Airedale Terrier

Airedale Terrier also called Bingley Terrier and Waterside Terrier, began in 1853 when some working men in Yorkshire, England, mated an Otterhound with a rough-coated Black and Tan Terrier. The Black and Tan Terrier is an extinct type of dog drawn into The Kennel Club as the Welsh Terrier, and that remains extant outside the Kennel Club as a Fell Terrier.

Otters abounded in the nearby Aire and Wharfe rivers, and rats were an everyday problem. Ideally, a sporting dog such as the Otterhound would take on the otters, while a couple of terriers would tend to the rats.

Rather than keep and feed a kennel of dogs, the Airedale’s originators elected to combine the two types to come up with one dog that could handle all tasks. Continued crosses over the next dozen years resulted in the Waterside Terrier, which later became known as the Airedale Terrier. As dog breeders envisioned, the Airedale became a most versatile dog breed, used to hunt, retrieve, dispatch vermin, herd, and guard.

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Frequently asked questions FAQs about the Airedale Terrier dog breed:

Is Airedale Terriers a hypoallergenic breed?

Yes! The Airedale Terriers are hypoallergenic dogs. They don’t produce a lot of dander, and they only shed their fur on an occasional basis, and that too in a minimal manner. Are you allergic to dog hair? Here is a list of other dog breeds that shed less.

Is the Airedale Terrier friendly with Kids?

Yes! The Airedale Terrier is a very kid-friendly breed. These canines remain kind and gentle with small kids, and they are happy to play loads of light-hearted games with children of all ages. This is a great breed for families looking for a fun-loving and athletic playmate for their child.

Is the Airedale Terrier friendly with other dogs?

Generally, the Airedale Terriers are not friendly with other canines. They may behave a little nicer with other smaller dogs, but the Airedale Terriers do not trust them very easily when it comes to large-sized dogs. They feel threatened by other big-bodied canines, and if they aren’t trained properly, then the “King of the Terriers” can also be a bit aggressive with other dogs.

Is the Airedale Terrier breed friendly with cats?

The Airedale Terriers usually are not friendly with cats either. These canines have the habit of chasing down other smaller animals such as cats and are not known to mix very well with the feline family members. And thus, this is not a suitable dog breed for those families that want to raise a cat and a dog simultaneously in their homes.

Do Airedale Terriers make good guard dogs?

Yes! The Airedale Terriers are pretty effective guard dogs. They have amazing protective instincts, and they have the right amount of aggression and athleticism required to be a great guard dog. Also, these canines are excellent watchdogs too. They can efficiently look after their home and property and protect their owners and loved ones from various kinds of external harm that could come from an intruder, burglar, trespasser, etc.

Is the Airedale Terrier an apartment-friendly breed?

Normally, the Airedale Terriers are not considered to be great apartment dogs. Still, if all their exercise needs are properly fulfilled regularly, they can gradually learn to adjust to the apartment lifestyle. If you are considering an apartment dog, here is a list of the best apartment dog breeds.

How much do Airedale Terriers shed?

The Airedale Terrier is a low shedding hypoallergenic dog breed. The shedding potential of these canines is meager. They only shed on infrequent occasions and in a fairly limited manner. These dogs are great for those who don’t want to deal with many dog hair in their homes.

Is the Airedale Terrier good for first-time owners?

The Airedale Terriers are not very easy-going canines. They are a little stubborn in nature, and they require a lot of training and guidance from their owners to become more compliant and sociable with others. The Airedale Terriers are a challenging choice for novice or first-time owners. Novice owners will need to put in some effort – grooming and training – to have a good experience in owning this wonderful breed. If you are not ready to put in some effort, you might end up irritated with a dog that never listens to you!

Do Airedale Terriers bark a lot?

The Airedale Terrier does not bark unnecessarily. These canines mostly bark when they want their owners’ attention or guard/watch their homes. They can also sometimes bark when they encounter other large-sized dogs, especially of the same gender.

How much exercise does an Airedale Terrier need daily?

The Airedale Terriers have moderate exercise requirements. These canines like to go on long walks with their owners in a park to explore the outside world and move freely. This is a very athletic breed, and morning jogging sessions have proven to be quite effective for these dogs. They also love to play a lot of games with their family members. Hence, regular play sessions should also be included in their exercise schedule as these sessions will keep them active and keep them happy and cheerful, which is good for their overall health.

Can Airedale Terriers live alone for a long time in a day?

