Mary Allen
Shoulder height: 56 – 61 cm
Weight: 22 – 30 kg
Age: 13 – 14 years
Colour: black or greyish saddle, otherwise tan
Use: Companion dog, the family dog, working dog, service dog
With a shoulder height of up to 61 cm, the Airedale Terrier is one of the “tall terriers”. It was originally bred in England as a water-loving universal hunting dog and was one of the first breeds to be trained as a reporting and medical dog in the First World War. He is considered a very pleasant family dog to keep, eager to learn, intelligent, not very resentful, and very fond of children. However, he needs a lot of exercise and occupation and is, therefore, less suitable for lazy people.
Origin and history
The “King of Terriers” hails from the Aire Valley in Yorkshire and is a cross between various terriers, Otterhounds, and other breeds. Originally, he was used as a sharp, water-loving hunting dog – especially for hunting otters, water rats, martens, or waterfowl. During World War I, the Airedale Terrier was one of the first breeds to be trained as a medical and reporting dog.
Appearance
The Airedale Terrier is a long-legged, robust, and very muscular dog with a strong, wiry coat and a lot of undercoats. The color of the head, ears, and legs is tan, while the back and flanks are black or dark grey. Males are significantly larger and heavier at 58 to 61 cm compared to 56 to 59 cm for bitches. This makes it the largest (English) terrier breed.
The Airedale Terrier’s coat needs trimming regularly. With regular trimming, this breed does not shed and is therefore easy to keep in an apartment.
Nature
Airedale Terriers are considered to be very intelligent and willing to learn. They are spirited and lively and also show a protective instinct when this is required. The Airedale Terrier is also characterized by a particularly friendly nature and is very fond of children and us, therefore, we like to keep it as a family dog. He needs a lot of work and exercise and is also well suited for many dog sports activities up to the rescue dog.
With sufficient workload and loving consistent training, the Airedale Terrier is a very pleasant companion. Its rough coat needs regular trimming but is then easy to care for.