by Rabenschwarz

Created on: January 20, 2007   Last Updated: September 25, 2010

Origins
The Airedale Terrier is affectionately known as the king of terriers. It is the largest of the terrier breeds and was developed about a hundred years ago in York. It is named for the Aire valley in Yorkshire that has lots of small game. Airedales were originally bred as ratters and all purpose farm dogs. They were brought into existance by breeding various ancient working terriers with Otterhounds. In the past Airedales have been used for hunting big and small game and later found work in the British military. There are still working lines today and some are used in police work.

Description
The Airedale Terrier is large for a Terrier and has a wiry coat that is water resistant and assists in protecting the dog from harsh underbrush that would damage the skin of a dog with a softer coat. The head is elongated and flat with a mustache and wity eyebrows. The ears should be in the shape of a v and fold towards the front but a bit to the side. The teeth should be level in a scissor bite. The topline should be level, the chest deep and the front legs straight. The tail should be carried high and is usually docked. However if it is not docked it should be carried gaily but not so much that it curls over the back. The outer coat is harsh and wiry but the undercoat should be soft. The coat should be black or tan with grizzle markings. The Airedale stands 22-24 inches tall and weighs 40-65 pounds.

Temperament
The Airedale is a very fun dog that enjoys the complany of children. However, the exhuberance and rough play of an Airedale may be overwhelming for small children. They need a lot of training and socialization to be able to accept various people of all ages and animals. Airedales crave affection and need to feel loved. They are courageous watchdogs but are usually friendly with people if they have been well socialized. Airedales are known for being very intelligent and like pleasing their humans. They take to obedience training very well and reach higher levels of training easily.

While they are easy to train they can be distracted by animals easily, which allows their hunting nature to grab hold and they will not pay attention in such cases. Airedales are very loyal and would lay down their lives to protect those they love. Airedales are not for weak or first time owners because they will take the upper hand and easily become the dominant pack leader in such cases. This dog requires a firm but not harsh owner. They will not respect anything less. The Airedale is a good dog to take part in canine sports like Shultzhund, agility and flyball. It gives them a job to do and can help solidify the bond between the dog and handler. Airedales usually get along with household pet but require a lot of socialization to get along with other dogs because they have dominant tendancies.

Exercise, health concerns and grooming
The Airedale Terrier is a very hardy and robust breed with few health problems. The main issues this dog has with it's health are eye problems, hip dysplasia and skin conditions. The average litter a female will have is nine puppies. The Airedale will not do well in an apartment setting and will require at least a medium sized yard to run and play in.

The Airedale is a high energy dog that requires exercise to keep it from becoming bored and destructive. If your dog is not being shown the hair will need to be plucked twice a year. If it is to be shown the grooming requirements would be greater. If the coat is not stripped the dog will leave clumps of hair in it's wake. However, dogs that are stripped shed little if at all. The beard should be washed daily to prevent food particles from getting stuck in the hair. The average life expectancy is 10-12 years.

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