This dog appears to have rather strong retrieving instincts, but I don’t think the young sparrow hawk will indulge him.
I don’t doubt that these dogs have a lot of old-type water dog in them, but historically, one of their functions was to retrieve shot game.
Yes, these are Bedlington terriers, which are a mixture of some sort of terrier, whippet, and poodle/water dog ancestry. Their color is liver or “silver,” both of which appear in water dog.
I’ ve never been around this breed, but everything I’ve read suggests that they are good retrievers. Maybe someone will consider them.
And they wouldn’t be the only retrieving terriers. Dachshunds and Jagdterriers are used for retrieving.
Bedlingtons are quite odd to me, too, but every one I’ve met suggests that it’s a bright breed and good for city living also. Doesn’t bark, fight or i´s not a hot-blooded at all. That’s why it was interesting to read that post. They don’t really remain much at all of a terrier breed and now we know the reason why.
Surfing in the net, I came across this old and boisterous story of Mr. W.E. Alcock’s.
http://chestofbooks.com/animals/dogs/Dog-Shows/Mr-W-E-Alcock Continued.html
Mr. Alcock had a liver-coloured Bedlington named Cresswell Victor. The incident happened when travelling by train to a dogshow, in summer 1882. In the middle of the way to the show place, Victor jumped out of the train window and escaped. Mr. Alcock thought it was the end of the dog, but then met him in the show place. The railway porter had Victor and they told that the dog had simply walked along the railway line to the next station, where he had made friends with the railway people. So they had put him on the next train to the show place.