The Airedale Terrier is the largest of the terriers, a large or very large dog, and has long been a working dog by nature. At first glance, it may look like a giant black and brown fox terrier, but closer examination shows differences that go beyond size and color.
If you are considering adopting a dog with these characteristics, it is essential that you are well informed about his character and the care he needs, because he is a very active dog with a particular personality.
In this PlanèteAnimal page we detail everything you need to know about the airedale terrier and its behavior. Read on!
Origin
- Europe
- United Kingdom
FCI Nomenclature
- Group III
Physical Characteristics
- Rustic
- Muscular
- Proportional
Size
- Large
Height
- 55-70
Adult Weight
- 10-25
Life expectancy
- 12-14
Recommended physical activity
- High
Character
- Balanced
- Shy
- Active
- Dominant
Ideal for
- House
- Walking
- The hunt
- The guard
- Persons with disabilities
- Sports
Recommendations
- Harness
Recommended climate
- Cold
Hair type
- Medium
- Curly
- Hard
- Big
History of the Airedale Terrier
The Airedale Terrier was born in England about 100 years ago.This breed first appeared in the Aire Valley, and was originally used for small game (mainly to get rid of vermin). The Airedale was originally called the waterside terrier, and given its great qualities as a hunting dog, ways were sought to improve the breed for this activity. In this research, crosses were made between waterside terriers and otterhounds, to give the breed greater swimming ability.
Over time, and when the name of the breed had already been established as airedale terrier, these dogs began to be used in different activities: small game, big game, guides for the blind, police dogs, dogs rescue, etc. Today, the Airedale Terrier fulfills few of these functions, but the vocation to work still persists in this noble, versatile and elegant breed.
Airedale Terrier Characteristics
The Airedale Terrier has a compact, muscular body that tends to be square, but may be slightly longer than it is tall. The chest is deep but not wide. The head of this dog is elongated and has a flat cranial vault. The jaws of the Airedale Terrier are powerful, strong and muscular, but not excessively so, as the cheeks should not appear rounded or bulging. The teeth are strong and tight in a powerful scissor bite. The neck is muscular, without dewlap, and the length and width are both moderate.
The tail is strong and set high. When moving, the Airedale should carry it up, but never hunched over its back.
The Airedale Terrier's ears are small, but not out of proportion to the head. They are V-shaped and the section in which they are bent is slightly above the roof of the skull.
" This terrier has a double coat: a hard outer coat that forms the so-called wire coat, and a short, soft undercoat.The Airedale&39;s coat should be dense. Although this breed&39;s rough coat is usually in waves, it should never be curled. The accepted color for this dog breed is black and tan (brown). The back of the dog, from neck to tail, should be black or dark gray. The rest must be tanned, the different shades being accepted. A few white hairs on the chest are acceptable."
The height at the withers is between 58 and 61 centimeters for males. For females, the height at the withers should be between 56 and 59 centimeters. The average weight of the airedale terrier is between 23 and 29 kilograms for males. For females, the weight is between 18 and 20 kilograms.
Airedale terrier character
The Airedale Terrier is a happy, confident, courageous and intelligent dog. He is generally friendly with people and also with other dogs, but he needs good socialization when he is a puppy.This dog is impulsive and tends to have intense prey behavior. It is therefore necessary to train him from an early age.
Given their mental acumen and physical strength, the Airedale Terrier is an excellent candidate to participate in dog sports. He can perform very well in all canine sports including Schutzhund, Mondio-ring, Agility, Canine Freestyle and others.
His character also makes this dog a great collaborator in the hunt, as he is not afraid of his prey and has even been used for hunting big game ( although there are obviously breeds more suited to this stain). The bravery of the Airedale Terrier makes this dog an excellent guardian and protector.
Although this breed is very versatile, it needs a lot of physical and mental exercise. Therefore, an airedale terrier can be a bit rough when playing with small children.
How to take care of an airedale terrier?
The Airedale Terrier requires a lot of exercise, so living in a small apartment with this dog is definitely not recommended. It is necessary to have at least a medium-sized garden or yard for him to go out and play in. In addition, long daily walks are necessary for good socialization and to help him burn energy. The game as a means of training is often very useful.
Even if you have a garden, daily walks and a daily play schedule, the Airedale Terrier may need more exercise, especially during its first three years of life. It is therefore advisable to take him to the countryside or to practice a dynamic canine sport like agility.
This dog's coat is a point of contention for those who have an Airedale Terrier but don't have enough time to care for it.This dog's coat requires frequent brushing, but it also needs specialized care on a regular basis. It is best to take the dog to the groomer about twice a year, and brush it regularly. It is important to clean your beard frequently to prevent it from getting dirty with food.
Airedale terrier education
As we have commented, the education of the airedale terrier must begin very early, when it is still a puppy, in order to favor a correct socialization of the dog which allows him to behave well with people. people, pets and the environment in which it will live. Making him live different positive experiences will help us prevent future behavior problems. Physical exercise is also very important for this same reason, otherwise it can develop destructive and exciting habits. Intelligence games are a good option.
Obedience can be a complicated subject, but with consistency and the use of positive reinforcement, our Airedale Terrier will learn basic obedience commands and housetraining. We have already mentioned agility as a sport that also boosts their intelligence, especially recommended for this breed.
Airedale terrier he alth
This breed is generally very resilient and has few he alth issues. However, attention should be paid to eye diseases, skin infections and hip dysplasia. Ideally, these problems should be prevented before they start to develop, for which we recommend the following guidelines:
- Even if your dog needs a lot of physical exercise, it is advisable not to force it, as this can lead to premature dysplasia of the hips and elbows.
- A high quality diet of fish and rice will help prevent skin problems and provide supplements such as omega 3 and omega 6 which will give your dog's coat a considerable shine.
- We must pay attention to the cleanliness of the muzzle of our airedale terrier by eliminating food scraps and accumulated dirt.
Finally, it will be enough to go to the veterinarian twice a year, which will help us quickly detect any disease and provide our airedale terrier with the necessary vaccines.
Airedale terrier photos
