Bred in Yorkshire, England, the Airedale Terrier was developed initially to hunt otter. At the time it was one of the largest breeds of Terriers, and for this reason the Airedale gained the nickname ‘King of Terriers’. The dog was one very much developed by the working class, many of those who championed the breed worked in the mines. While primarily bred to be able to locate prey on hunts, Airedales where also used as guard dogs; protectors of women and children while men worked long hours in the mine.
Appearance
At between 18 and 25 inches in height, the Airedale is classified as a medium sized dog. While in England a larger dog is the preferred breed standard, smaller dogs are popular in America. A full grown adult can weigh up to 45kg. They have a black and tan coloured coat, which is a double coat and quite coarse to the touch. While Airedales do shed much less hair than some other breeds, they do still require grooming.
For many years Airedales had cropped or docked tails, but since that practice is no longer allowed it is becoming more common to see Airedales with full length tails. Most Airedales with have dark brown or black eyes, some with a degenerative retina condition will have opaque eyes.
Temperament
Airedales are bred to hunt alone, and exhibit independent personality traits and can sometimes be stubborn. They are quite intelligent, and often outsmart their owners when it comes to getting what they want. Their intelligence means that they succeed at agility and obedience.
Airedales are an affectionate breed, with the right training they will do well with children. They love to be a part of the family and will often want to join in on your activities. They have a sound temperament and will get along with other pets, especially if exposed to them from a young age.
Bred to hunt, Airedale’s love to be kept active. Being smarter than the average dog it is also important to give them something to think about. They like to visit new places and to learn new skills, so you will need to keep their training interesting. If not given exercise and left unattended they will quickly become bored and will likely be destructive. It is important that you have sturdy fences.
By nature they are a stoic dog. Often when they are unwell they do not let on, and their owners do not realise. For this reason it is important to monitor the health of your Airedale. Regular check ups with the vet are a must.
Working And Tasks
While trained to work as a hunting dog, Airedale Terriers also do well as stock dogs. They are able to learn herding with trainer, but will not take to it as naturally as some other breeds.
Health
On average an Airedale Terrier will live to around 12 years of age. They often develop eye problems. Like many purebreds they can be affected by hip dysplasia. Airedales will often also have skin problems.