Airedale Terrier

Dog Breed Profile

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Stats:
• High energy level
• Medium exercise needs
• Very playful
• Very Affectionate
• Shy towards other dogs
• Shy around other pets
• Friendly around strangers
• Fairly easy to train
• Great watchdogs
• Not very protective
• High grooming requirements
• Medium tolerance to heat
• Low tolerance to cold

Overview:

The Airedale Terrier is an adventurous dog breed, lively and playful but also somewhat stubborn. He requires obedience training at a young age, but is intelligent and a fast learner. The Airedale Terrier likes to be the dominant dog in the household, but usually does well with those smaller than him. He’s generally responsive his master, but will stand up for himself when presented with a challenge. He has a sweet temperament and is a good house dog provided he has daily exercise that provides for his physical and mental needs.

He’s an attractive dog with long legs with a wiry coat that requires regular brushing and stripping. The Airedale Terrier is agile and strong, which served him well as a hunter, and combined with his powerful jaws he was easily able to take down game.

Prefers to spend time outside but sleep indoors
Health conditions that need to be tested for are his hips
Grooming needs include at least twice weekly brushing and shaping every two months
The Airedale Terrier is an affectionate and very playful animal that is fairly easy to train
Has a great relationship with family members, young and old, not very protective but do make great watchdogs
The average size of a male is 55lbs and 23 inches tall
The average size of a female is 55lbs and 23 inches tall

Care & Health:

Be sure to challenge this breed mentally every day as well as providing him with vigorous exercise. The Airedale Terrier prefers to spend time outdoors and sleep inside with his family.

His dense coat requires brushing at least twice a week plus he’ll need to be stripped at least every two months.

Major Health Concerns:

– CHD

Minor Health Concerns:

– gastric torsion and occasionally colonic disease

Test for:

– hips

Life Span:

– 10 to 13 years

Breed History:

The tallest of terriers, the Airedale Terrier is often referred to as the ‘king of terriers’. His origins place him in the Aire valley in England when they had a completely different appearance than they do today. They were highly valued by Yorkshire hunters for their versatility, and were even crossed with otterhounds to improve scent and water-hunting abilities.

He was recognized as the Airedale in 1878 and breeding attempts were then made to remove the otterhound’s qualities. The head of the breed in 1900 was Champion Master Briar, and it wasn’t long before his puppies made it to the US. He became a popular family pet and police dog, and although his numbers declined after the 1st World War, he is still known and kept for these purposes.