Airedale Terrier
The largest of the terriers and known as the king of them. Bred in the Aire valley to hunt otter and rat, and used as a messenger dog in the First World War.
Photo by Томасина, CC BY-SA 3.0
Overview
The Airedale is the largest of the terriers, built in the Aire valley in Yorkshire in the nineteenth century by crossing working terriers with the Otterhound to make a dog that could hunt otter in water as well as rat on land.
It then went to war. Airedales carried messages under fire in the First World War, worked as sentries and casualty dogs, and were among the first police dogs in Britain, which is a good deal more history than most terriers carry.
Temperament
Confident, clever and independent minded. Airedales are terriers scaled up, which means the terrier drive and the terrier stubbornness come in a fifty to seventy pound package.
They are affectionate and playful with their families and protective without being aggressive. They can be dog reactive, particularly with the same sex, and they need training that is consistent rather than harsh, because an Airedale that decides a handler is unfair simply stops cooperating.
Care and grooming
The hard wiry coat needs brushing weekly and hand stripping two or three times a year to keep the texture. Clipping is easier and it softens the coat permanently.
They shed very little, which is why they are often suggested to people with allergies, and no dog is genuinely hypoallergenic. Hip dysplasia and hypothyroidism are worth asking a breeder about.
Living and exercise
An hour or more a day of real work, and mental work as well as physical. A bored Airedale digs, chews and reorganises the garden.
They are excellent at dog sports and they enjoy having a job. Recall needs work, because the hunting drive is genuine and a scent will win if training has been casual.
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