No! The Airedale Terriers don’t like to be alone for a long time. These canines can become highly bored, restless, and frustrated if left alone for extended periods of time, especially regularly. This can further lead to various bad habits developing in these pooches like incessant barking, destructive chewing, etc. Therefore, this is not a totally independent dog breed that can be left alone for a long time in a day.

Our Airedale Terriers smart, easy to train?

The Airedale Terrier is smart and can grow up to be a stubborn dog if not trained early in the right way. It is important to start their training sessions from an early age as it will help make these canines more obedient and compliant in nature and be fairly easy to handle once they grow up.

For an experienced and skilled owner, training an Airedale Terrier shouldn’t be very hard. These canines are fairly quick learners, and they listen to all the commands given by their owners quite intently. They remain highly responsive and attentive during the training sessions, and thus, this is a fairly easy dog breed to train.

What are Airedale Terrier’s grooming needs?

Airedales require a good amount of grooming to remain neat and fresh-looking. Their coat should be brushed 2-3 times every week to remove extra loose hair from their body and avoid any matting issues. Their bathing needs are not that high, and a bath once every month is probably more than enough. But their ears must be regularly checked for any signs of wax formation, and if there is any cleaning required, it should be given to them as soon as possible. Finally, the Airedale Terriers’ nails should also be trimmed whenever necessary, and their teeth should be brushed regularly.

What is the Airedale Terrier’s tolerance to heat and cold?

The Airedale Terriers have a decent tolerance to heat. They can comfortably reside in moderately warm areas, but they are still not very well suited for extremely hot and high-temperature regions.

Their tolerance to cold is fairly good as well. These canines are a fine option for those looking to raise a dog in moderately chilly regions.

Is Airedale Terrier an intelligent dog breed?

Yes! The Airedale Terriers are highly intelligent canines. Their learning and thinking skills are amazing, and their decision-making abilities are also quite decent. In fact, this breed is often placed in the top 30 in the list of most intelligent dog breeds that features hundreds of distinct canine breeds worldwide.

Is the Airedale Terrier breed friendly with strangers?

No! Airedales are not friendly with strangers. The Airedale Terriers require proper socialization at an early age to become a bit comfortable and gregarious with others when they grow up. Without proper training and guidance, the Airedale Terriers remain very reserved and quiet around strangers and are not known to trust them very easily.

Do Airedale Terriers drool a lot?

Not at all! The Airedale Terriers are not excessive droolers. They mostly drool when they are excited or after eating/drinking something, but apart from this, they don’t drool all that much.

Our Airedale Terriers expensive and high maintenance dogs?

Yes and No! The Airedale Terriers are pretty pricey canines if you want them to be well-groomed, well-trained, friendly, adorable, and highly maintained indoors pet dogs. The Airedale Terriers are not expensive and high maintenance if you want to keep them as terriers on a farm! They are natural hunters and will chase and hunt smaller animals.

How much does Airedale Terrier cost? How much is an Airedale terrier puppy?

The average price of an Airedale Terrier puppy is about $700 to $900. Puppies showing championship potential obviously cost more.

Do Airedale Terriers like to swim?

Yes! Airedale Terriers do like to swim or play in the water. These canines are great swimmers, and they always get excited whenever they are taken to a pool or a lake for a swim. Swimming makes them cheerful, but it is also a great exercise for them, and it will keep them fit and healthy if they are allowed to swim regularly.

What colors do Airedale Terriers Come In?

The Airedale Terriers are only found in a single color combination – Black or Grizzled with Tan.

How long does Airedale Terrier live?

The Airedale Terriers have a fairly average lifespan of about 10-12 years. But if these canines are consistently given proper care, exercise, protection, and nutrition, some may even live longer than 14 years of age.

What are the most common health issues for the Airedale Terriers?

The most common health problems found in the Airedale Terriers are Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD), Gastric Torsion or Bloat, Hypothyroidism, Ear Infections, and Skin Infections. These can be avoided by screening, elimination, and proper breeding practices. Always find a reputed and kennel club registered airedale terrier breeder for getting your puppy.

Choosing a good airedale terrier puppy

The definition of the best airedale terrier puppy depends on your requirements. Your expectations from an adult Airedale terrier can be broadly categorized as follows: Confirmation for show or breeding; obedience; smart guard or watchdog; homely pet.

Although it is tempting to look for all these qualities in the one airedale terrier puppy you are planning to buy, it is seldom possible to find all qualities in a single pup.

If you want your airedale terrier puppy to grow up to be a champion, you should look for confirmation to airedale terrier dog breed standards. Physical construction, head, proportions, bite, etc. are all a priority over temperament.

