Airedale Terrier

The Airedale Terrier, also called the ‘king of terriers,’ is a large dog with an alert and watchful nature, and makes for a perfect watchdog. Here is more you need to know about this breed.

Table of Contents

Airedale Terrier Appearance

The Airedale Terrier has a deep chest, long head, and alert eyes. They have a long face with folded, pointed ears. Their coat is distinctive in terms of texture and pattern. They are usually two-toned and most common colors are black and tan. Their coat is dense and coarse to touch. Their long muscular legs along with beard and mustache give them a regal look.

The male Airedale Terrier is generally larger than the female. They stand about 23 to 24 inches tall and weigh between 50 and 65 pounds. The female is slightly smaller and measures 22 to 23 inches in height and weigh 40 to 45 pounds.

Airedale Terrier has a double long coat with the outer being dense and the inner being softer. A patch in white color is generally seen on the chest which is considered attractive.

Airedale Terrier Grooming

The Airedale Terrier has a low-maintenance coat. The wiry short coat does not require as much grooming as other dogs but regular brushing can keep it shiny and get rid of dead hair. Following a hair brushing routine once or twice a week can also help minimize the stray dog hair lying around the house. This breed does not require to be bathed too often. In fact, over bathing can cause the coat to break or become soft.

When bathing the terrier, do not use a regular shampoo, use the specially formulated, one prescribed by the veterinarian. Regular shampoos can strip the coat off its natural oils and cause dryness. Check your dog’s ears regularly for any signs of infection and use vet-approved tool to clean their ears. Do not use a cotton swab.

Trim the terrier’s nails, if they do not wear down naturally. You can easily groom your Airedale Terrier at home or if you prefer, you can also take your dog to a professional groomer.

Airedale Terrier Temperament

Airedale Terrier has a high level of energy. Their watchful and alert nature makes them wonderful watchdogs. Airedale is an attention-seeker and enjoys running with and playing around. Once the Airedale has your trust, it wants everything from cuddling to belly rubs.

This breed of dog tends to bark a lot. This may become worrisome as neighbors can complain about the nuisance. They need to be trained to stop barking when commanded from an early age to overcome or prevent this habit in later years. An Airedale could be as stubborn as it is friendly. This confident dog may show signs of aggressiveness which can cause trouble if not watched properly.

Airedale Terriers are vigilant dogs and suspicious of strangers. Their alert nature along with their barking could be quite handy in case of dangerous situations. This breed of dog is also fond of chasing. If not supervised, the Airedale can take off and it is almost impossible to stop it. This breed was originally meant to hunt and is amazing diggers. Leave no small pet such as rabbits or cats alone with this breed of dog.

Just like other dogs, an Airedale is always looking for its owner’s affection and care. It runs up to you excitedly when you come back from office or chases you around for attention when you are not home. Do not leave this dog alone for too long as it can suffer from separation anxiety.

Airedale Terrier Training

An Airedale is an active breed of dog and requires constant physical exercise along with mental stimulation. It could be quite tricky to train this breed as they tend to be stubborn and their independent and dominant nature may come in their way of training. It is advised to start training an Airedale from an early age in order to inculcate obedience.

Always use positive reinforcements to train any dog in general. Negative reinforcements such as shouting or punishment will make things worse and you would have a hard time establishing a bond with your pet. Airedales are amazing in agility training and tricks due to their active nature and high intelligence.

Lack of enough physical exercise and mental stimulation bores the Airedale and may even cause aggressive behavior.

Airedale Terrier History

Airedale Terrier was first found in the River Aire valley in Yorkshire, England. It was bred from the Otterhound, Bull Terrier, and the Old English Black and Tan Terrier. This breed was meant to be used in hunting and to help around the farm. Due to its alert and watchful nature, the Airedale Terrier has been used in wars and as a police and a guard dog.