AIREDALE TERRIER Breed Standards
The Airedale Terrier as we recognize it today is a result of the efforts of 19th century Yorkshire hunters to create a dog that excelled in hunting a wide range of game. The mix of breeds that eventually created the Airedale was heavy with the now extinct old English Terrier (which is sometimes referred to as the Black and Tan Terrier) and the Otterhound; Irish and Bull Terriers were also thrown in to fine tune the appearance of the dog. The resulting dog was a powerful mix of strong terrier instincts with the Otterhound’s swimming and scenting abilities.
Toward the end of the 1800s, the Airedale Terrier’s star was on the rise, and it could be found with increasing frequency on the farms of rural Britain. Around this time the dog was brought to America, where it was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1888; since that time, it has been a perennial winner of the coveted “best of all breeds” title in all-breeds dog shows. Champion Master Briar, who lived from 1897 to 1906, is considered the patriarch of the breed, and his progeny were largely responsible for spreading the Airedale’s renown beyond Britain. The Airedale Terrier has been put to work in several wars and as a police dog in the United Kingdom and Germany. The dog has also added to its traditional hunting repertoire, working with big game hunters in Africa, Canada and India.
SPECIAL SKILLS: Originally used for hunting other and other animals, now mainly a family pet. The Airedale Terrier or Airedale is a large terrier with a harsh wiry coat, long flat head, and a deep chest. Its hair is bristly and resistant to dampness, but it needs stripping.
SIZE: The shoulder-height is 58 - 61cm (22 3/4 - 24in) for dogs and 56 - 58cm (22 - 22 3/4 in) for bitches.
COAT: The hard wire-haired coat is smooth. The most common color is tan with a grey-black saddle
CARE REQUIRED: The Airedale Terrier requires little grooming under normal circumstances. The hair should be plucked about twice per year, but for dogs that are to be shown much more intense grooming is needed. When necessary, trim excess hair between the pads of the feet.
CHARACTER: The Airedale is tough on itself, loyal to its own people, but it can be stubborn. It tends to be playful,watchful, active, intelligent, and resolute. An Airedale does not often bark.
TRAINING: The Airedale Terrier is intelligent enough to perceive quickly what is required of it. Try to give some variety to itstraining, because if it is asked to do the same thing over and over it is likely to refuse. Make the exercises a challenge. With the right handler, Airedale Terriers can do well in various dog sports including defense dog trials.
SOCIAL BEHAVIOR: In general, Airedale Terriers get on well with cats and other household animals, and they are very patient with children.They sometimes try to dominate other dogs, but this depends upon their training and the individual dog.
EXERCISE: The Airedale Terrier has an average demand for exercise and will be happy with three walks around the neighborhood a day on the leash plus playing in the yard. Most of them love to play with a ball, swim, or retrieve objects, and once fully grown will happily run along
