Originally known as ‘The King of Terriers’, Airedale Terriers look a lot different today than they looked earlier. This breed is used for guarding, hunting, tracking, police work, military work and for competitive obedience.
Physical Traits
Area of Origin: Great Britain
Used for: Hunting, Companion
Average Life Span: 12 years
Color: Black, Brown and Tan
Coat: Hard, short and wiry double coat
Average Height: 16-17 inches tall
Average Weight: 20kg (44 pounds)
Group: Terrier, AKC Toy
History and Domestication
This breed was the result of cross bred between an Otter Hound and Welsh terrier in Yorkshire, UK.
The dog was bred for field work mainly and for hunting rats and small animals.
Standard Physical Characteristics
The Airedale Terrier is the largest of all Terriers and has a square appearance. It has a skull that is the same length as muzzle with a very small stop that can be missed at once. It has a black nose with a long and flat head. It has small eyes that are dark in color. With a deep chest, its backline at the top is in level. The front legs are absolutely straight and the tail sets high on the back. This terrier has a double coat; the outer one is hard, wiry and dense while the inner coat is soft. The ears and head are generally tan but ears are a little darker shade.
Care, Grooming and Health
The breed has a hard and short double coat which needs plucking twice a year. They require a lot of grooming and have to be washed everyday due to food residue. This dog was bred for active work and hence requires plenty of exercise on regular basis. They have to be taken for long walks everyday. Most of these dogs love playing with a ball, retrieve objects, swim and once they are fully grown, they run happily along bicycles. This is hardy breed but can suffer from eye problems sometimes along with skin infection and hip dyslexia.
Temperament
If provided early exposure and socialization, this dog will do well with children but sometimes can be too rough with small kids. This dog is protective and courageous but fairly friendly to strangers. The dog is generally intelligent, sensitive, pleasant, responsive and loyal and can be obedient when trained at high level. When they are puppies, they tend to be very playful and fun-loving. Airedales can be very loyal but you will really have to work very hard on their training if you want them to be obedient. Naturally, these dogs are lively but can turn rowdy if not provided with daily mental and physical exercise. And you will have to train them not to jump on humans because the dog needs proper obedience training from a firm and confident trainer.
