catalog records Clare J. Kilar’s Claremont Big Sur, born January 15, 1967, bred by Dr. and Mrs. Theodore W. Kilar and sired by Ch. South Wind’s Don Juan out of Claremont Topaz Tiara. This contemporary record is significant because it places the Claremont program firmly within the developing American Bedlington community of the 1960s.

The Claremont program was built upon carefully selected American bloodlines. Kilar’s dogs drew upon some of the important families that had preceded her, including South Wind, Hughcliff, Valgo, and Rowanoaks. Rather than simply preserving a single established line, Claremont became part of the continuing process of combining and refining the characteristics that American breeders had developed over several generations.

One of the dogs central to this early program was Claremont Topaz Tiara. Her pedigree brought together important bloodlines including Ch. Hughcliff Blue Tyson and Ch. Starlight of Valgo, demonstrating the kind of pedigree planning characteristic of the period. A 1973 Bedlington Terrier Club of America specialty catalog promoted a Claremont breeding program and specifically presented the pedigree behind the Claremont dogs, identifying Clare J. Kilar as the breeder.

By the early 1970s, Claremont was no longer simply a promising young kennel. It was an established breeding program producing dogs that were attracting attention within the breed.

Among the most memorable was Ch. Claremont Posy, born October 5, 1968. The 1970 Kalamazoo Kennel Club catalog records Posy as bred by Dr. and Mrs. Theodore W. Kilar and owned by Clare J. Kilar and Howard I. Bourdon. Her sire was Ch. South Wind’s Don Juan, and her dam was Claremont Topaz Tiara.

Posy became particularly important as a producer as well as a show dog.

Her influence can be seen in the story of Ch. Claremont Top Drawer, whose name reportedly came from the circumstances surrounding his birth. A 1973 BTCA specialty publication tells how Posy’s puppies were being kept in a desk drawer while she was whelping them, leading to the memorable name Top Drawer. His sire was Ch. Gould’s Top Flight of Valgo, and his dam was Ch. Claremont Posy.

The story is charming, but its historical importance lies in the pedigree.

The breeding brought together the Claremont and Gould’s/Valgo families, demonstrating the increasingly interconnected nature of American Bedlington breeding. Breeders such as Kilar, Jack Gould, and others were not working in isolation. Their dogs and pedigrees became part of a larger network through which successful characteristics were exchanged, tested, and carried forward.

This was one of the defining characteristics of the American Bedlington during this period.

Kilar’s influence became even more significant as the Claremont program developed through the 1970s. The 1980 BTCA specialty catalog records Ch. Claremont Van Gogh Blue, born August 8, 1976, bred and owned by Clare J. Kilar and Sheron R. Meer. He was by Ch. Adnaw’s Parader of Duraguard out of Heatherbay Lead the Way.

By this time, Sheron R. Meer had become closely associated with Kilar and the Claremont program. Their partnership became an important chapter in the kennel’s history.

The 1980 catalog also records additional Claremont dogs bred by Kilar and Meer, including Claremont Lana and Claremont Swamp Angle. Claremont Lana, born November 1, 1978, was by Ch. Jolee Jingle Bells of Dovern out of Ch. Berkshire’s Cast A Spell.

These records show the continued evolution of the Claremont breeding program. The kennel was incorporating new bloodlines while maintaining connections to the established American families that had helped shape the breed.

The partnership between Clare Kilar and Sheron Meer became especially important in the early 1980s. The 1983 Macomb County Kennel Club catalog identifies Clare J. Kilar & Sheron Meer as breeders and owners of Claremont Dixon and Claremont Chezzie, both produced from Ch. Claremont Van Gogh Blue.

This is an important progression in the Claremont story.

The kennel was no longer simply producing individual champions. It was developing a family of related dogs, with successful animals being used to produce subsequent generations. That is the hallmark of a breeding program with lasting influence.

Perhaps the greatest evidence of Clare Kilar’s legacy, however, comes from what happened to the Claremont bloodlines after the height of her own breeding career.

One of the most consequential dogs carrying the Claremont heritage was Ch. Claremont Anchor Man. His pedigree was by Ch. Jolee Jingle Bells of Dovern out of Ch. Berkshire’s Cast A Spell. He subsequently became an important sire in the Carillon program.

The importance of that connection cannot be overstated.

The Carillon historical record identifies Claremont Anchor Man as the sire of Ch. Maximum Strength Carillon, one of the foundation sires of Lucy Heyman’s enormously influential Carillon program. Maximum Strength Carillon was produced from Ch. Carillon Concord, whose dam was Claremont Lana.

Thus, Claremont became one of the important bridges into the modern American Bedlington.

The influence can be followed through the generations:

Claremont → Claremont Anchor Man → Maximum Strength Carillon → the Carillon Kennel

and:

Claremont Lana → Carillon Concord → Maximum Strength Carillon

The significance of these connections becomes even clearer when considering the later accomplishments of Carillon. The Carillon program ultimately produced numerous champions and several of the breed’s most important producing dogs. Its historical account identifies Ch. Carillon Salsa Serendipity as the breed’s top-producing dam, with sixteen champions to her credit.

Clare Kilar’s contribution was therefore not confined to the 1960s and 1970s show ring.

Her breeding decisions became part of the genetic and breeding foundation of a subsequent generation.

This is what makes the Claremont story especially valuable for a Legacy Breeder project.

A kennel’s true influence is sometimes difficult to see while the breeder is actively competing. Championships and Best of Breed awards provide an immediate measure of success, but the deeper measure is what happens to the bloodlines afterward.

Clare Kilar’s dogs continued to appear in the pedigrees of successful Bedlingtons long after the original Claremont dogs had left the show ring.

The Claremont program also illustrates the importance of collaboration among breeders. Kilar’s association with Sheron Meer demonstrates how breeding programs can evolve through partnerships, with knowledge and bloodlines moving from one generation to the next.

The historical record shows Clare Kilar not merely as the person behind a kennel prefix, but as a breeder who was actively studying pedigrees, producing dogs, selecting breeding stock, and participating in the broader American Bedlington community.

Her work belongs to the generation that followed the great postwar kennels such as Rock Ridge and Fremar and that helped carry the American Bedlington into the modern era.

She inherited a breed with a rich foundation.

She added her own interpretation.

And, most importantly, she produced dogs whose influence continued.

The name Claremont therefore represents more than a successful kennel of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. It represents a breeding program whose influence can be traced into later American Bedlington families, particularly the extraordinary Carillon line.

Clare Kilar’s legacy is found in that continuity.

