Description

The Airedale Terrier is a large and very lively terrier that is often known as the "king of terriers". They are excellent companion dogs as well as hunting, agility, obedience and even police and military dogs. They can be very playful and attentive to their owners but can also be serious workers, an excellent combination for a great all-round dog.

The Airedale Terrier should have a smooth yet jaunty kind of gait that shows good power and athletic ability. The overall impression should be one of excellent conformation and straight and parallel legs with no turning in or out of the hocks, elbows or feet. The body should be short and compact with very little space between the final rib and the hip joint. The loins and hind legs should be muscular and strong with good driving ability. The top line or line along the back should be straight from the withers to the rather high set tail with no slope or drop of the hindquarters. The tail should taper from the base to the tip and should be carried pointed straight up and slightly forward but not curled or touching the back.

The front quarters and the chest should be well developed with the chest deep but not broad. The brisket should extend down to the level of the elbows. The shoulders should be clean and tight to the body, sloping and muscular and blending well into the chest and back. The neck is placed high in the shoulders and moderately long, wider at the shoulders and tapering slightly to the base of the throat. The skin on the neck should not be loose or folded but should be tight the muscles.

The head is carried very high, proud and erect on the neck. The foreface and the skull should be approximately the same length giving a balanced appearance. The profile is almost rectangular in shape without a noticeable or pronounced stop. There should be no wrinkling on the skin of the head and the cheeks should be noticeable but not heavy or pronounced. The ears are triangular in shape and proportional to the head, folded over about at the top of the skull. The ears are actually positioned to the side of the head, as are the small, dark and very lively and alert looking eyes. The eyes should be typical of a terrier, full of fearlessness and intelligence.

The mouth and lips are fine in feature and the lips are close to the teeth. The muzzle tapers very slightly to the dark and well developed nose. The breed has a noticeable beard and moustache giving the muzzle a very angular appearance. They also have bushy eyebrows that add to the expressiveness of the face. The coat is wavy or crinkly in appearance and comes in various shades of black and tan with a black saddle and tan points.

Coat Description

The double coat of the Airedale Terrier consists of a wavy to kinky harsh outer coat over a thicker, denser and softer inner coat. The coat is uniformly medium to short in length across the body but there is longer fringe on the beard and front and rear legs. They require stripping for show but may be clipped for ease of care at home.

History

The Airedale Terrier originated in the area near the River Aire in Scotland in the early 1800\'s. Farmers that needed a larger sized terrier that could double as a ratter as well as a hunting dog crossed the largest of the medium sized mixed terriers available with Otterhounds, resulting in a taller, leggier terrier that had better swimming abilities as well as scent tracking abilities. These dogs were later used to hunt more than just vermin, they became police and military dogs in the First World War and also were used to hunter large game in several countries including England, Canada and the United States. They were also used in safari type hunts in India.

The Airedale Terrier has been used in many different movies and television shows because it is distinctive, intelligent and very willing to be the center of attention. They are also very serious dogs and make excellent police, obedience and agility dogs on top of their hunting abilities. The large size of the Airedale Terrier may have prevented it from becoming as popular as some of the smaller terriers but it is still well represented in shows and in registries across the world.

Temperament

The Airedale Terrier is a very lively and energetic terrier that does have the tendency to be the dominant dog as well as the leader in the family if not properly trained and socialized. They are extremely intelligent and will quickly learn both commands and how to get out following commands so firm and consistent training is a must.

The Airedale Terrier is a good family dog and will interact well with children of all ages. Since they are a large terrier they do need to be taught not to be overly possessive of toys or food as well as to avoid snapping when teased or irritated. Teaching children to respect this dog and to watch when the dog has simply had enough is very important.

As with all terriers the Airedale Terrier has an independent and rather headstrong streak that can become a problem during training. Typically this is worse in intact males that have not been obedience trained and have had little socialization as a puppy. It is important to purchase an Airedale Terrier from a breeder that starts early socialization and can provide information on the tendencies of the breed. While an excellent obedience dog when trained, they are not always a good choice for a first time dog owner that wishes to raise a dog from a puppy. An Airedale Terrier from a rescue that is already trained and has learned the basics may be a better choice.

The Airedale Terrier can learn to get along with other pets although some simply have difficulty living in the same house with other non-canine pets. Puppies are generally more accepting of cats than mature dogs that have not had cats in the house. The Airedale Terrier will be a good companion dog to a non-dominant breed but two dominant type breeds will fight. Spaying and neutering and choosing a companion dog of the opposite gender that is also spayed or neutered is the best possible option.

Thyroid Disease - Medium Risk

The Airedale Terrier ranks #40 among all breeds for autoimmune thyroiditis prevalence. While this is not a high risk breed, there is still a good chance of disease transmission through breeding. Therefore, all dogs intended for breeding should be tested first. 

You can download the full report (on all breeds) by the Michigan State University Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health. Here

Other Health Problems

Most terrier breeds are very healthy dogs and the Airedale Terrier is no exception. They do require regular vaccinations, worming and flea treatments as well as routine vet checks to catch any potential health issues before they become advanced or highly problematic. The biggest health issues for the Airedale Terrier include:

• Canine hip dysplasia - genetic joint and hip condition found in most medium and large breeds of dogs.
• Gastric torsion - also known as bloat. Feeding three small meals and restricting exercise can help prevent this potentially fatal condition. Surgically stitching the stomach in place during spaying or neutering can also help if it is a chronic problem.
• Dry skin conditions - may be caused by a shortage of omega-3 fatty acids that can be added to the diet.
• Skin allergies - problematic in many breeds of dogs, can be treated by antihistamines and food changes.