Airedale Terrier breed description:
Appearance:
The Airedale Terriers are the largest of the British terrier, weighing between 20-33kg and have a height of somewhere between 58-61cm at the withers. The Airedale has a beautiful medium length black and tan coat with a harsh topcoat and softer undercoat. Like many other breeds of terrier the Airedale has a ‘broken’ coat, with the topcoat being hard, dense and wiry which covers the body and legs. For showing purposes a ‘crinkly’ or slightly waved coat is preferred over a curly soft coat. If they’re regularly groomed then the Airedale may shed very little. (Let it be known though that there is no such thing as a non-shedding dog – small amounts of shedding are the best you’re likely to get.) The coat color is normally a black saddle while the rest of the body is tan; or a dark grizzle saddle (black mixed with gray and white).
The Tail:
In the US the Airedale’s tail is normally docked (surgically shortened) within the first five days after their birth. This is not a requirement of the breed standard and is illegal in the UK unless it benefits the dog’s health. When the tail is not docked it is long and fluffy.
Temperament:
Airedale’s display all the classic temperament traits of the terrier. They are friendly adaptable and courageous. They can be stubborn and as they are naturally dominant they need firm handling. That said they are eager to please and very obedient, so time dedicated to training will reap instant rewards. They are not aggressive towards other dogs or people but like their terrier cousins they’re fearless and will stand their ground if they feel challenged. Airedale terriers make excellent family dogs and are particularly good with children. They’re fun loving, affectionate and will enjoy playing games. They make excellent guard dogs due to their brave and loyal nature.
Exercise:
Airedale’s are fairly flexible with the amount of exercise they require. Being a larger breed they require at least one good walk a day and a little play time at home. But, that said, they’re not averse to more then one romp in the park with the family or a couple of strolls a day. They are great hunting dogs and display a herding instinct so there’s fun to be had with games while you’re out. When you first get an Airedale puppy it is worth noting that they need to be eased into exercise. Build up their activity gradually and you’ll have a happy puppy that’ll eventually be up for walks as long as your legs can hold out!
Health:
In a 2004 UK Kennel Club survey, the most common causes of death were cancer (39.5%), old age (14%), urologic (9%), and cardiac (7%). Airedales can be affected by hip dysplasia and Eye problems. The most common conditions likely to affect the Airedale Terrier are dermatitis or skin problems and bloat. Due to their dense coat Airedale’s can be prone to dermatitis and skin disorders. Keep an eye out as often these conditions can go unnoticed, masked by the Airedale’s coat. There are two main manifestations: Itchy skin may be manifest as acral lick dermatitis (caused by licking one area excessively) or acute moist dermatitis (an oppressively itchy, inflamed and oozing patch of skin, made worse by intense licking and chewing). These skin disorders are caused by allergies, dietary imbalances and under/over-productive thyroid glands. In these cases see your local vet; it can be the case that simple dermatological issues can be improved by something as small as a supplement introduced into the diet of omega fatty acids.
Bloat or gastric torsion, in the other condition that can affect Airedale Terriers. Bloat can block the stomach causing a buildup of gas which sadly can be fatal as it can lead to cardiovascular collapse. Signs of bloat are gastric distress (stomach pain), futile attempts at vomiting, and increased salivation. Bloat usually occurs when the dog is exercised too soon after eating, much like us swimming on a full stomach so keep an eye out and leave a gap between feeding and exercising.
Health Tests:
As is common with other dog breeds it’s worth getting the Hip score of the parents of your potential Airedale Terrier puppy. The breed’s average score is 18 but obviously anything less then that is a bonus so look for a pup whose parents have the lowest possible hip scores. This will hopefully mean that your potential pup will be less likely to develop hip dysplasia in the future.
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