She was part of the generation that understood that breeding a great dog was only the beginning. The real responsibility was deciding what that dog would contribute to the next generation—and what characteristics would ultimately become part of the breed’s future.

Through Claremont, Clare Kilar made that contribution.

Her legacy is not simply measured by the champions she produced.

It is measured by the bloodlines that survived, the breeders who followed, and the generations of Bedlington Terriers that carried the influence of her decisions forward.

For that reason, Clare J. Kilar / Claremont deserves recognition as one of the important Legacy Breeders in the continuing history of the American Bedlington Terrier.

Bonnie Lee McLean

Pamperhill Bedlingtons

A Mid-Century American Breeding Legacy

Bonnie Lee McLean of Pamperhill belongs among the American Bedlington breeders who helped carry the breed forward during the middle decades of the twentieth century. Her work came at an important stage in the development of the American Bedlington, when the foundation families established by earlier breeders were being combined, refined, and carried into new generations.

Pamperhill represents the work of a breeder who understood that the future of the breed depended upon more than individual show-ring success. The dogs produced under a kennel name become part of a larger pedigree, and their importance may not become apparent until generations later.

That is particularly true of the American Bedlington families developed during this period.

The significance of Pamperhill is especially meaningful to the Bonnybrook story. Through Ch. Bonnybrook’s Shady Lady, the work of earlier breeders became part of the foundation upon which Peggy and Bob Corash established Bonnybrook Bedlingtons in the late 1950s and early 1960s.  Shady Lady was not simply another champion in a pedigree. She became the foundation bitch of the Corash family’s Bonnybrook breeding program, making the bloodlines behind her an important part of the Bonnybrook legacy.

Pamperhill and the Developing American Breed

By the time Bonnie Lee McLean was established as a Bedlington breeder, the American breed had already developed a substantial foundation.

The great early programs had established important families.

Tyneside.

Canis.

Rock Ridge.

Rowanoaks.

Bo-Peep.

Hughcliff.

The breeders who followed inherited these bloodlines and faced the responsibility of deciding how they should be used.

Pamperhill was part of that next stage.

The objective was no longer simply to establish the Bedlington in America. The task was to develop consistency while preserving the essential character of the breed.

Breeders had to evaluate dogs not merely as individuals but as members of families.

What did a particular sire produce?

What did a particular bitch reproduce?

Which qualities remained consistent?

Which weaknesses appeared repeatedly?

Which bloodlines complemented one another?

These were the questions that shaped the American Bedlington during the decades in which Pamperhill was active.

The Importance of a Breeding Family

The true measure of a kennel is often found several generations beyond its own dogs.

A successful breeder may produce a champion, but the more enduring contribution comes when that dog or its descendants enter another breeding program and influence the next generation.

This is how kennel names that are no longer active can remain visible in pedigrees.

Pamperhill became part of that continuing network of American Bedlington bloodlines.

The dogs carrying the Pamperhill name represented not an isolated family, but a contribution to the broader development of the breed.

Bonnie Lee McLean as a Breeder

The breeders of McLean’s generation worked without many of the tools available today.

There were no commercial genetic disease panels.

There were no computerized pedigree databases.

There were no online repositories through which a breeder could instantly compare hundreds of pedigrees.

Instead, breeders depended upon their eyes, their records, their mentors, and their accumulated experience.

They studied conformation.

They watched movement.

They evaluated coat and head.

They considered temperament.

They followed the development of puppies.

And they studied pedigrees—often going back many more generations than a modern breeder might initially consider.

Bonnie Lee McLean was part of that tradition.

Her work belongs to a generation that helped transform the foundation laid by the early breeders into the more recognizable American Bedlington of the latter twentieth century.

Pamperhill in the Larger Pedigree

The most valuable way to understand Pamperhill today is through the pedigree connections that place its dogs alongside the other important American families.

The history of the American Bedlington is not a collection of separate kennel histories.

It is a web.

A dog from one kennel could become the foundation for another.

A successful breeding could bring together two previously separate families.

A champion could become more important as a sire or dam than it had been as a show dog.

And a kennel that produced relatively few champions could nevertheless make a lasting genetic contribution through one or two particularly influential individuals.

This is why the Legacy Project should preserve kennel histories such as Pamperhill.

The goal is not simply to identify the most famous breeders.

It is to identify the breeders whose decisions helped create the population inherited by today’s breeders.

The Legacy of the Mid-Century Breeder

The middle decades of the twentieth century were a particularly important period for the Bedlington.

The breed had achieved greater visibility in the American show ring. The success of dogs such as Ch. Rock Ridge Night Rocket had brought national attention to the breed. Established families were producing champions, and new breeders were entering the community.

With that success came a responsibility.

Popularity can bring attention to a breed, but breeding must determine its future.

The breeders of the Pamperhill generation were therefore stewards as much as exhibitors. Their responsibility was to preserve the qualities that made the Bedlington distinctive while continuing to improve the overall quality of the dogs.

That is the work of preservation.

Why Pamperhill Belongs in the Legacy

Bonnie Lee McLean and Pamperhill deserve recognition because breed history should not be reduced to a list of the most famous Best in Show winners or the largest kennels.

The Bedlington was built by many breeders making thousands of individual decisions.

Some decisions produced famous champions.

Others produced breeding dogs whose greatest importance appeared much later.

Some kennels became household names within the breed.

Others are remembered primarily by those who study the pedigrees.

Both are part of the story.

Pamperhill belongs to that second category of legacy: a kennel whose place in the historical record is best understood through its contribution to the continuing American bloodline.

Legacy Statement

Bonnie Lee McLean of Pamperhill was part of the generation of American Bedlington breeders that carried the breed from its early foundation into the established breeding programs of the latter twentieth century. Working during a period of increasing American interest in the breed, she participated in the continuing development of Bedlington families through breeding, selection, and the careful use of established bloodlines.

Jack Gould — Gould Bedlingtons

Among the Bedlington breeders who helped shape the breed during the 1960s and 1970s, Jack Lee Gould occupies an important place in the history of the American Bedlington Terrier. His name became closely associated with a family of dogs carrying the Gould prefix, most notably Ch. Gould’s Top Flight of Valgo, a dog whose influence extended well beyond the Gould kennel and into the breeding programs of other prominent Bedlington fanciers.

Gould’s emergence as a breeder came at an important time in the development of the American Bedlington. The breed was being shaped by a relatively small number of dedicated breeders, and successful breeding programs were increasingly connected through the exchange of proven dogs and bloodlines. Gould’s dogs became part of that network.

