Airedale Terrier

The Airedale Terrier originated in Airedale, Yorkshire, in New England. This dog was known as the King of Terriers before the creation of the Black Russian Terrier because it was the largest dog in the terrier group. They have also been known as Waterside Terriers due to their usage in hunting otters around the River Aire valleys. In England, these dogs are also used in police work.

These dogs weight about 25-30 kg (55-65 pounds) and have a height of 58-61 cm (23-24 inches). They have medium length black and tan coat with soft undercoat and harsh top coat. They are alert and energetic. These dogs are usually not aggressive but they have the reputation of being fearless. The larger variety of these dogs is used for hunting big game, to guard families or as pets. Airedales used in shows are typically smaller.

Like many terriers, these dogs have dense and wiry coats. The hairs are not long enough to appear ragged and lie straight and close, covering the dogs’ body and legs. The undercoat is short and soft. Airedales are groomed by a process that’s called ‘stripping’, in which a small, serrated knife is used to pull the loose hair from the coat. Airedales shed little with regular grooming. Acceptable colors for coats, according to the American Kennel Club, are a black saddle with a tan head, or a dark grizzle colored saddle, which means that black hairs are mixed with gray and white. The tail is usually docked. Dark colored eyes are desirable and should be small in size. These dogs have large teeth and can inflict strong bites.

Airedales measure about 23 inches in height and weigh about 50-70 pounds. They should be small enough to be agile but not too small to be good retrievers. There is a larger variety of this breed, known as the ‘Oorang Airedale’, created in the 1920s.

These dogs are suitable for hunting and also as working dogs. They have some herding instincts as well and will often chase animals. Airedales are suitable for owners who can be patient and firm with them because these dogs will often outsmart their master due to their unusual intelligence. These dogs can also be bored easily and their trainer needs to make the training stimulating and interesting. However, they are also affectionate pets and are often the center of attention in their family. An unusual quality of these dogs is their ability to tolerate pain and injury. Due to this reason, an Airedale’s injuries or illnesses may often go unnoticed until they develop into emergencies.

The average lifespan of Airedales is 11.5 years. This is similar to other breeds of the same size. Most common causes of death have been cancer, old age, cardiac problems and old age. These dogs are also vulnerable to hip dysplasia and dermatitis, which are common disorders found in terriers. They can also fall prey to gastric torsion (bloating).

US Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge and Warren Harding were some famous patrons of Airedales.