Airedale Terriers, also known as the “King of Terriers,” are a versatile breed that originated in the Aire Valley of Yorkshire, England. They were bred to be hunting dogs, particularly for otters and rats, but they later became popular as police and military dogs due to their intelligence and obedience.
Table of Content
- Appearance and Variations
- Temperament and Characteristics
- Training and Exercise
- Grooming and Care
- Health and Diet
- Living with Airedale Terriers
- Breeding and Ownership
- Conclusion
Airedale Terriers Appearance and Variations
Though the largest of the terriers, Airedale Terriers are considered medium-sized dogs (height comparable to a Golden Retriever) that weigh between 40-50 lbs (18-23 Kg) for males, 34-40 lbs (16-18 Kg) for females, and stand 22-24 inches (56-61 cm) tall.
They have a wiry, tan-colored coat with a black saddle and tail. Their long and squarish look spells terrier through and through, with dark eyes and folded V-shaped ears. Unlike some terrier breeds, there are no variations of the Airedale Terriers.
Airedale Terriers Temperament and Characteristics
Airedale Terriers are known for their friendly, outgoing, and playful personalities. They are intelligent and eager to please, making them easy to train.
They are also protective of their families and can be wary of strangers, making them excellent watchdogs. However, they can be stubborn (as most terriers are) and will require firmer consistent training.
They are known to bark, but this behavior can be minimized through training and socialization. Airedale Terriers are not typically aggressive, but proper training and socialization should still play a part in its character-building routine.
Airedale Terrier Training and Exercise
Airedale Terriers are very trainable dogs. They’re relatively more receptive to obedience training than most terrier breeds and respond well to positive reinforcement training methods.
They’re also able to pick up a variety of commands and tricks easily, after all, they did serve in both World Wars as tracking and messenger dogs, intelligence is definitely present in this breed.
Activities-wise, Airedale Terriers are quite energetic and do require daily exercise, including walks, runs, and playtime. They are not recommended for apartment living as they require a lot of space to move around and play.
However, if a huge running space is readily available to you where your Airedale Terrier can run free, then apartment-style living won’t be as big an issue for your pup.
Airedale Terriers Grooming and Care
Airedale Terriers are relatively easy to care for with regular brushing to get rid of mats and keeping their coat neat. However, they’re also one of the terrier breeds with a wiry coat that requires hand-stripping in order to maintain its texture and vibrant colour.
Airedale Terriers produce lesser dander and don’t shed as much as non-terrier breeds do, hence they’re considered a hypoallergenic breed. They’re also not known as a breed that produces a strong odour, nor do they drool excessively for a medium-sized dog.
On the subject of hypoallergenicity, dander, and drool are some of the main causes of allergic reactions, to understand more, here’s an article you may refer to for more information on this subject.
Airedale Terriers Health and Diet
According to PetMD, Airedale Terriers can be prone to certain health issues, including hip dysplasia, gastric torsion, hypothyroidism, and colonic diseases. Make sure you bring your pup to a veterinarian for regular checkups.
A general rule of thumb is, once-a-year checkups are recommended for a pup that is 5 years old or older, and twice a year when it gets to about 10 years (depending on its then health conditions and advisory from your vet).
When it comes to diet, it’s important that you only feed them quality food. Compromises in the short term can be very costly in the long run in both aspects of health and money. So be sure to do your research on what you feed your pup and maintain a consistent, healthy lifestyle.
Living with Airedale Terriers
Airedale Terriers are great family dogs and are generally more tolerable with children and other pets. However, they should still be supervised around small animals due to their prey drive, or when you’re out in an unfamiliar environment.
They can adapt to indoor or outdoor living, and as is with any breed, maintaining an exercise routine and mental stimulation will help prevent stress and undesirable behaviours. And as mentioned above, having ample space for them to run free is important if you’re living in an apartment.
General Breeding and Ownership Guidelines
When looking for an Airedale Terrier (or any dog breed), it’s important to choose a reputable breeder who has shown good track records in their breeding practices, and their attention to the health and well-being of their dogs.
The cost of buying an Airedale Terrier varies from place to place, hence I won’t be discussing it here. But a few things that you should be more concerned with are:
- food cost
- medical costs (routine checkups and emergencies)
- grooming and cleaning (outsourced and/or D.I.Y.)
- toys and snacks
- others (clothing, trolleys, travel, things you just have to buy for your beloved pup, etc.)
Unlike the initial purchase cost of a breed, these are ongoing expenses that you’ll have to keep up in order to maintain a certain quality of life for your pup. So make sure to do your research and understand what kind of expenses are you looking at when owning an Airedale Terrier (or any breed).
Conclusion
Personally, all terriers make great companions, and to each their own. But an Airedale Terrier and its size, the ‘awesomeness’ just triples. Not only do they make great companionship for active people, but they’re also considered to be the mellower terrier breed if you happen to have children.