Ch. Gould’s Top Flight of Valgo

The dog most closely identified with Gould’s name was Ch. Gould’s Top Flight of Valgo, born September 19, 1965. He was bred by Mrs. Marjorie Hanson, by Ch. Power’s Adventurer out of Ch. Valgo’s Whirlwind, and was owned by Jack Lee Gould.

Top Flight was more than a successful show dog. He became a significant sire whose name appears repeatedly in the pedigrees of Bedlingtons produced during the late 1960s and 1970s. His offspring and descendants carried the Gould influence into several other kennels, making him an important link between the older Power’s and Valgo families and the next generation of American Bedlingtons.

The 1969 Kern County Kennel Club catalog records Gould exhibiting Top Flight in the Best of Breed competition. The same catalog demonstrates the breadth of his breeding influence: Gould’s St. Helena Rocco, bred by Jack Gould, was by Top Flight of Valgo and out of Gould’s Jimminy By-Cricket. Aire-Bell’s Windfall of Valgo, bred by M. Hanson and J. Gould, was also by Top Flight. In the same entry, Sir Lancelot of Valgo was listed as another Top Flight son.

These records illustrate an important characteristic of Gould’s program: Top Flight was not simply being shown; he was being incorporated into a developing breeding family.

Building the Gould Family

The Gould prefix continued to appear on dogs from several related families. Gould’s Auntie Marne, born September 23, 1963, was bred by Jack Lee Gould by Ch. Valgo’s Flying High out of Ch. Gould Holly Go Lightly. By 1969 she was being exhibited by Bette Moser.

Another important Gould-bred bitch was Gould’s Roslyn of Kenilworth, born April 17, 1969. She was bred by Jack Lee Gould by Singleton of Anderson Road out of Ch. Gould’s Holly Go-Lightly.

Yet another dog is Gould’s Golden Boy. Although the surviving published records are less complete than those available for some of the better-known Gould dogs, Golden Boy is part of the family of Bedlingtons associated with Jack Gould and should be considered when tracing the development of the Gould bloodline.

The Gould bloodlines therefore were not confined to a single sire. Gould was developing a family of dogs in which Valgo, Power’s, Singleton, and his own Gould-bred descendants were brought together. This would become particularly significant as these dogs moved into the hands of other breeders.

Influence Beyond Gould

Perhaps the clearest measure of Gould’s importance is found in the dogs produced by other kennels using Gould bloodlines.

Ch. Gould’s Limelight of Ormont, born September 12, 1971, was bred by Mr. and Mrs. Thomas C. Whiting by Ch. Gould’s Top Flight of Valgo out of Gould’s Roslyn of Kenilworth. By 1973, Limelight was being shown by Mr. and Mrs. Bertram Moser, with Jack Gould himself listed as handler.

That dog is particularly significant because it demonstrates the continuing connection between Gould’s breeding program and other established Bedlington families. Top Flight was being used as a sire, Gould-bred bitches were contributing to the next generation, and those resulting dogs were being successfully incorporated into other kennels.

Gould’s influence also reached the Ormont family through Ch. Gould’s Oliver Twist. In the 1973 Eastern Dog Club catalog, Lord Ashley of Ormont was recorded as the son of Ch. Gould’s Oliver Twist, while Ch. Ormont’s Belle of Virginia was also listed as being by Gould’s Oliver Twist.

The Gould dogs were consequently becoming part of the broader American Bedlington breeding population rather than remaining a closed kennel family.

A Breeder and Exhibitor

Jack Gould was also active in the show ring. The records show him not only as an owner and breeder but as a handler of Bedlingtons. At the 1973 Eastern Dog Club show, Gould handled Lord Ashley of Ormont, Ormont’s Country Girl, and his own Ch. Gould’s Limelight of Ormont.

This combination of breeder, owner, exhibitor, and handler is significant. During this period, the most influential Bedlington breeders were often deeply involved in every aspect of the dogs they produced. Gould was part of that tradition.

The Gould Legacy

The lasting importance of Jack Gould is therefore not measured solely by the number of champions carrying the Gould prefix. His greater contribution was the bloodline he helped establish and distribute during a formative period in the American Bedlington.

At the center of that legacy stands Ch. Gould’s Top Flight of Valgo. His pedigree connected Gould’s program to Ch. Power’s Adventurer, while his descendants carried the Gould influence into kennels such as Ormont and Valgo and into the breeding programs of other fanciers of the era.

The Gould name can be followed through a network of dogs—Top Flight of Valgo, Auntie Marne, Holly Go-Lightly, Roslyn of Kenilworth, St. Helena Rocco, Limelight of Ormont, and Oliver Twist—that illustrate how one breeder’s work became woven into the larger history of the breed.

Like many of the breeders of this era, Gould’s legacy is found less in written accounts of his life than in the pedigrees and show records left behind. Those records tell an important story: Jack Gould was part of the generation that helped carry the American Bedlington from the influential bloodlines of the mid-century into the increasingly interconnected breeding programs of the 1970s and beyond.

The Gould legacy was not simply a kennel name. It was a bloodline—and through that bloodline, a lasting contribution to the American Bedlington Terrier.

CHONDRODYSTOPHY (CDDY) & INTERVERTEBRAL DISC DISEASE (IVDD) DATABASE FORM

Robert “Bobby” Hutton

A Lifetime in the Bedlington Terrier

Some breeders leave their greatest mark through a kennel name or a particular bloodline. Others influence a breed through a lifetime of participation—breeding, exhibiting, handling, teaching, judging, and serving the organizations that sustain the breed. Robert “Bobby” Hutton belongs to the latter group. His relationship with the Bedlington Terrier began in 1956, when he was introduced to the world of dog shows by neighbors who took him to exhibitions. His first dog was a Bedlington Terrier, and that first experience proved to be an extraordinary beginning. At only nine months of age, his puppy won Winners Dog at the historic Morris & Essex Kennel Club show from an entry of approximately eighty Bedlingtons. 

That first success was more than a memorable show win. It began a lifetime in the sport of dogs. Hutton continued showing through his teenage years, finishing dogs of his own and helping friends with theirs. As a young adult he became a professional handler, achieving success with a wide variety of breeds, particularly Terriers, Sight Hounds, Toys, and Non-Sporting breeds. His experience across breeds gave him a broad understanding of structure, movement, presentation, and breed type—knowledge that would later serve him as both a Bedlington specialist and an all-breed judge.

Although his professional career eventually encompassed many breeds, the Bedlington remained an important part of Hutton’s life. He became a member of the Bedlington Terrier Club of America in 1959, only three years after acquiring his first Bedlington. His involvement did not stop at membership. Over the years he served the club in a number of capacities, including President, Director, and Show Chairman. These positions placed him not only among those who exhibited the breed, but among those responsible for helping organize and guide the activities of the national breed club. 

