Hannah Nordstrom chose a Bedlington Terrier for her first-ever dog because she wanted to participate in dog sports. She never imagined making history in AKC Rally with her Bedlington Terrier, 鈥淏reitling,鈥� Starcastle鈥檚 Coveted Timepiece RM RAE BCAT ACT2 ACT1J CGC TKI.
Bedlington Terriers aren鈥檛 a breed that are typical for performance dog sports, but this year, Breitling, or 鈥淏riet,鈥� was one of two Bedlingtons that qualified for the 2024 AKC Rally National Championship. On July 18 and 19, dogs from 120 breeds and 47 states participated in the competition, with more than 800 teams competing at the Wilmington, Ohio show.
Nordstrom and her 2-year-old male from Fairhaven, Massachusetts, are no newcomers to the AKC Rally competition, as they began training a year ago. The practice paid off as the team stepped onto the AKC Rally stage for the first time as the number one AKC Rally Bedlington in the country and the first of its breed to earn a Rally Master title.
Making Bedlington Terrier AKC Rally History
At the AKC Rally National Championship, teams demonstrate their skills in one of six competitive classes: Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, Excellent, Master, and Championship. Breitling has earned his Advanced, Excellent, and Master titles, and competed in the Excellent class at the AKC Rally National Championship.
Although many breeds show off their skills at this event, they aren鈥檛 compared to other dogs in their breed. Instead, they鈥檙e judged on how well they navigate a course with their owners at a brisk pace. Each team encounters a sign along the routine instructing them to perform various exercises. Of the 200 possible signs the judge selects for each course, the team must execute 10 to 20 signs. These include basic turns and commands with variations. Handlers can talk to their dogs when they approach a sign on the course. A perfect score is 100.
鈥淏edlington Terriers have a reputation for not being the easiest to work with in dog sports as they have a high prey drive and a strong desire to sniff everything around them,鈥� says Nordstrom. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not simple to win them over, but I wanted an unusual breed with a challenge, and that鈥檚 what I got, but working with Breitling is so rewarding.鈥�
鈥淏esides having a dog to see the world and share adventures with me, I wanted a medium-sized, hypoallergenic breed that could enjoy my life,鈥� Nordstrom says. 鈥淲e are a perfect fit.鈥�
An Agility Bedlington
Growing up, Nordstrom wanted a dog with which she could do agility. Her Bedlington has not only fulfilled but exceeded her expectations. The terrier has earned an ACT2 title, Agility Course Test 2, and ACT1J, or Agility Course Test 1 Jumpers. These entry-level agility events introduce beginning skills to dogs and their handlers.
The dog has also earned Fast CAT, Canine Good Citizen, and AKC Trick Dog titles. 鈥淔or this year, Breit is the second-fastest Bedlington in Fast CAT and the fifth-fastest Bedlington of all time,鈥� Nordstrom says. 鈥淲hen chasing the lure, his average speed is 26.08 seconds, which is super fast.鈥�
One of Nordstrom鈥檚 goals with Breitling is to show how beautiful AKC Rally can be. 鈥淭he love and devotion we have for each other come together in a neat and powerful way in this sport,鈥� she says. He is my everything.鈥�
A current agility instructor, Nordstrom trains students at a canine enrichment facility but hopes to start her own facility. 鈥淏reit is the dog that started it all for me and changed my life,鈥� Nordstrom says. 鈥淏efore Breit, I was all over the place career-wise and felt so confused about life.鈥�
Everything fell into place once Nordstrom brought Breit home and began training him. 鈥淲e have a strong connection like nothing I鈥檇 ever felt before.鈥�
Looks Like a Lamb, With the Heart of a Lion
At first glance, a Bedlington Terrier looks delicate and bears a strong resemblance to a lamb. With their sculpted and crisp, curly coat, fleecy, pear-shaped head, and tassel-tipped ears, 鈥淏eddies,鈥� as breeders like to call them, may look sweet and innocent. Still, they ooze energy, stamina, and courage, especially when performing their original job of chasing vermin.
According to the Bedlington Terrier Club of America, the Bedlington is named after the English mining shire, where they were first bred. 鈥淏edlingtons are an active breed known for their versatility, and they love to swim, hunt, and run,鈥� Nordstrom says.
Finding a puppy wasn鈥檛 easy for Nordstrom. 鈥淔or years, I contacted reputable breeders, but I was always too late,鈥� she remembers. 鈥淲hen I called Nancy Rappaport in Pennsylvania, she had a 2-day-old litter, but the mother was ill, and she wasn鈥檛 sure the pups would survive.鈥�
The litter thrived, and after an intense interview, Rappaport agreed to place a puppy with Nordstrom and her partner, Ryann Stripp, if they promised to participate in dog sports with the little fluffy male. 鈥淭he moment I picked him up at 13 weeks old, we locked eyes, and my heart skipped a beat,鈥� Nordstrom says. 鈥淚 knew it was a perfect match.鈥�
Lover of Adventure, Appreciator of Perfection
Naming her new terrier puppy was easier. Nordstrom decided to call him 鈥淏reitling鈥� or 鈥淏reit鈥� after the passion for luxury watches she shared with her father. 鈥淩ight from the beginning, I knew this dog would make history and be remembered, so naming him after something that tells time fit the bill,鈥� Nordstrom says. Considering the breed鈥檚 appearance and Breitling watches are for people who love adventure and appreciate perfection, craftsmanship, and style, Nordstrom felt the moniker was a match.
The new owners soon discovered the puppy鈥檚 curious side. 鈥淗e didn鈥檛 play much because he just wanted to explore everything around him,鈥� she says. Wondering how she would train this dog, Nordstrom decided to use his sniffing as an incentive. 鈥淗e could sniff for eight hours straight, so before a trial, I would take him outside at 5 AM on a long line and let him smell everything he wanted. When he stopped, I rewarded him with treats,鈥� Nordstrom says. 鈥淚 wanted everything to be neutral or positive, so he has so much confidence.
Contrary to popular training advice, Nordstrom found that he shut down when he couldn鈥檛 use his nose. 鈥淔inding what made him tick and not being afraid to try new things helped enormously,鈥� she adds.
Nordstrom is already looking ahead to next year鈥檚 AKC Rally National Championship. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 wait to compete again鈥攂ut by then, we鈥檒l do it in the Master and Championship classes,鈥� Nordstrom says.
If you missed the 2024 AKC Rally National Championship, catch the highlights on . Congrats to “Zuko” and Kim Berkley, the 2024 AKC Rally National Champions!聽