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, “Breitling,” Starcastle’s Coveted Timepiece RM RAE BCAT ACT2 ACT1J CGC TKI.
Bedlington Terriers aren’t a breed that are typical for performance dog sports, but this year, Breitling, or “Briet,” 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’t compared to other dogs in their breed. Instead, they’re 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.
“Bedlington 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,” says Nordstrom. “It’s not simple to win them over, but I wanted an unusual breed with a challenge, and that’s what I got, but working with Breitling is so rewarding.”
“Besides having a dog to see the world and share adventures with me, I wanted a medium-sized, hypoallergenic breed that could enjoy my life,” Nordstrom says. “We are a perfect fit.”
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. “For this year, Breit is the second-fastest Bedlington in Fast CAT and the fifth-fastest Bedlington of all time,” Nordstrom says. “When chasing the lure, his average speed is 26.08 seconds, which is super fast.”
One of Nordstrom’s goals with Breitling is to show how beautiful AKC Rally can be. “The love and devotion we have for each other come together in a neat and powerful way in this sport,” she says. He is my everything.”
A current agility instructor, Nordstrom trains students at a canine enrichment facility but hopes to start her own facility. “Breit is the dog that started it all for me and changed my life,” Nordstrom says. “Before Breit, I was all over the place career-wise and felt so confused about life.”
Everything fell into place once Nordstrom brought Breit home and began training him. “We have a strong connection like nothing I’d ever felt before.”
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, “Beddies,” 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. “Bedlingtons are an active breed known for their versatility, and they love to swim, hunt, and run,” Nordstrom says.
Finding a puppy wasn’t easy for Nordstrom. “For years, I contacted reputable breeders, but I was always too late,” she remembers. “When I called Nancy Rappaport in Pennsylvania, she had a 2-day-old litter, but the mother was ill, and she wasn’t sure the pups would survive.”
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. “The moment I picked him up at 13 weeks old, we locked eyes, and my heart skipped a beat,” Nordstrom says. “I knew it was a perfect match.”
Lover of Adventure, Appreciator of Perfection
Naming her new terrier puppy was easier. Nordstrom decided to call him “Breitling” or “Breit” after the passion for luxury watches she shared with her father. “Right from the beginning, I knew this dog would make history and be remembered, so naming him after something that tells time fit the bill,” Nordstrom says. Considering the breed’s 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’s curious side. “He didn’t play much because he just wanted to explore everything around him,” she says. Wondering how she would train this dog, Nordstrom decided to use his sniffing as an incentive. “He 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,” Nordstrom says. “I 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’t use his nose. “Finding what made him tick and not being afraid to try new things helped enormously,” she adds.
Nordstrom is already looking ahead to next year’s AKC Rally National Championship. “I can’t wait to compete again—but by then, we’ll do it in the Master and Championship classes,” Nordstrom says.
If you missed the 2024 AKC Rally National Championship, catch the highlights on AKC.tv. Congrats to “Zuko” and Kim Berkley, the 2024 AKC Rally National Champions!