Hutton’s career also illustrates the close relationship between the Bedlington and the broader terrier community during the second half of the twentieth century. In 1968, he became particularly interested in the Dandie Dinmont Terrier after meeting Nancy Mann of the renowned Woodbourne Kennel. His experience with other terrier breeds expanded his knowledge of breed character and presentation while keeping him firmly connected to the world in which the Bedlington had always belonged—the world of working and sporting terriers.

Over the years Hutton also operated a large boarding kennel and owned and operated two grooming shops. These experiences are significant because they placed him in daily contact with dogs and with the people who owned, bred, showed, and cared for them. His career was therefore not confined to the few minutes a dog spent in a show ring. He understood the practical side of maintaining dogs, conditioning them, grooming them, and preparing them for competition.

That combination of experience ultimately led Hutton into judging. He became an AKC judge and was licensed to evaluate a broad range of breeds and groups. His judging career included assignments throughout the United States and internationally. He continued to judge Bedlington Terriers as well, bringing to the ring the perspective of someone who had first encountered the breed as a young exhibitor and had remained connected to it for more than half a century. His later judging assignments included major American shows, and in 2012 he judged the Bedlington Terrier breed at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, a fitting milestone for someone whose own show career had begun more than five decades earlier. 

The continuity of Hutton’s career is perhaps the most remarkable part of his story. His first Bedlington experience came at a time when many of the breeders now considered part of the breed’s history were actively developing their programs. The South Wind, Valgo, Jolee, Rowanoaks, and other important American families were emerging or becoming established. Hutton entered the sport at the beginning of this important period and remained involved long enough to see the breed pass through several generations of breeders and dogs.

His career therefore provides a living connection between the mid-century Bedlington and the modern breed.

Hutton’s story also reminds us that a breed’s history cannot be measured solely by the names of the kennels that produced its most famous champions. The people who handled those dogs, organized the specialties, served on club boards, mentored newcomers, and eventually judged the breed played an equally important role in shaping how the breed was understood and presented.

A breeder produces the dog.

A handler teaches the dog to reveal itself.

A judge evaluates whether the dog represents the breed.

A club leader helps preserve the structure through which the breed community works.

Hutton’s career encompassed all of these worlds.

His first Bedlington victory at Morris & Essex was achieved with a puppy he had only recently acquired, but the significance of that moment extended far beyond the ribbon. It introduced a young dog enthusiast to a breed that would remain part of his life for more than six decades. From that first Bedlington came a lifetime of involvement—membership in the national breed club, service as an officer and director, professional handling, grooming, breeding and showing, and eventually judging the breed at some of the most prestigious shows in the country.

For the modern Bedlington breeder, Hutton’s legacy offers a different but equally important lesson from that of the great foundation breeders. Preservation requires people who stay. Bloodlines can be passed from one generation to another, but the knowledge surrounding those bloodlines must also be passed along. Understanding how a Bedlington should be presented, how it should move, what makes its outline distinctive, and how its character should be expressed cannot be learned entirely from a written standard. It is learned from experience and from people who have spent a lifetime looking at the dogs.

Robert “Bobby” Hutton became one of those people.

His importance to the Bedlington Terrier is therefore not confined to a single kennel or champion. His legacy is measured by the extraordinary length of his involvement with the breed and by the many roles he filled within the dog world. He entered the sport as a young man with a Bedlington, became a professional handler, served the Bedlington Terrier Club of America, and ultimately stood on the other side of the ring as an AKC judge evaluating the very breed that had introduced him to the sport.

More than sixty years after his first Bedlington won at Morris & Essex, that continuity tells its own story.

Legacy Statement

Robert “Bobby” Hutton’s place in Bedlington history is defined by a lifetime of service to the breed and to the sport of purebred dogs. His relationship with the Bedlington began in 1956, when his first puppy won Winners Dog at Morris & Essex from a large entry. He joined the Bedlington Terrier Club of America in 1959 and later served as President, Director, and Show Chairman. His career as a professional handler, breeder, exhibitor, groomer, club leader, and eventually AKC judge gave him a perspective on the breed that few could match.

His legacy is not a single kennel or a single champion. It is the continuity of knowledge—carried from the young exhibitor who first fell in love with a Bedlington to the experienced judge who spent decades helping others understand what makes the breed special.

Robert Hutton’s legacy is a lifetime spent looking at dogs, learning from them, and helping others see what he saw.

 

Sally and Robert DeKold — Tamarack Bedlingtons

Among the breeders who helped shape the American Bedlington Terrier during the 1960s and 1970s, Sally A. DeKold stands out for the consistency and longevity of the Tamarack bloodline. Working from Michigan, Sally developed a family of Bedlingtons that became recognized not only in the show ring but also through their contribution to later generations of the breed.

Although the surviving records provide considerably more information about Sally’s work with the dogs than about Robert’s individual role, the DeKold name became closely associated with Tamarack. Together, Sally and Robert represent another of the families whose contribution is best understood through the dogs they bred, exhibited, and passed on to the next generation.

The Beginning of Tamarack

By the late 1960s, Sally DeKold was already breeding Bedlingtons under the Tamarack name. Her early dogs included Ch. Gingersnap of Tamarack, who became the dam of several important Tamarack dogs.

In 1968, Sally bred Ch. Blue Samantha of Tamarack, by Ch. South Wind’s Don Juan out of Ch. Gingersnap of Tamarack. At a 1970 Northeastern Indiana Kennel Club show, Blue Samantha was entered by Sally herself in Best of Breed competition. The catalog identifies her as both breeder and owner.

That record is significant because it captures something characteristic of Sally DeKold’s program: she was not simply producing dogs for others to show. She was breeding, owning, exhibiting, and developing her own family of Bedlingtons.

Ch. Blue Max of Tamarack

Another important Tamarack dog was Ch. Blue Max of Tamarack, born December 13, 1969. Sally bred and owned him, breeding him by Ch. Turcott of Tartania out of Ch. Gingersnap of Tamarack.

By 1972, Blue Max was appearing in Best of Breed competition under Sally DeKold’s ownership. 

Blue Max is important in understanding the development of Tamarack because he represented another generation of Sally’s breeding program. Gingersnap was becoming a foundation bitch, while her offspring were being used to establish the next generation.

Building a Breeding Family

Sally’s Tamarack program was not based on a single successful dog. Instead, she developed a recognizable family through repeated combinations of established Bedlington bloodlines.

