This interesting breed was used as a vermin and small game hunter in England and draws its name from Valley of the Aire, an area almost overpopulated with small game. As the Airedale spread to different areas of the world, it was also used to hunt large game in areas such as Canada, Africa, and India. The Airedale was also used as a police dog and even a guard dog during World War II.
As one of the largest terrier breeds, the Airedale Terrier stands between 22 and 24 inches and is square in appearance. The head is long and flat and the nose is always black, never dark brown. The small eyes should be dark in color and the teeth should meet in a vice-like grip. The ears flop slightly to the sides of the head as they fall forward. The front legs should be perfectly straight when the dog is standing and the tail should be set high on the back.
The coat of the Airedale should be hard and dense, almost wiry to the touch. The undercoat, however, is a soft down that is designed to keep the dog warm in the water. The coat should either be tan with black markings or tan with grizzle markings. The areas of the body which should be tan include: head, ears, legs, thighs, elbows, chest, underbody, and sometimes the shoulders. The sides and upper parts of the body should be grizzle or black. Some lines have a small white blaze on the chest. This is acceptable in most associations in which the breed is recognized.
The temperament of the Airedale is beloved by many. They are protective, courageous, friendly, intelligent, loyal, and have a pleasant demeanor. Their intelligence and sensitivity make them easily trainable, but they do not respond well to harsh training methods. They sometimes have a short attention span and can be distracted by a bit of food, another dog, or a random squirrel. This dog needs exercise and is not recommended for apartment life.
Airedales should be taken to an obedience class to learn how to behave among people and other dogs. They are easily bored, however, so try to keep training fun, exciting, and new. Asking this breed to do the same trick 100 times in a row is not going to get you anywhere. This dog can sometimes have dominance problems, so is not recommended for families with small children. However, a dog raised among children should come to respect them. Be careful, though, as Airedales can be a little rough without meaning to. They seem to think they're much smaller than they are, so keep them from jumping up and knocking children to the ground.
Airedale Terriers are generally a healthy dog, though they can be prone to eye infections and hip dysplasia. Skin problems may also plague this breed, so feed your Airedale a diet high in omega fatty acids. Skin infections should be dealt with quickly by a veterinarian.
If you're considering an Airedale Terrier as a pet, know that they require intense grooming. At the minimum you must keep the face and feet trimmed and the coat clipped and brushed. Even with this, however, you will likely find tumbleweed-shaped balls of fur around your home. To keep the shedding to a minimum, you'll have to get the coat stripped. This should be done by a professional groomer. Also, you will need to wash the beard daily to remove any food residue.
Today, the Airedale is mostly a companion dog, though some working lines still exist. You can still find talented dogs in the worlds of guarding, hunting, rodent control, tracking, military work, police work, and competitive obedience. The Airedale Terrier, despite its strengths and desire to work, is usually considered a companion dog.
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