The Airedale Terrier, also called the Bingley Terrier, or Waterside Terrier originated in the valley of the River Aire, in Yorkshire, England. The KING of Terriers – they are the largest and most powerful of the Terrier group. They are a very lively all purpose dog, and are a devoted companion and family dog, capable of hunting, agility, obedience and even used for police and military function. They can be very playful clowns, yet attentive to their owners. They are also very serious workers, an excellent combination for an all purpose dog.
Adult height: 23 in (58 cm)
Adult weight: 50-60 lb (22-27 kg) Sturdy and well muscled. They are an extremely strong dog for their size.
Coat: The dense coat is composed of a harsh, wiry outer coat and a softer undercoat. The harshest outer coat is often crinkled or slightly wavy. For show dogs, the coat is groomed by hand stripping mature hair. For pets, clippering is the best way to keep the coat looking sharp and the dog clean.
Colours: The coat is tan with black, red or dark grizzle ‘saddle’ markings.
Feeding: A high quality balanced kibble diet and they do very well on salmon based kibble. They love fruit and vegetables as well. They need to be solid built – kept not too thin or kept not too heavy as weight can be very hard on their joints.
Training & Obedience: Very willing to please and very clever at picking up what is expected of them. Socialization with people and other dogs (and other household animals) should be done any time after eight weeks of age. Airedales will adapt at any age to a new home.
House breaking: They are a very clean breed and train easily. Bell training at an outer door works extremely well.
Crate training: When trained from a young age they are excellent in their crates, and rarely suffer from separation anxiety.
Exercise: They are well suited to both urban and rural homes. They are an excellent walking companion, and willing participants in most activities. They should not be run great distances as even though they have the size and will to do so- it can be very hard on their joints due to their deep chest and substance. They are very calm in the house if provided proper exercise. They do NOT do well at dog parks as most dogs will challenge their arrogance. There is an old saying – an Airedale will rarely, if ever, start a fight but they will always finish one.
Weather tolerance: Access to fresh water at ALL times is absolutely essential. They are an all weather dog and do not mind the cold or inclement weather. They are easy to towel off if wet. As with any other companion they should always live inside the home as a family member.