One of the clearest examples is the 1972 litter produced by Sally DeKold and Edna Osad. From this breeding came Ch. Sunburst of Tamarack, whose offspring included several dogs carrying the Tamarack name.

Among them was Top Brass of Tamarack, born February 19, 1972, bred by Sally DeKold and Edna Osad by Ch. Lamb’s Rocket Power out of Ch. Sunburst of Tamarack. The same breeding produced Collinbrook Gold of Tamarack, owned by James Collins and Sally DeKold and likewise bred by Sally DeKold and Edna Osad. 

These dogs demonstrate the increasingly important role Tamarack was playing in the Bedlington breeding community. The dogs were moving between breeders and kennels, carrying the Tamarack name and bloodline with them.

A Breeder in the Show Ring

Sally DeKold was also an active exhibitor. Her name appears repeatedly in show catalogs as both breeder and owner, and at times as a handler for dogs bred by others.

At the 1972 Lima Kennel Club show, for example, Sally exhibited Ch. Blue Max of Tamarack in Best of Breed competition. At other shows she handled dogs bred outside her own kennel, including Glen Valley’s Spring Robin C.D. 

This combination of breeding and exhibiting gave Sally an unusually direct connection to the dogs she produced. She was able to evaluate her breeding program not only through pedigrees and puppies but through the demanding environment of the conformation ring.

The Tamarack Influence

The Tamarack name continued into subsequent generations. By 1980, Sally DeKold was still producing Bedlingtons under the Tamarack prefix. Irish Mist of Tamarack, born February 2, 1979, was bred by Sally by Ch. Mr. Blue of Tamarack out of Ch. Blue Cameo of Tamarack. The dog was subsequently owned by Kathryn A. O’Brien and shown in the conformation ring. 

The significance of this breeding is that it shows Tamarack had become a self-sustaining family of Bedlingtons. The kennel was no longer simply producing individual champions; it had established generations of related dogs carrying recognizable Tamarack ancestry.

Tamarack and the Next Generation

Perhaps the strongest evidence of Sally DeKold’s lasting influence comes from the later Bedlingtons descended from her dogs.

Among the later Tamarack dogs was Ch. Blue Jasper of Tamarack C.D., bred by Sally A. DeKold. His sire was Ch. Buster Brown of Tamarack and his dam Ch. Seabreeze of Tamarack. Later accounts of the Tamarack line credit Blue Jasper with producing a number of successful champions, including Ch. Stony Lake Golden Glow, Ch. Blue April of Tamarack, Ch. First Class Alex of Tamarack, Ch. Kaylynn’s Ringside Chatter, and others. 

This is an important part of the Tamarack story. The influence of a breeder is often easiest to see many years after the original breeding decisions have been made. Dogs bred by Sally DeKold continued to appear behind successful Bedlingtons of later generations.

The Tamarack name also continued through partnerships with other breeders. Later records identify dogs such as First Class Julie of Tamarack as bred by Sally DeKold, demonstrating that the Tamarack bloodline remained active well into the next generation of Bedlington breeding. 

Sally and Robert DeKold

The DeKold story should ultimately be understood as a family story. Sally’s name is the one most consistently preserved in the historic show and breeding records, but Robert and Sally DeKold became associated with the Tamarack Bedlingtons and the continuation of the program.

The surviving documentation does not yet provide enough detail to accurately describe Robert’s individual responsibilities in the breeding program. Rather than fill that gap with assumptions, the Legacy Project should preserve what can be established and continue looking for additional show catalogs, club records, photographs, advertisements, and pedigrees that may document his involvement.

What is clear is that the DeKold name became firmly established in the history of the American Bedlington Terrier through Tamarack.

The Tamarack Legacy

The legacy of Sally DeKold is found in the continuity of the Tamarack family.

From Ch. Gingersnap of Tamarack came dogs such as Ch. Blue Samantha of Tamarack and Ch. Blue Max of Tamarack. Through subsequent generations came Sunburst of Tamarack, Mr. Blue of Tamarack, Blue Cameo of Tamarack, Blue Jasper of Tamarack, and many other dogs whose pedigrees carried the Tamarack influence forward.

The importance of Tamarack was therefore not limited to the champions Sally personally exhibited. Its greater significance was the establishment of a breeding family that other breeders could build upon.

This is the hallmark of a lasting Bedlington breeding program. A kennel’s influence is measured not simply by the dogs standing in its own ring but by what happens after those dogs leave the kennel—where they are bred, what they produce, and how their descendants shape the next generation.

Sally DeKold’s Tamarack Bedlingtons became part of that larger American Bedlington story.

The Tamarack legacy was built one generation at a time—and its influence can still be traced through the pedigrees of the Bedlingtons that followed.

Coral and Allan Anderson — Victoria’s Bedlingtons

Among the breeders who helped carry the American Bedlington Terrier into the later decades of the twentieth century, Coral and Allan Anderson deserve recognition for the family of dogs they developed under the Victoria’s prefix.

The Andersons’ contribution belongs to a period when Bedlington breeding was increasingly connected through a relatively small number of influential families. Successful breeders were not working in isolation. Bloodlines moved between kennels, champions became the foundation for new breeding programs, and individual breeders often contributed dogs that would become important several generations later.

The Victoria’s dogs became part of that continuing story.

Building the Victoria’s Family

The Anderson program was established around a recognizable family of Bedlingtons carrying the Victoria’s name. One of the early dogs associated with the program was Ch. Victoria’s Buttercup, who became an important foundation for later Victoria’s breeding.

By 1982, Coral and Allan Anderson were breeding from this family. Victoria’s Larkspur, born February 8, 1982, was bred by Coral and Allan Anderson by Ch. Boychek Di Shepsel out of Ch. Victoria’s Buttercup. The 1983 Des Moines Kennel Club catalog records Larkspur as being exhibited with Don Walker as agent, while ownership was shared by Virginia Allen and Coral Anderson.

That record is significant because it demonstrates the increasingly collaborative nature of Bedlington breeding at the time. A breeder might produce the dog, another fancier might become an owner, and a professional handler might present the dog in the ring. Such partnerships helped move successful bloodlines beyond the original kennel.

Ch. Victoria’s Galaxy Spritzer

The Victoria’s family continued into another generation with Ch. Victoria’s Galaxy Spritzer, born March 4, 2002. The AKC National Obedience Invitational catalog identifies Coral Anderson and Joan Anderson as breeders. Galaxy Spritzer was by Ch. Victoria-Beach Baby Seanymph out of Ch. Rathsrigg Saxon Ruler. By the time of the 2011 event, the dog was owned by Connie Parrish and had earned an impressive collection of obedience titles, including UD, GN, GO, RAE, NAP, OJP, as well as agility titles.

