Airedale Terrier Breed Description

Introduction

These dogs, known as the "King of the Terriers," originated in Yorkshire, England. Standing 23 inches at the shoulders, they have been used for farm work, police duty and military defense. They are loyal and protective towards family, but reserved with other people and dogs. Grooming for the show circuit requires hand-stripping the coat, but pets can be kept neat with regular clipping. These dogs require lots of exercise.

History

The Airedale Terrier originated in the region of Aire in Yorkshire, England. Initially the breed was referred to as the Waterside Terrier. To make the breed an excellent swimmer, it was crossed with the Otterhound. This breed was known for its many talents, and was bred as a war time guard dog, used for rodent control and hunting game. It was used especially during the Second World War as a messenger dog.

Description

The Airedale Terrier is the largest terrier and is considered to be the King of Terriers due to its huge size. The Terrier has a medium sized, black coat with a mixture of tan; the topcoat is harsh while the undercoat is soft. A little red mixing with the black, or a bit of white markings on the chest is sometimes desirable. The dog has V-shaped ears that it can fold at the rear of its head depending on its mood. Its nose is black while the eyes are dark and small revealing an intelligent and keen expression. An Airedale's teeth always meet in a scissors bite and are usually white and strong, free from any defect or discoloration. The dog's tail is lifted high and is slightly curved while not touching its back. The Airedale is well-balanced and stands square with straight forequarters and a level topline.

Temperament

The Airedale is multi-faceted and this flexibility enables it to function both as a hunting and a working dog. Like all other terriers, the dog has innate abilities of hunting on its own and this makes it intelligent, strong-minded and independent. Due to its independent nature, it should be consistently trained from an early age. Owners should be firmly in control to prevent the dog from being stubborn and domineering. Training Airedales is not difficult due to their intelligence; they are able to learn new tricks and behaviors very quickly. Though it is quick to learn, if told to do the same thing over and over it may refuse out of boredom. Airedales are very loyal, committed and obedient to their owners, as well as very protective of them. They are calm and will get along well with small children if they are socialized at a tender age. They are reserved towards strangers and other dogs and should be trained to socialize with both at an early age.

Health and Care

Airedale Terrier may suffer from hip dysplasia, skin infections, eye problems, hypothyroidism and gastric torsion. Due to their size and active nature, the dogs are not suitable for living in apartments and will be happiest in homes with yards. The Airedale Terrier is adaptive to hard work and needs regular exercise such as being taken for daily jogs or walks. This breed prefers swimming and retrieving objects. If not properly exercised, the dog will become bored and restless.

Grooming

The Airedale Terrier's short-haired and hard double coat needs to be plucked at least twice in a year. Any excessive hair between the pads of the feet should also be trimmed once in a while. Unlike other breeds, the Airedales do not shed that much, though they need to be brushed daily.

Sources

The Airedale Terrier Club of America, The American Kennel Club, Wikipedia,

Colors

black body with tan markings on the legs, head, chest and tail. A small white patch on the chest is acceptable as is a slight amount of red in the black parts of the body.

Living Area

Since the Airedale Terrier is a very active dog and will be active indoors they are not recommended for small spaces and apartment life. They do need a yard and a fenced area for exercise on a frequent and regular basis throughout the day.

Recognized By

CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, ANKC, NZKC, APRI, ACR

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