Airedale Terrier History
Originating in England, the Airedale Terrier is a working class dog that was bred for the hunting of small animals and as guard dogs. The genealogy of this dog is not fully known. They are believed to be bred from an unidentified terrier (possibly an extinct breed) and the Otter Hound.
Airedales are tolerant and patient ,but they have a serious work attitude. Because of these traits they are highly employable. They are often used in all lines of police work and were used during World Wars I and II as delivery dogs for messages and in looking for fallen soldiers. In fact, it has been said that an Airedale can do anything any other dog can do except sit around on the couch doing nothing. They are still used today for hunting and working, but their obedience and agility qualities are also sought after by potential owners.
Breed Personality
These highly motivated dogs make excellent guard dogs for your home. They are extremely protective, but once you receive someone in your home, Airedales will easily accept the newcomer. In addition to its strong work ethic, this breed is also known to be a bit of a clown and comic – they are playful and can appear to act almost silly at times. They are normally good with children, but they are high spirited and with their strong personalities, supervision around smaller animals and cats is recommended. They are cautious of new dogs, but with proper socialization they will blossom.
Breed Description
This breed is in the AKC terrier group. They have a lifespan of 10 to 14 years. They fall in to the medium breed classification, with a height of 23 inches tall at the shoulder and weight is comparative to its size. Their coats are dense, wiry and hard, with a soft undercoat. Coloring is generally black and tan, but can have some red. They are comparatively low shedding dogs in fact from a little hair to no hair at all. In fact, they are recommend for people with allergic reactions to dog hair and are considered to be hypoallergenic . Possible health concerns are bloat, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and allergies.
This is a highly energetic breed of dog that has incredible stamina, loves lots of exercise, and enjoys hard work. The person who owns this dog should have the same traits or it might make for an unhappy relationship for both parties. Besides plenty of regular exercise Airedales also require solid and steady training using positive reinforcement.
Over the years, the Airedale has been the favorite breed of four American Presidents and has lived in the White House with these President’s during their terms of office.
Please Consider Adopting
Please consider adopting before purchasing through a breeder. Please avoid purchasing a animal from a pet store. There are plenty of pure bred Terriers and Terrier mixes in need of good homes. Click here to search for you a Airedale Terrier in need of adoption near you: <PetFinder>
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