Galaxy Spritzer is particularly interesting in the context of the Legacy Project because the dog demonstrates that the Victoria’s name and breeding influence extended well beyond the traditional conformation ring.

The dog was not simply a descendant carrying an old kennel name. Galaxy Spritzer became a highly accomplished performance Bedlington, illustrating the versatility and trainability that can exist within carefully developed Bedlington families.

Coral Anderson as a Breeder

The surviving records identify Coral Anderson repeatedly as a breeder and owner, establishing her as the person most directly associated with the continuation of the Victoria’s bloodline.

Her work represents a different kind of legacy from that of breeders whose influence can be traced primarily through a single nationally prominent champion. The Anderson contribution is better understood by following the family of dogs produced under the Victoria’s name and the way those dogs connected with other established Bedlington bloodlines.

The breeding of Victoria’s Larkspur illustrates this approach. The combination of Boychek and Victoria’s ancestry brought together an established outside bloodline with the Anderson family, while later Victoria’s dogs incorporated additional lines. The result was a breeding program that remained open to the larger Bedlington gene pool while maintaining a recognizable family identity.

Beyond the Conformation Ring

One of the most interesting aspects of the Anderson legacy is the later appearance of Victoria’s Galaxy Spritzer in performance competition.

Bedlingtons have historically been valued for much more than their appearance in the conformation ring. They are terriers—intelligent, athletic, energetic, and capable of learning a remarkable range of skills. Galaxy Spritzer’s extensive obedience and performance record provides a modern illustration of those qualities.

For the Legacy Project, this is an important reminder that a breeder’s contribution should not be judged solely by the number of conformation champions produced. Dogs that demonstrate sound temperament, trainability, versatility, and longevity can be equally important indicators of a breeding program’s success.

The Anderson Legacy

The story of Coral and Allan Anderson is therefore the story of Victoria’s Bedlingtons and the generations that carried that name forward.

From Ch. Victoria’s Buttercup to Victoria’s Larkspur and eventually to Ch. Victoria’s Galaxy Spritzer, the Victoria’s family demonstrates continuity across decades of Bedlington breeding.

The records also show how the Anderson dogs became part of a broader network. Victoria’s dogs were bred from established bloodlines, placed with other owners, presented by professional handlers, and eventually represented in performance as well as conformation.

That interconnectedness is an important feature of the American Bedlington’s history. No kennel developed in isolation. The breed was shaped by breeders who shared bloodlines, evaluated one another’s dogs, and built upon the work of previous generations.

Coral and Allan Anderson were part of that tradition.

Their legacy is preserved in the Victoria’s dogs and in the generations that followed them—a reminder that the history of the Bedlington Terrier is not only the story of the most famous champions, but also of the dedicated breeders whose names remain embedded in the pedigrees.

The Victoria’s legacy is one of continuity—preserving a family of Bedlingtons while contributing to the larger development of the breed.

Aquina Meyer

Alquina Bedlingtons

A Legacy of Breeding, Showing, and Breed Stewardship

Aquina Meyer of New Orleans, Louisiana, belongs among the American Bedlington breeders who helped shape the breed during the middle decades of the twentieth century. Her Alquina Bedlingtons emerged during an important period in American Bedlington history, when breeders were taking the foundation families established by earlier generations and developing them into consistent, recognizable breeding programs. Meyer was part of that generation of breeders who understood that the future of the breed depended not simply upon producing a successful show dog, but upon understanding pedigrees, evaluating families, and making thoughtful breeding decisions generation after generation.

The Alquina name became associated with a family of Bedlingtons that was successful in the show ring and influential beyond Meyer’s own kennel. Among the early dogs was Alquina’s Lady June of Luzita, bred by Meyer and recorded as her dog in the mid-1950s. Her breeding program soon produced dogs that would bring considerably greater recognition to the Alquina name, including Ch. Alquina’s Diamond and Alquina’s Sir Anthony. These dogs demonstrate the importance of Meyer as a breeder at a time when the American Bedlington was still being shaped by a relatively small number of dedicated kennels.

Ch. Alquina’s Diamond became one of the dogs most closely associated with Meyer’s breeding program. Born in 1960, Diamond was bred by Meyer from Ch. Gay Blade’s Gimmick and Alquina’s Lady Aline. He became a champion and represented the quality that Meyer was seeking to establish within her own family. His success was not limited to the Bedlington ring. Diamond was recognized in Terrier Group competition, demonstrating that the Alquina dogs could compete successfully against the broader Terrier Group as well as within their own breed. For Meyer, however, Diamond’s greatest importance was not necessarily the title attached to his name. He became part of the breeding program and helped establish the next generation of Alquina Bedlingtons.

That approach is particularly evident in Alquina’s Ardan, bred by Meyer from Ch. Alquina’s Diamond and Ch. Alquina’s Bleu Blanche. Ardan represented the continuing development of a family rather than a single successful cross. Diamond had become more than a champion; he was being used as a sire within the program. This is one of the characteristics that distinguishes a true breeding program from a kennel that simply produces individual show winners. Meyer was evaluating the dogs she produced and determining which individuals could carry the Alquina family forward.

Another important Meyer-bred dog was Alquina’s Sir Anthony. Bred from the same Ch. Gay Blade’s Gimmick and Alquina’s Lady Aline combination that produced Diamond, Sir Anthony became a successful show dog in his own right. His accomplishments extended beyond the United States, where he was recognized in Canadian competition, including a Best of Breed award and Terrier Group placement. His success also demonstrates another important aspect of Meyer’s contribution: her dogs were not confined to the Alquina kennel. They entered the hands of other owners and became representatives of the bloodline in the wider Bedlington community.

The influence of the Alquina dogs continued in other breeding programs. Dogs bred by Meyer appear behind Bedlingtons carrying other kennel names, demonstrating how her contribution became woven into the larger American Bedlington pedigree. Ch. Alquina’s Sportsman, for example, became part of the ancestry of later dogs, while other Alquina-bred dogs found their way into established breeding programs. This movement of bloodlines from one kennel to another is one of the most important characteristics of Bedlington history. A breeder’s influence does not end when a dog leaves the kennel. In many cases, that is when the most important part of the legacy begins.

Meyer was also an active participant in the show world. The records of the period identify her as breeder and owner, while professional handlers were sometimes used to present her dogs. This was typical of the serious breeders of her generation. The breeder remained responsible for evaluating the dog, understanding its strengths and weaknesses, and deciding whether it belonged in the next generation. The show ring provided one means of evaluating those decisions, but the pedigree and the performance of the offspring ultimately provided the more meaningful measure.

