Description

The Airedale Terrier is known as the “king of terriers.” Airedale Terrier excels in agility, eyesight, hearing and has untiring courage. Airedale Terrier has a sweet disposition, but may be aloof with strangers. The Airedale Terrier excels in hunting for foxes, badgers, weasels, otters, water rats and ducks. The Airedale Terrier makes a good jogging partner because of its athletic physique. The owner of an Airedale Terrier should be strong, confident and able to combine firm discipline with patience and precision. The Airedale Terrier is good with older children and makes a loyal family pet. The Airedale Terrier is not an ideal apartment dog because of the large amount of exercise needed, it should be provided with a fenced yard. Unless the owner is committed to exercise the Airedale Terrier daily to prevent stubbornness and mischief due to high energy levels during the growing stage.

Size of Male: Height: 23 inches Weight: 50 – 65 pounds

Size of Female: Height: <23 inches Weight: 40 – 55 pounds

Temperament

The Airedale Terrier will usually do ok with children if they have early exposure and socialization, however they may play too rough for small ones. An Airedale Terrier needs to feel loved and respected. Airedale Terrier is courageous and protective. Fairly friendly with strangers. Intelligent, pleasant and loyal. Sensitive and responsive, it can be obedience trained at an advanced level. Airedale Terriers are fun-loving and playful during the puppy stage. Airedale Terriers will be happy to entertain you, if there are no other distractions in the surroundings such as other dogs, food and chipmunks. An Airedale Terrier is an extremely loyal dog, but you would have to be an ace trainer to get him to leave a chipmunk alone even for raw steak! They are naturally lively and can be very rowdy until properly trained. The Airedale Terrier needs proper obedience training. The Airedale Terrier may have dominance challenges toward family members he sees as submissive. This can lead to willfulness and disobedience. They are not difficult to train, but they do not respond to harsh overbearing training methods. The Airedale Terrier is intelligent enough to perceive quickly what is required of it, but if you ask it to do the same thing over and over again it may refuse. Try to give it some variety to its training, making the exercise a challenge. With the right handler, the Airedale Terrier can do well in various dog sports including defense dog trials. This breed generally gets along well with household cats and other animals, but they sometimes try to dominate other dogs. This depends upon their training and the individual dog. If trained well, the Airedale Terrier can be a therapy dog as well because of its high intelligence and friendly nature.

Living Conditions

The Airedale Terrier is not recommended for apartment life due to the large amount of exercise it needs daily to prevent misbehaving. Lack of exercise like with most other breeds of dogs will cause the dog to feel bored and misbehave. Airedale Terriers are very active indoors and will do best with at least an average-sized yard. However, with commitment from the owners side an apartment life is possible for Airedale Terriers as well.

Upkeep

Airedale Terrier needs vigorous exercise every day. An Airedale Terrier’s needs can be met with a long walk, a strenuous game or a chance to hunt and romp in a safe area. Airedale Terriers can live outside in temperate climates, but it is better for it to sleep indoors. Its wire-like coat needs combing at least twice weekly, plus scissoring and shaping (clipping for pets, and hand stripping for show dogs) every one to two months. Ears often need gluing as puppies in order to ensure proper ear shape as adults.

Health

Major concerns: Hip Dysplasia, Gastric Torsion

Minor concerns: Hypothyroidism

Life expectancy: 11 – 14 years