Airedale Terrier Dog Breed

The Airedale Terrier is a member of the Terrier group of breeds, and was originally developed to be a working and hunting dog; these versatile, confident animals make great companions for families of any size, and are good on their own or with other pets.

Some Airedale Terrier facts: they're medium-sized (height at the shoulders averages 22 inches, and weight 50 pounds), with short-to-medium-length, wiry coats that are combinations of black or grizzle and tan. Here are some advantages and drawbacks to owning "the king of all terriers":

PROS:

• Excellent work ethic
• Good-natured and playful
• Adapts well to warm or cool climates
• Good watchdog abilities
• Low to moderate barking tendency
• Easily trained
• Good health
• Excels in agility and sporting competitions
• Very intelligent
• Socializes well with kids and other pets

CONS:

• Great deal of grooming required
• Can be stubborn and strong-willed
• Frequent exercise needed
• High prey drive; will instinctively chase other animals
• Prone to obesity
• Not good for apartment living
• High propensity for digging

This is a medium sized breed with a sturdy appearance. They are the largest of all Terriers with males standing 23 inches at the shoulder and weighing in at 55 pounds; females are slightly smaller.

Overall, members of this breed are considered courageous, friendly, playful, trainable and yet fairly calm. A properly trained and socialized Airedale can be the perfect choice for families with children or owners with other pets. Children should be supervised if not of age to be taught how to appropriately and gently handle a pet. This breed is friendly, playful and typically non aggressive and therefore make good companions for other dogs as well. Airedales will likely be friendly towards strangers but will alert owners to anything they consider necessary.

Airedale terriers are moderate maintenance dogs. Grooming requirements are high, training requirements are fairly low and exercise requirements are somewhere in between. These guys need to be brushed a few times per week in order to ensure minimal shedding and a coat that is in top shape. It is also important to note they will need clipping at least 3-4 times per year; most owners chose to get this done by a professional which can be costly. Airedales need moderate exercise that can be met with a couple daily walks or outdoor playtime in a fenced area. They are very playful and enjoy an activity the owner will participate in with them from frisbee to hunting. Finally, Airedales are very trainable and willing to please; they are also very clever and will not be interested long if asked to do repetitive tasks.

The Airedale has a varied work history and is a favorite of many prominent people including actor John Wayne, writer John Steinbeck, and presidents Wilson, Harding and Coolidge. This breed is now thought to be a mix of the Black and Tan Terrier (now extinct), Otterhound, and the English Bull Terrier. The Airedale Terrier came about during the mid-1800s when ratting was considered sport in the English countryside. Along the banks of the Aire River these dogs would chase rats, that had been specifically expelled out of their holes to the delight of crowds, into the river. In 1879 after the breed already had a following of fanciers, it was dubbed the "Airedale Terrier", although originally call the Working Terrier or Waterside Terrier. Airedales were first recognized by the Kennel Club of England in 1886. They are recognized by numerous additional kennel clubs including the AKC, which officially accepted the Airedale in 1888. The Airedale Terrier Club of America is the parent club and official spokesman for the breed in the United States.

As World War I was beginning, this breed was a popular war dog due to their courageous and confident personalities. They delivered messages from commanders to the troops located in dangerous trenches; they could often be seen on the battlefield alerting English soldiers to approaching enemies and even wearing gas masks. Members of this breed were also utilized as rescue dogs by the Red Cross, police dogs, and large game hunters on African expeditions. Although their population declined after war times they are still well within the top 100 dog breeds in America.

Airedale Terriers appear square, sturdy boned and are the largest of all Terriers. The black and tan coat of this breed is thick and wiry (sometimes slightly wavy), closely covering the body and lying atop the short, softer undercoat. Airedale Terriers have a notably long and narrow face with flat, unpronounced cheekbones; they also possess a characteristic full beard and moustache. Their ears are small, v-shaped folded neatly and set towards the upper side of the skull; the eyes are round and expressive of the cleverness that makes them unique. The neck is moderately long and widens as it reaches the shoulders which in turn slope transitionally into the back. Their deep chests reach their elbows, however, this bodies are not wide. Forelegs of this breed are very straight while hindlegs display well-muscled thighs and well bent stifle (knee) joint. They have a tail that is of some length and carried high but never curled over the back; in true Terrier fashion they stand erect and alert.

The Airedale Terrier doesn't have a lot of variation within the breed, at least in terms of specific physical features like ear size or tail length. Coats of individual Airedales are pretty consistent as well: wiry, thick, and double-layered is the norm.

In regards to size, though, there is some variety. Standard Airedales weigh an average of 50 pounds, and are 22 inches at the shoulder in height; here are two known size variations:

• King Oorang Airedale Terrier: Named for Oorang Dog Kennels, an Ohio kennel that developed this bloodline in the 1920s, these Airedales are much larger than the typical size, reaching 120 pounds in weight and 28 inches in height.
• Miniature Airedale Terrier: This variety is obviously smaller, weighing as few as 20 pounds. Debate has long ensued over whether the Mini Airedale is a true breed variation, or simply another breed entirely--the Welsh Terrier. The two breeds are nearly identical in appearance, so the only way to know an individual dog's true genetics is through DNA tests.

The breed is devoted and courageous, confident and proud, clever--yet with all the qualities that could make a dog stubborn and headstrong, the Airedale remains calm and willing to please. They are friendly and playful, making a great addition to a family with pets and children. They are not aggressive towards strangers unless presented with a serious threat but they make good watchdogs; they are not noisy barking dogs unless they need to alert their owners to something.

Members of this breed are clever and known for being highly trainable. This is most often true with an owner that can offer positive reinforcement and calm, positive energy. It is not uncommon for an Airedale to pick up on a trick or command within a few attempts and does not need constant refreshing after these things become learned. However, if they are subjected to a trainer or owner that was asks them to do the same action repetitively they may get bored.

At the end of the day an Airedale is, after all, a Terrier and can be prone to digging, investigating trashcans and other places you don't want them to, carrying off items left lying around, and even chasing animals that resemble rodents.

Hip dysplasia, gastric torsion and diseases of the colon are the most frequently seen issues for Airedales. Most of this breed live 10-13 years on average.

• The Airedale is the largest of all terrier breeds. These dogs are called the "King of Terriers" for good reason: males can be as large as 25 inches in height and 70 pounds in weight. Though originally developed to hunt vermin, Airedales are also capable of hunting much larger game.
• One Airedale Terrier won a prestigious British war medal. Jack the Airedale died after completing a dangerous mission during World War I. When one British battalion was pinned by German forces, the troops dispatched Airedale Jack to deliver a message to the rear echelon to send reinforcements. And despite being fatally injured, Jack was able to deliver the message and save the battalion. Jack died soon afterward--but the dog posthumously received the Victoria Cross, Britain's highest military honor.
• Many owners have their Airedales hand-stripped several times per year. Hand-stripping, a process involving "plucking" individual dead hairs of the coats of wire-haired dogs, leaves the coats looking much cleaner and healthier. The procedure can take a while, so a lot of people have a professional groomer do it--but owners can certainly learn to strip their Airedales themselves with a bit of practice.
• The breed was so popular in the U.S. in the early 20th century that three consecutive presidents owned them. Starting in 1913 with Davie, President Woodrow Wilson's Airedale, these dogs ran the White House halls for nearly 20 years. (President Warren G. Harding had Laddie Boy, and Calvin Coolidge owned an Airedale named Paul Pry.)