As Meyer’s career continued, her contribution to the breed extended beyond breeding and exhibiting. She eventually became a Bedlington Terrier judge, including judging the Bedlington Terrier Club of America Specialty in 1980. Moving from breeder and exhibitor to judge represented a significant level of recognition within the breed community. A breeder evaluates dogs within a kennel; a judge must evaluate the dogs of an entire breed and make decisions based upon type, structure, movement, balance, breed character, and overall correctness. Meyer’s selection to judge the specialty reflected the knowledge and experience she had accumulated through decades with the breed.

Her commitment to the Bedlington was ultimately recognized by the Bedlington Terrier Club of America, which awarded her the Constance M. Willemsen Breed Betterment Award in 1998. This recognition is particularly significant because the award honors individuals whose contributions extend beyond their own dogs or kennel. By the time Meyer received it, her importance to the breed was understood as part of a lifetime of participation, breeding, judging, and service.

The breeders of Meyer’s generation worked without many of the tools available today. There were no commercial DNA panels, computerized pedigree databases, or online repositories containing generations of information. Breeders relied upon observation, personal records, mentors, and experience. They studied pedigrees, watched puppies mature, evaluated movement and structure, and learned from the results of their breeding decisions. They had to remember which families consistently produced the qualities they wanted and which combinations introduced weaknesses. Aquina Meyer belonged to that tradition of hands-on, deeply involved breeding.

The true measure of Meyer’s legacy is therefore not simply the number of champions carrying the Alquina name. It is the fact that Alquina became part of the larger American Bedlington family. Her dogs entered other breeding programs, appeared in the pedigrees of subsequent generations, and helped connect the work of earlier breeders with those who followed. The Alquina dogs became part of the genetic and historical fabric of the breed.

This is why Aquina Meyer belongs in the Bedlington Legacy Project. She represents a generation of breeders who understood that preservation is not passive. It requires knowledge, judgment, selection, and a willingness to accept responsibility for the generations that follow. Her career demonstrates the progression from breeder and exhibitor to judge and breed steward, and her recognition with the Breed Betterment Award confirms that her contribution was ultimately understood as something larger than the Alquina kennel.

The Alquina legacy is therefore found not only in Ch. Alquina’s Diamond, Alquina’s Sir Anthony, Alquina’s Ardan, Ch. Alquina’s Sportsman, and the other dogs she bred, but in the generations of Bedlingtons that carried their influence forward. Like so many important breeders of her era, Aquina Meyer helped build the Bedlington that later generations inherited.

Legacy Statement

Aquina Meyer of Alquina Bedlingtons was an important American Bedlington breeder whose influence extended beyond the dogs she personally bred and exhibited. Through dogs such as Ch. Alquina’s Diamond, Alquina’s Sir Anthony, Alquina’s Ardan, and Ch. Alquina’s Sportsman, she developed a recognizable family of Bedlingtons whose bloodlines became part of other breeding programs. Her later service as a Bedlington Terrier judge and her recognition with the Bedlington Terrier Club of America’s Constance M. Willemsen Breed Betterment Award reflect a lifetime of commitment to the breed. Aquina Meyer’s legacy is found in the dogs she produced, the bloodlines she helped develop, and the generations of Bedlingtons that carried her work forward.

Dolores “Dorrie” King

Sudor Terriers

A Life Devoted to the Bedlington

Among the breeders, exhibitors, handlers, and mentors who helped shape the modern Bedlington Terrier, Dolores “Dorrie” King deserves a special place. Her involvement with the breed extended for more than three decades and encompassed virtually every aspect of the sport—breeding, exhibiting, grooming, handling, mentoring, and promoting the Bedlington Terrier to a wider public. Through Sudor Terriers, King developed a breeding program that became particularly influential during the later decades of the twentieth century and into the new millennium.

King understood that the Bedlington was a breed that needed advocates. The breed’s distinctive appearance could attract attention, but understanding the dog beneath the coat required knowledge and education. King made that education part of her life’s work. She taught owners, breeders, students, and fellow exhibitors how to groom, handle, and show Bedlington Terriers, helping pass along the practical knowledge necessary to maintain the breed’s distinctive presentation. Her work extended beyond her own dogs; she became a mentor to people who would carry what they learned from her into their own careers with dogs.

King was also an accomplished exhibitor. She showed Bedlington Terriers internationally and traveled extensively with her dogs, giving demonstrations and helping others learn how to properly groom and present the breed. Her career included appearances in major American venues as well as travel to Canada, Mexico, and England. Her international involvement reflected an understanding that the Bedlington was part of a much larger community and that preserving the breed required communication and cooperation among breeders and exhibitors.

Her dedication eventually led to the establishment of Sudor Terriers in West Virginia. In 1997, King moved to an eight-acre property in Hedgesville, which she affectionately called her “mountain,” and established Sudor as a kennel specializing in terriers and Bouvier des Flandres. The Sudor name became associated with Bedlingtons during a period when American breeders were increasingly connecting established domestic families with important international bloodlines. 

King’s influence can be seen particularly clearly through her work with Ch. Bonnybrook’s Magical Sudor. Born in 1995, Magical Sudor was bred by Dennis and Kristi Corash of Bonnybrook Bedlingtons and was owned by King together with the Corashes. He was sired by Ch. Sudor’s British Sterling and out of Ch. Bonnybrook’s Sonatina in D, bringing together the Sudor and Bonnybrook families. 

The significance of Magical Sudor was not simply that he carried two recognizable kennel names. His pedigree represented the kind of collaboration that has repeatedly shaped the Bedlington breed. Established breeders brought together dogs from families they believed complemented one another, evaluated the resulting offspring, and then made those dogs available to the next generation. Magical Sudor became an important part of that process, and his name appears repeatedly in later pedigrees. 

King’s involvement with the dog was also consistent with the way she approached the breed throughout her life. She was not simply interested in owning successful Bedlingtons; she wanted to understand them, present them correctly, and help others do the same. Her reputation as a teacher and mentor became one of the most important parts of her legacy. One of the people she mentored later recalled meeting King while attending grooming school and described her as her first mentor in the dog-show world. She specifically credited King with teaching her how to groom, show, travel safely with dogs, and compete successfully.

This willingness to teach is an important part of King’s place in Bedlington history. Breeding programs can preserve bloodlines, but knowledge preserves breeding programs. Techniques of grooming and presentation, understanding of breed type, conditioning, handling, and the practical knowledge required to live successfully with and exhibit a terrier are all forms of knowledge that can disappear if they are not deliberately passed from one generation to another. King understood the value of mentorship and spent much of her career passing that knowledge forward.

