The Airedale Terrier – a versatile companion
The Airedale Terrier, initially known as the Bingley Terrier, is now also called the "King of Terriers." Over time, many different breeds were crossed in, which has given this large dog enormous versatility. Even back then, it was used for a wide variety of tasks, for example as a guide dog for the blind, protection dog, rescue dog, avalanche dog, or simply as a →family dog.
Is the Airedale Terrier right for you? Find out now!
Airedale Terrier dog breed profile
Origin: England
Size: 56-61 cm
Weight: 18 to 23 kg
Life expectancy: 10-12 years
Character: confident, friendly, intelligent, courageous
Friendly, shaggy, and with a versatile character, the Airedale Terrier wins the hearts of families! He is also perfectly suited as a service or sport dog.
Character and temperament
Even though the Airedale Terrier leaves nothing to be desired thanks to its versatility, there are a few traits that are quite typical for it:
Its alert expression and its eager anticipation already give it away: this dog is sharp! It knows what it wants and has a strong personality. That doesn't mean it's a stubborn dog – quite the opposite: the Airedale Terrier is very eager to learn and enjoys working with its people as a team. With the right guidance, it can be easily led and is suitable for a variety of everyday situations and activities.
Thanks to its lively and eager-to-learn nature as well as its balance and adaptability, people with dog experience will find it easy to guide and integrate it well into a →family with children. Full of temperament, it shows itself confident in interactions with other dogs and doesn't let itself be pushed around easily. It knows how to guard house and home well, without becoming overly protective.
Running, dashing, and always up for an adventure – that's exactly what the big terrier loves! Active people who enjoy working with their dog will find this breed to be the perfect choice.
Training and keeping
Despite its easy-going character, the Airedale Terrier is not considered a typical dog breed →for beginners and is not recommended. Its high intelligence, fearlessness, and great self-confidence allow it to "think along" and have certain expectations. Here, assertiveness and sensitivity are required. Because only those who are familiar with →clever dog breeds will know how to properly train and challenge these dogs and keep them engaged, and will be able to stay in control.
Speaking of keeping them engaged: In addition to being involved in family life, varied exercise and →activity options that challenge them physically as well as mentally are a very high priority for this large terrier. Long walks alone are not enough; this breed needs more: in addition to running alongside a bike or horse, jogging together or, ideally, even dog sports like agility, canicross, or obedience are activities that excite them. Not without reason are they among Germany's most recognized working dog breeds.
But if you think this breed needs strictness, you're mistaken. The Airedale Terrier is basically →easy to train, and excessive strictness, roughness, or harsh words will get you nowhere. Loving consistency and a fair approach to training are important to it, because this dog really wants to please and do everything right – just on equal terms! Of course, →attending a dog school from puppy age is also worthwhile, where both human and dog can learn a lot together.
To keep the Airedale Terrier's coat from matting and soft, it needs to be trimmed regularly. Bonus: This four-legged friend hardly sheds!
Coat care for the Airedale Terrier
Unlike other dog breeds, with the Airedale Terrier it's not brushing, but trimming! The breed →hardly sheds any hair and also goes through no coat change. The dense and wiry coat should be kept as short as possible, otherwise it becomes scruffy or matted. In addition, because of its dense coat with lots of undercoat, this dog is well protected from water, wind, and cold, but in summer it can quickly get very warm.
So your terrier feels completely comfortable in its coat, →regular grooming routine includes trimming the coat. From the age of six months, the Airedale Terrier should be trimmed about every three to four months. Dead hairs are removed and space is made for new, healthy fur. Afterwards, you can also clean the ears, paws, and →teeth of your dog and your grooming routine is perfect!