Look for the following characteristics while choosing an Airedale terrier puppy.

Airedale Terrier Temperament

The Airedale Terrier is often called the King of the Terriers. The Airedale maintains a steady disposition as befits nobility. It is alert and makes an excellent watchdog. A multi-talented dog, the Airedale can do well in obedience work.

Airedale Terrier Size

Dogs should measure approximately 23 inches (58 cm) in height at the shoulder; bitches, slightly less. Both sexes should be sturdy, well-muscled, and well-boned.

Airedale Terriers

Airedale Terrier Coat and Colour

The coat should be hard, dense, and wiry, lying straight and close, covering the dog well over the body and legs. Some of the hardest are crinkling or just slightly waved. At the hard, very stiff hair base should be a shorter growth of softer hair termed the undercoat. The head and ears should be tan, the ears being of a darker shade than the rest. Dark markings on either side of the skull are permissible. The legs up to the thighs and elbows and the body and chest’s underpart are also tan, and the tan frequently runs into the shoulder. The sides and upper parts of the body should be black or dark grizzle. A red mixture is often found in the black and is not to be considered objectionable. A small white blaze on the chest is a characteristic of certain strains of the breed.

Airedale Terrier’s Head

It should be well balanced with little apparent difference between the length of the skull and fore-face. Skull should be long and flat, not too broad between the ears, and narrowing very slightly to the eyes. The scalp should be free from wrinkles, stop hardly visible, and cheeks level and free from fullness. The muzzle should be deep, powerful, strong, and muscular. It should be well filled up before the eyes. The nose should be black and not too small. Mouth: Lips should be tight. Teeth should be strong and white, free from discoloration or defect. Bite either level or vise-like. A slightly overlapping or scissors bite is permissible without preference. Eyes should be dark, small, not prominent, full of terrier expression, keenness, and intelligence. Ears should be V-shaped with carriage rather to the side of the head, not pointing to the eyes, small, but not out of proportion to the size of the dog. The top line of the folded ear should be above the level of the skull.

Airedale Terrier’s Neck

It should be of moderate length and thickness, gradually widening towards the shoulder. The skin should be tight, not loose.

Airedale Terrier’s Forequarters

Shoulders long and sloping well into the back. Shoulder blades flat. Forelegs should be perfectly straight, with plenty of muscle and bone. Elbows should be perpendicular to the body, working free of sides.

Airedale Terrier’s Body

The back should be short, strong, and level. From the front, chest deep but not broad. The depth of the chest should be approximately on a level with the elbows. Ribs well sprung. Loins muscular and of good width. There should be but little space between the last rib and the hip joint.

Airedale Terrier’s Hindquarters

It should be strong and muscular with no droop. Thighs should be long and powerful with muscular second thigh, stifles well bent, not turned either in or out, hocks well let down, parallel with each other when viewed from behind. The feet should be small, round, and compact with a good depth of pad, well cushioned; the toes moderately arched, not turned either in or out.

Airedale Terrier’s Tail

The root of the tail should be set well up on the back. It should be carried gaily and be of good strength and substance. Most Airedale Terrier tails are docked.

Why is the tail docked?

Purpose of docked tail: Historically, tail docking was thought to prevent rabies, strengthen the back, increase the animal’s speed, and prevent injuries when ratting, fighting, and baiting. Tail docking is done in modern times either for prophylactic, therapeutic, cosmetic purposes, and/or to prevent injury.

However, it is wonderful to keep the tail undocked. It looks good too!

Airedale Terrier’s Gait

Movement or action is the crucial test of conformation. Movement should be free. As seen from the front, the forelegs should swing perpendicular from the body free from the sides, the feet the same distance apart as the elbows. As seen from the rear, the hind legs should be parallel with each other, neither too close nor too far apart, but so placed as to give a strong, well-balanced stance and movement. The toes should not be turned either in or out.

Airedale Terrier puppy

Faults observed in the Airedale Terrier dog breed.

Yellow eyes, hound ears, white feet, soft coat, being much over or under the size limit, being undershot or overshot, having poor movement are faults which should be severely penalized.

Airedale Terrier puppies

Airedale Terrier Videos

Ratting with Terriers – Terriers hunt rats on a farm.

Airedale Terrier Training Video

We hope you enjoyed reading about the Airedale Terrier dog breed. You may consider sharing your views in the comments section below. Inputs and priceless experiences from dog owners, Airedale Terrier breeders, and dog lovers, in general, help us better understand our most loyal friends. Thank you for your interest.