Overview of the Airedale Terrier

The Airedale Terrier is an energetic and fun-loving dog of medium size. Their desire to please is strong and their curiosity and keen intelligence is unbounded.

The Airedale has an engaging personality. They are forever playful, even into old age and often show a wonderful sense of humor. It is helpful if prospective owners also have a sense of humor when living with an Airedale. The Airedale is both sensitive and sensible in his dealing with humans. Training should begin when your puppy comes home and, most important, it must be consistent and followed by all members of the family. An Airedale pup will learn from everything it sees and will remember each experience, be it good or bad.

The Airedale is not an aggressive dog but it may be territorial with dogs of the same sex and size. The Airedale is not a bully, however, and is rarely aggressive toward smaller dogs.

Much has been written and said about the versatility of the Airedale. There are Airedales that have made good hunters and retrievers and many who have made excellent records in the conformation ring and in various AKC performance events. A few have performed well at police work, drug detection dogs or as search and rescue dogs. Others have been used for guarding and herding flocks. They have served loyally as messenger dogs for the military. It would be wrong, however, to think that any one Airedale could do all these things. Some breeds of dogs specialize in a particular type of work, but individuals of the Airedale breed can do many different tasks. It should be remembered, however, that none of the skills mentioned above are achieved without dedicated hard work and training by both the owner and dog.

Airedales are always a popular attraction in the conformation classes at dog shows where they are given the opportunity to exhibit their terrier spirit and style. In addition, Airedales have proven their ability to score well in Rally, Obedience and on the Agility courses. On the other hand, Airedales have also made good pet therapy dogs where they work equally well with youngsters and old folks.

An Airedale will develop a sense of “territory” as it reaches maturity and will naturally begin to protect its family, home and yard from intruders. It can also be a wanderer or a hunter and requires a fenced area or must be walked on leash.

If you have never had hands-on contact with an adult Airedale, we recommend that you visit several dog shows and talk with exhibitors. Seeing Airedales at a dog show will also give you the opportunity to compare them with other breeds. Visit with a few breeders. They should be happy to answer any questions you may have about the breed.

The mature Airedale will weigh between 45 and 65 pounds and average 23 inches in height. They are very muscular and are one of the strongest dogs for their weight. Owners must be physically able to control their dog or the dog will quickly learn to control you.

Not every person is the right person to own an Airedale. It will be helpful if you have the ability to laugh at its never-ending antics. An Airedale is a “puppy” for a long period of time. They are in need of human companionship and are not the dog to spend most of its time outside. They will bark endlessly to be with you if tied on a rope or chain. Most remain a ball of energy for a number of years. They require a good amount of exercise, more than an average amount of grooming and a “job” to keep them out of trouble. They are basically a dog that loves cold weather and snow and will be quick to overheat if left out in the sun or heat of a summer day.

If the above description appeals to you and your lifestyle, you will be happy with an Airedale. Once you own one, you will probably never be satisfied with a different breed.

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