Dogs Types

Airedale Terrier

Country of Origin: The Airedale Terrier (also known as the ‘Waterside Terrier’, ‘Bingley Terrier’, or slightly less modestly the ‘King of Terriers’, for its height) comes from the Airedale valley in West Yorkshire, England. It was bred by crossing the Otterhound with the Black and Tan Terrier for increased ability in Water Rat hunting competitions on the Aire River. The result was a breed with great scenting and Otter hunting skills which could pursue and retrieve game from its den. It was later crossed with the Irish Terrier and Bull Terrier. The Airedale Terrier was first brought to North America in the 1880’s. Champion Master Briar, born in 1897, is considered to be the patriarch of the breed. Airedale Terriers became renowned as messengers and search animals in World War I. President Roosevelt is quoted as saying ‘An Airedale can do anything any other dog can do and then lick the other dog, if he has to.’ John Wayne’s nickname, ‘The Duke’, was the name of his childhood Airedale Terrier, who accompanied him everywhere he went.

Size: The Airedale Terrier has a shoulder height of 56-61 cm (22-24 in) and weighs 20-33 kg (45-70 lbs). There are some lines called ‘Oorang Airedales’ or simply ‘large type’ which weigh 23-45 kg (50 to 100 lbs). The largest of Terriers, the Airedale has a long head, deep chest, flat back, straight legs, and small, round feet. Airedale Terriers have floppy ‘V’-shaped ears, small, dark eyes, a black nose, and a scissors bite. They have a highly set, erect tail. The Airedale Terrier’s teeth are the largest among Terriers and can inflict a strong bite.

Coat: The coat of the Airedale Terrier should be wiry, crisp, hard and straight lying close to the body of the dog. Slightly wavy hair is acceptable with a distinctive beard around muzzle.

Character: Spunky, protective, yet sweet, this breed is not recommended for the average family. Dominance issues can arise if proper training is not started at and early age. The Airedale Terrier can be somewhat stubborn so firm handling is best.

Temperament: The Airedale Terrier is a very lively and energetic terrier that does have the tendency to be the dominant dog as well as the leader in the family if not properly trained and socialized. They are extremely intelligent and will quickly learn both commands and how to get out following commands so firm and consistent training is a must.

The Airedale Terrier is a good family dog and will interact well with children of all ages. Since they are a large terrier they do need to be taught not to be overly possessive of toys or food as well as to avoid snapping when teased or irritated. Teaching children to respect this dog and to watch when the dog has simply had enough is very important.

As with all terriers the Airedale Terrier has an independent and rather headstrong streak that can become a problem during training. Typically this is worse in intact males that have not been obedience trained and have had little socialization as a puppy. It is important to purchase an Airedale Terrier from a breeder that starts early socialization and can provide information on the tendencies of the breed. While an excellent obedience dog when trained, they are not always a good choice for a first time dog owner that wishes to raise a dog from a puppy. An Airedale Terrier from a rescue that is already trained and has learned the basics may be a better choice.

The Airedale Terrier can learn to get along with other pets although some simply have difficulty living in the same house with other non-canine pets. Puppies are generally more accepting of cats than mature dogs that have not had cats in the house. The Airedale Terrier will be a good companion dog to a non-dominant breed but two dominant type breeds will fight. Spaying and neutering and choosing a companion dog of the opposite gender that is also spayed or neutered is the best possible option.

Care: Pet Airedale Terriers require little grooming, but show dogs need substantially more attention. Pets should be combed twice a week and plucked twice a year. Show dogs are usually ‘stripped’ by pulling out loose hairs via a serrated knife edge. Airedale Terrier s generally have excellent health, but like many breeds they are susceptible to eye problems and hip dysplasia. The Airedale Terrier has a life span of 10-13 years and litters of 5-12 puppies.

Training: The Airedale Terrier is a strong, intelligent and very alert dog that is capable of becoming an excellent dog for obedience and agility training provided they are treated fairly and consistently and have an owner that understands how to work with a dominant type of dog. They are not always easy to train often going through a period in the "teen years" of being very headstrong and willful, although they are not aggressive towards people they can become standoffish if treated harshly during training. Positive, consistent training is key with this breed as well as keeping them challenged both physically and mentally.

The Airedale Terrier has a huge exercise requirement especially in their first two to three years. Training must follow a lengthy, intensive exercise time or the young dog or puppy will simply be too distracted to follow commands and will simply want to play. They are naturally very engaging dogs so it is important to not allow their clown-like behavior and enthusiasm for play detract from the training program. Often an obedience class is recommended by breeders to help the owners and dog learn to work together. The Airedale Terrier will learn good habits as well as bad and this can sometimes be challenging to correct. Training right the first way is much easier than retraining for a bad habit.

The Airedale Terrier is a dominant breed of dog and can become dog aggressive if not socialized from a very early age. They also are a hunting dog and need early, supervised socialization with other types of pets if the owner is wanting a cat or bird in the house. Once socialized with non-canine pets they are playful and typically will do very well, however they will chase cats that aren't family pets at almost every opportunity.

Activity: The Airedale Terrier should have at least an average sized yard available. A very active breed, this dog loves to swim, jog, run, and play so this breed does require extensive exercise. Not recommended for apartment life as they are very active indoors and can become a tyrant if not sufficiently exercised.

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