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Airedale Terrier

Area of Origin:	England
Size: Height: Weight:	large 22 – 24 inches 40 – 65 lbs
Lifespan:	10 – 13 years
Grooming requirements:
Exercise requirements:
Watchdog ability:
Train ability:
Good with children:
Good with other dogs:
Other Names:	Waterside Terrier, Bingley Terrier

The Airedale Terrier was developed about a hundred years ago in the country of York from the ancient Working Terrier. “The King of Terriers,” the Airedale was named for the Valley of the Aire in England, where lots of small game flourished. Originally known as the Waterside Terrier and used as a vermin hunter. The breed was later crossed with the Otterhound to make him a better swimmer. In addition to his role as a small game hunter, the Airedale Terrier has been used to hunt big game in Africa, India and Canada and as a police dog and army sentry dog in World War II. Today the Airedale Terrier is primarily a companion dog. Some of the Airedale Terrier’s talents are guarding, watchdogging, hunting, tracking, military work, police work, and competitive obedience.

Appearance
The Airedale Terrier is a medium-sized, well-boned, squarely-built dog, and at all times a terrier in appearance and attitude.

Character
The Airedale Terrier is a friendly, adaptable and courageous dog showing all the terrier characteristics. They need firm handling as they are naturally dominant and can be stubborn, but normally they love to please and are obedient.

Temperament
The Airedale Terrier is an independent, territorial dog breed. It is intelligent, but often stubborn and headstrong. It makes a good house dog as long as it gets daily mental and physical exercise. Initially suspicious of strangers, the Airedale Terrier makes a good watchdog.

Exercise/Training
The Airedale Terrier is an active breed that needs a chance to get vigorous exercise every day. The Airedale Terrier needs can be met with a long walk, a strenuous game or a chance to hunt and romp in a safe area. The Airedale Terrier can be a good companion for jogging, hiking ore running along side a bike. Playing and obedience are very good types of mental exercise. 20 minutes obedience and playing with your Airedale Terrier will be more useful for the dogs exercise then an hour walk on the leash can provide.

Color
Like many terriers, the Airedale Terrier has a ‘broken’ coat: a harsh, wiry topcoat with a soft, fur-like undercoat. Because of this coat, Airedale Terriers do not significantly shed. Airedale Terriers being shown are generally groomed by stripping: a small serrated edged knife to is used pull out loose hair from the dog’s coat.
The correct coat color of the Airedale Terrier is a black saddle, with a tan head, ears and legs; or a dark grizzle saddle (black mixed with gray and white). Both are acceptable in the AKC breed standard.

Grooming
The coat of the Airedale Terrier needs combing twice weekly, plus scissoring and shaping (clipping for pets and hand stripping for show dogs) every one to two months. A good nutrition and regular brushing keeps the proper coat shine and the skin healthy. Bathing doesn’t harm the coat of the Airedale Terrier as long as you use a good quality shampoo that doesn’t dry the skin and coat and is formulated for a canine coat. The ears of the Airedale Terrier should be kept clean and regularly inspected as well.