The Bedlington Terrier originated during the early 1800's in the village of Bedlington in Northumberland, England. They were very popular amongst miners, assisting with alleviating the mines of rats during the day and then entering the dog fighting rings as night. The Bedlington Terrier had many other jobs in their early days, including traveling and hunting with the Romanis, coursing rabbits, and dog racing. The first dog to be officially named a Bedlington Terrier, Piper, hunted badgers from the time he was 8 months old until he was blind and was said to have saved a child from being killed by a pig.