 The
Airedale was originally known as the Bingley or Waterside. The
Airedale was developed in the Aire River Valley of Yorkshire,
England in the mid-1800s and is a cross between the English
Black-and-Tan Terriers and the Otter Hound. The cross would
provide for a rugged hunting terrier that was capable of swimming,
flushing and retrieving fowl and rabbits. Along with their hunting
ability, Airedales have also done very good in obedience, agility
and tracking.
During World War 1, the Airedale was used as a guard dog and
messenger because of its stamina for pain and could carry on
its mission and show little or no pain. The Airedale is also
used in search and rescue because they have the drive and stamina
to last through long searches in varying conditions. They are
also very popular breeds in Germany and Great Britain as police.
The
Airedale is definitely a family dog and does not like to be
left out of the “happenings” of its family. The
Airedale family will have many laughs from their comedian
canine member. The Airedale family will also find their canine
family member to be a sensible watchdog. |
| Height: |
23”
at shoulder with females being slightly less |
| Weight: |
55
lbs with females being slightly less |
| Temperament: |
They
are not a ‘snappy’ kind of dog nor are they an aggressive
dog. They are happy, playful and very active dogs. |
| Color(s): |
Tan
with a black saddle and a white blaze on the chest is permissible. |
| Grooming: |
Because
their coats can grow very thick, curly and unruly, grooming
is a must for this breed. Hand striping is the best method of
insuring the texture and color of the coat. Tail should be docked
and should be no shorter or longer than the height of their
head. |
| Coat(s): |
Wire
texture outer coat with a soft undercoat. |
| With
Children: |
Children
with lots of energy will be a great constant companion for the
Airedale. Caution should always be used when introducing younger
children to the new family pet. |
| With
Pets: |
They
can live in harmony with other dogs as long as any other male
dogs in the household are neutered. Cat can be a touchy subject
with the Airedale because of a cat’s behavior, which could
stimulate the Airedales hunting instincts. |
| Training: |
Socalization
is very important with the young Airedale. Positive reinforcement
will insure that training can be very successful. Much patience
will be needed in teaching the Airedale to not dig in your flower
garden though. |
| Exercise: |
Must
have a lot of exercise. A fenced yard where they can run would
be necessary. |
| Health
Issues: |
Hip
Dysplacia, hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Because of the
Airedale’s ability to withstand degrees of pain, a veterinarian
can sometimes misdiagnose them because their symptoms. For this
reason, you should be aware of the smallest change in your Airedale’s
behavior and habits. |
| Housing: |
House
with a fenced yard. |
| Life
Span: |
12
- 14 years |
| Country
of Origin: |
England |
| Conformation
Group: |
Terrier
|
| More
Resources: |
