Mary Allen
The characteristically wiry topcoat and the elegant charisma make the Airedale Terrier simply unmistakable. Find out everything about the history, character, attitude, and care of the Airedales in the profile. There are also a few exciting facts that you may not have known about.
History of the Airedale Terrier
The ancestors of the Airedale Terrier come from the county of Yorkshire in Great Britain. In the 19th century, the English wanted a versatile hunting dog that they could also use for driving cattle and as a guard dog. Presumably, they crossed the Scottish Shepherd with the Otterhound and particularly large terriers and thus got the “Waterside Terrier”. The early representatives of the breed helped hunt otters, grouse, and weasels. Towards the end of the century, the large River Aire terriers were recognized as a separate breed.
At the beginning of its “career”, the Airedale Terrier was not very popular and was described as shaggy and unsightly. It wasn’t until around 1930 that it became more popular as a show dog and breeders focused on a prettier appearance. During the world wars, the military used numerous representatives of the breed as medical and reporting dogs in England, Russia, and Germany. Nowadays, the Airedale can still be found in service, but primarily as a family pet. The cynological umbrella organization FCI lists the Airedale Terrier in group 3.1 “Tall Terriers”.
Nature and Character Traits
The Airedale Terrier is a lively and intelligent dog with a happy personality. Like a typical terrier, he is extraordinarily spirited and takes pleasure in every adventure. He is very trusting towards people and has a friendly and fearless manner. He gets along with children without any problems, which makes him a great family dog. Nevertheless, he needs a lot of work because he gets bored quickly. In general, the dogs are not aggressive, but always remain alert and watch out for their territory. Despite their strong personality, the large terriers are cooperative and willing to work when it comes to training.
Acquisition of an Airedale Terrier
What do I need to pay attention to when purchasing?
The most important thing when getting an Airedale Terrier is that you can spend enough time with him. It is ideal for sporty people who like to go for long walks every day and also want to use their dog for dog sports. It is best to get an Airedale Terrier from a reputable breeder who is affiliated with the Terrier Club.
Here you get a purebred healthy dog that will accompany you for a long time. Of course, the quality here also has its price and you can calculate up to 1000€ per puppy. With a life expectancy of 10 to 14 years, such a terrier should not be an ill-considered purchase anyway. Again and again, the dogs from overwhelmed owners end up in the animal shelter and eke out a sad existence in the kennel. With a little dog experience, you can also look around here and give a poor Airedale or mixed breed a new home.
Consistent Education of the Puppy
Training the smart and demanding Airedale Terrier is not a task for novices. The most important thing when training an Airedale puppy is that you keep it humanely and that it is well-occupied. This is the only way that the friendly and inquisitive nature of the dog comes to the fore and you get an inquisitive four-legged friend. The key to training a puppy is consistency and patience. Even if the dog acts stubborn, give it a little time and keep trying gently.
Don’t let the charming nature of the Airedale wrap you around your finger, but make it clear who is higher in rank in a non-violent manner. You can prevent dominance behavior or aggression towards other dogs by attending a dog school. Here he gets to know other dogs as a puppy and has time to play and socialize. In summary, the Airedale Terrier can be trained very well and is not averse to further training. With consistency and clear announcements from an early age, you will get a great partner for life.
How Do I Keep an Airedale Terrier?
Activities with the Airedale Terrier
The Airedale Terrier is an active and athletic dog that needs plenty of exercises. Daily walks are an absolute must and the big dog is also happy to go cycling or jogging. Agile terriers are ideal for dog sports such as agility or obedience. In addition to satisfying his urge to move, the clever dog also needs a lot of mental exercises. When bored, he quickly looks for his own job. Then it can happen that he digs up the neighbor’s garden or goes for a walk alone to get your attention. The Airedale is the only terrier to be one of the few recognized service dog breeds. If you want to employ the dog professionally, you can train it to be a tracking, protection, or companion dog.