They have powerful swimming skills, comparable to those of water dogs such as the Newfoundland, and are noted for being very quick and having high endurance.

They love snow, and can achieve a Husky-like turn of speed on ice or in deep powder, using their powerful noses as a plough.

Bedlington Terriers shown at early shows were frequently dyed to improve the look of their fur.

[6] George Shields stated that exceedingly well-bred dogs possess the spirit of a thoroughbred racehorse.

[7] This gene causes puppies born with black or dark brown fur to lighten to grey or liver with age.

[6] The dog's coat has been described as shaggy, hard, and rugged in style[8] and it has also been described as linty in texture, giving the breed the nickname of "linty-haired terrier".

[5] A fast dog with high endurance,[1] the Bedlington Terrier is just as quick in water as it is on land, and their swimming speed rivals that of the Newfoundland.

[1] Their versatility has been praised, with some dogs willing to "[be] a house-dog, a gun-dog, a rat-dog, a badger-dog, or, if needed, [to] bolt a fox..."[11] They are also known for their intelligence and tenacity when it comes to taking on vermin.

[5] However, both the AKC and the ASPCA call the breed "mild" and "gentle" and recommends it as being good with children.

[4][12] PetFinder says the breed is soft in temperament, companionable, demonstrative, loyal, and a quiet house dog.

Some breeders, notably George Newcombe, have argued that the working ability and courage of the Bedlington terrier has declined since it began being bred for show.

[9] James' father, William, was much in demand as an otter hunter, and he kept Bedlington Terriers in order to help him hunt.

[9] Piper began working with badgers at eight months old, and carried on hunting other animals generally regarded as vermin until he was blind.

[9] The following year there was a Bedlington Terrier class at a show held at Crystal Palace, where a red dog named Miner took first prize.

[9][11] Many dogs in early shows were clipped and dyed to bring them closer to the breed standard and improve their chances of winning.

[3] Bedlington Terriers have been crossed with Whippets to produce a Lurcher with "extra guts, pep, [and] fire.

Femars' Cable Car, was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated in the February 8, 1960 edition.

[18] A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 13.7 years for the breed compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for crossbreeds.

[19] Leading causes of death among Bedlington Terriers in a 2004 UK survey were old age (23%), urologic (15%) and hepatic (12.5%).

[20] Bedlington Terrier owners in the UK reported that the most common health issues among living dogs were reproductive, heart murmur and eye problems such as epiphora, retinal dysplasia and cataracts.

"[9][11] Reputable breeders will conduct DNA testing of all litters and will not allow pups that carry the copper toxicosis gene to be bred, a practice that has significantly reduced the incidence of this disease in the breed.

[23] In the 2022 film, Sisu, a Bedlington terrier was the faithful companion of the protagonist, a Finnish miner and prospector.