Her accomplishments were recognized well beyond the Bedlington community. She received awards from major kennel organizations and was active in the Bedlington Terrier Club of America as well as other terrier organizations. Her involvement with the breed was not limited to the show ring; she participated in the larger community that supported and promoted purebred dogs.

One of the accomplishments of which King was particularly proud was achieving recognition as Top Sire through one of her champion Bedlington males whose offspring went on to become champions. That distinction illustrates an important difference between winning with an individual dog and making a contribution as a breeder. A successful show dog demonstrates quality. A successful sire demonstrates the ability to transmit quality.

David P. Ramsey

Willow Wind Bedlingtons

A Brilliant Breeder Whose Is Remembered for Both Achievement and Controversy

Among the American breeders who shaped the modern Bedlington Terrier, David P. Ramsey of Willow Wind occupies an important—and complicated—place in the breed’s history. Ramsey was a highly accomplished breeder, exhibitor, groomer, and handler whose dogs achieved national recognition and whose bloodlines became influential in subsequent generations. At the same time, his career was marked by a serious animal-cruelty conviction and resulting American Kennel Club disciplinary action. A complete history of Willow Wind must acknowledge both realities. His accomplishments were significant, but so was the controversy that ultimately became part of his legacy.

Ramsey was born in 1944 and devoted much of his life to the world of purebred dogs. He became particularly well known for his expertise in grooming and exhibiting Bedlington Terriers and developed Willow Wind into one of the prominent American Bedlington programs of the late twentieth century. His knowledge of grooming was especially valuable in a breed whose characteristic appearance depends upon skilled preparation. Ramsey understood the relationship between the dog underneath the coat and the finished dog presented in the ring, and he became widely respected for his technical ability.

The Willow Wind program was already producing important Bedlingtons by the 1970s. Early records show Ramsey developing a family of dogs under the Willow Wind name while incorporating bloodlines from other established American programs. Dogs such as Willow Wind Color Me Blue, bred by David P. Ramsey and D. Jones, demonstrate that the kennel was producing its own identifiable family well before Willow Wind became nationally prominent.

As the program developed, Ramsey combined established American bloodlines with carefully selected dogs from other sources. The result was a family that became recognizable not only for its show-ring success but also for its influence on later pedigrees.

Among the most important Willow Wind dogs was Ch. Willow Wind Centurion. Centurion became a #1 Terrier in the United States, an extraordinary accomplishment for a Bedlington Terrier. His success established Ramsey and Willow Wind among the country’s leading Bedlington breeders and demonstrated that the kennel could produce dogs capable of competing successfully at the highest level of American competition.

Centurion’s importance, however, extended beyond his show record. He became an influential breeding dog, and his descendants contributed to the continuing development of the breed. Ramsey’s accomplishment was therefore not simply producing a nationally ranked champion. It was producing a dog whose qualities were sufficiently valuable that other breeders wanted those qualities in their own programs.

Another of Ramsey’s most celebrated Bedlingtons was Ch. Willow Wind Money Talks, affectionately known as “Bucks.” Born in 1994, Bucks was bred, owned, and handled by Ramsey, with Kerry Himmelberger as co-owner. He became the number-one Bedlington Terrier in the United States in 1996 and achieved multiple Best in Show victories. He was also highly successful at major Terrier competitions, including placements at Montgomery County and Westminster.

Bucks represented the culmination of decades of breeding experience. He was not an isolated success but the product of a family Ramsey had been developing over generations. His pedigree carried the Willow Wind name on both sides, demonstrating the degree to which Ramsey had established a consistent breeding family.

The significance of Willow Wind became even greater through Ramsey’s relationship with Jacquelyn Fogel.

Fogel obtained her first Bedlington from Ramsey in 1995. That relationship became the foundation of what would develop into the First Class Bedlington program. Fogel has described her program as being founded on the Willow Wind bloodline bred by Ramsey, and the Willow Wind influence remains visible in First Class pedigrees today. 

The relationship between Ramsey and Fogel demonstrates one of the most important ways a breeder’s influence survives. A kennel does not have to remain under one person’s ownership to leave a genetic legacy. If the dogs are valuable, another breeder can recognize those qualities, incorporate them into a new program, and carry them forward.

The Serious Chapter in Ramsey’s History

The story of David Ramsey cannot, however, be told honestly without addressing the events of 1997.

On June 9, 1997, Ramsey was suspended from all American Kennel Club privileges for ten years and fined $500 following his guilty plea in the State of Rhode Island District Court to charges related to animal cruelty. The AKC Board characterized his conduct as prejudicial to the best interests of purebred dogs. 

The underlying matter involved animal cruelty and neglect. Contemporary records indicate that Ramsey entered a plea concerning charges in Rhode Island and was placed under judicial supervision. 

The matter did not end with the state-court proceeding. On June 17, 1997, the AKC’s Northeastern Trial Board sustained separate charges against Ramsey involving the submission of a registration application containing a false or improper certification and failure to maintain adequate records concerning ownership, breeding, transfers, and litters. The Trial Board recommended an additional ten-year suspension and a $500 fine. The AKC Board adopted that recommendation, with the additional suspension to run consecutively to the suspension imposed as a result of the Rhode Island matter.

These events are significant enough that they should not be omitted from a  biography.

At the same time, they should not be allowed to obscure the documented history of the Willow Wind breeding program. The two parts of the story can—and should—be held together.

Ramsey was an accomplished breeder whose dogs had significant influence on the Bedlington Terrier. He was also disciplined by the AKC following a cruelty-related guilty plea and subsequent registration and record-keeping violations. Both facts are part of the historical record.

The Years That Followed

The AKC records also document what happened later. In 2015, Ramsey submitted a request for reinstatement of his AKC privileges. The Board considered the request during its March 2015 meeting. The record notes that Ramsey had paid the two $500 fines and had submitted his reinstatement request under the applicable AKC provisions. The Board then voted unanimously to reinstate his AKC privileges, effective immediately.

That reinstatement does not erase the earlier events, nor should it be presented as doing so. It does, however, belong in the chronology. The historical record therefore contains three distinct chapters: Ramsey’s rise as a prominent breeder and exhibitor; his 1997 conviction and AKC disciplinary action; and his eventual reinstatement by the AKC in 2015.

For a Legacy Project, that distinction is important.

Legacy does not mean creating a flawless portrait.

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In order to understand Chondrodystophy and Intervertebal Disc Disease in the Bedlington Terrier, The Bedlington Terrier Club of America database will store and manage all results for all CDDY/IVDD test results worldwide.

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