Airedale Terrier

Airedale Terrier is a dog having its origin from Airedale Terrier in Yorkshire in England. It was known as the “king of terriers” being the largest of the terriers before Black Russian Terrier was evolved. The other name of this breed is “Waterside Terrier” as it was bred primarily to hunt otters. This breed of dog was used as police dog to trace criminals in England.

Airedale Terrier is a large-sized dog with harsh coat, flat head and a deep chest. The hairs on the body are resistant to water or dampness but it needs stripping often. Eyes are dark and small. Though not prominent, the eyes give an expression of keenness and intelligence. The Airedale Terrier ears are v-shaped, slightly folded to the forward and side. The color of the nose is black and the tail is carried high and should be of proper length.

There is a soft undercoat lining the harsh and wiry outer coat. The coat color may be tan with black marks. There may be presence of red in black or even a small white star mark on the chest. Most parts of the body including the legs, chest, head and ears are tan and this color may extend up to the shoulders. The top teeth close over the bottom ones and the teeth of the Airedale Terriers are the largest of all terrier breeds and have strong bite.

This is a muscular breed of dog with the males being approximately 23 inches in height and the females slightly less. The forelegs are straight with muscle and strong bones. The thighs are long and sturdy. Feet are small and compact with good depth and well cushioned.

The Airedale Terriers are friendly with the children when exposed to socialization at an early stage but they may be a hard enough for the small ones. This is a courageous and protective breed of dog. They are obedient, loyal, and intelligent and can be trained at a high level. If not trained properly, the Airedale Terriers can be very rowdy. Training makes them perfect for activities like sports like defense dog trials. They are intelligent enough to understand what is required of them but can get annoyed if told repeatedly to do something.

Like many other dog breeds, The Airedale Terriers suffer from eye problems, dysplasia and skin infections. Gastric torsion or bloats are also common problems affecting the Airedale Terriers. The latter may also lead to cardiovascular collapse. The Airedale Terriers love to swim, play and requires enough exercise. The life expectancy of Airedale terrier is about 10-12 years.