SCRAPS Breed Profile AIREDALE TERRIER

Stats

Country of Origin: England Group: Terrier Use today: Airedale is primarily a companion dog, but there are still working lines out there. Some of the Airedale's talents are guarding, watchdog, hunting, rodent control, tracking, military work, police work and competitive obedience. Life Span: 10 to 12 years Color: Coat colors include tan and black and tan and grizzle. The head and ears can be tan, with the ears being a slightly darker shade of tan. The legs, thighs, elbows and the under part of the body and chest are also tan, sometimes running into the shoulder. In some lines there is a small white blaze on the chest. The back of the dog, sides and upper parts of the body can be black or dark grizzle in color. Coat: Airedales have a hard, short-haired, double coat. Grooming: The hair should be plucked about twice a year, but for dogs that are to be shown, much more intensive grooming is needed. Trim excessive hair between the pads of the feet when necessary. If you keep the coat stripped it will shed little to no hair, however if you do not strip the coat, you will most likely find fur piles around your baseboards, even with trimming and brushing almost every day. They actually require a good bit of grooming. Burrs stick in the coat and beard. The beard should be washed daily because of food residue. Airedale Terriers can be good for some allergy sufferers. Height: Males 22 - 24 inches; Females 22 - 23 inches Weight: Males 50 - 65 pounds; Females 40 - 45 pounds

Profile

In Brief: The Airedale has a sweet disposition, wiry outer coat with a soft undercoat. Coat but when challenged, is not afraid to stand up for colors include tan and black and tan and grizzle. himself. Obedience training is important for The head and ears should be tan, with the ears these quick learners, but make sure to keep it being a slightly darker shade of tan. The legs, interesting - they can get bored easily! They also thighs, elbows and the under part of the body thrive with daily exercise. Although relatively and chest are also tan, sometimes running into easy to maintain, the Airedale coat needs the shoulder. In some lines there is a small white regular brushing and stripping. Airedales were blaze on the chest. The back of the dog, sides bred for active work, and therefore need plenty and upper parts of the body should be black or of exercise. dark grizzle in color.

Description: The Airedale Terrier is the largest Temperament: The Airedale Terrier will usually of the terriers and stands square in appearance. do okay with children if they have early exposure The skull is about the same length as the and socializa tion, however they may play too muzzle, with a very slight stop that is hard to rough for very small ones. Courageous and see. The head is long and flat. The nose is protective. Fairly friendly with strangers. black. The teeth should meet in a level, vice-like Intelligent, pleasant and loyal. Sensitive and or scissors bite. The small eyes are dark in responsive, he can be obedience trained at a color. The V-shaped ears fold slightly to the side high level. Airedale Terriers are fun-loving and of the head and forward. The chest is deep. The playful when they are puppies. Airedales will be top line of the back is level. The front legs are happy to please you if there is nothing more perfectly straight. The tail is set high on the pressing in the environment (chipmunk, other back. The double coat has a hard, dense and dog, food). An Airedale is extremely loyal, but as an avid hunter you would have to be an ace Exercise: Airedales were bred for active work, trainer to get him to come away from a and therefore need plenty of exercise. They chipmunk even for raw steak! They are naturally need to be taken for long daily walks. Most of lively and can be very rowdy if they do not them love to play with a ball, swim or retrieve receive enough daily mental and physical objects and once fully grown will happily run exercise. Train this dog not to jump on humans. alongside a bicycle. Without enough attention The Airedale Terrier needs proper obedience and exercise the Airedale Terrier will become training and an owner who knows how to be restless and bored and will usually get itself into "Top Dog" The Airedale Terrier may have trouble. The exercise requirement can go down dominance challenges toward family members somewhat after the first two years (as with many he sees as submissive. This can lead to dogs) but the first two years with an Airedale are willfulness and disobedience. They are not very strenuous on the human. Then they start to difficult to train, but they do not respond to get mellower. harsh, overbearing training methods. The Airedale Terrier is intelligent enough to perceive Origins: The first Airedales looked completely quickly what is required of it, but if you ask it to different from the Airedales of today. They were do the same thing over and over again it may originally known as the Waterside and Bingley refuse. Try to give it some variety to its training, Terriers, descended from the now extinct black- making the exercise a challenge. They need a and-tan type terrier. The breed was later crossed calm, but firm, confident and consistent handler. with the Otterhound to make him a better With the right handler, the Airedale Terrier can swimmer. It is also said to have Manchester do well in various dog sports including defense Terrier in its blood. They were developed about a dog trials. This breed generally gets along well hundred years ago in the country of York from the with household cats and other animals, but they ancient Working Terrier. The Airedale is often sometimes try to dominate other dogs. This called "The King of Terriers." The breed was used depends upon the way the humans around the as a vermin hunter and was named for the Valley dog treat him, their training and the individual of the Aire in England, which was heavily dog. populated with small game. In addition to his role as a small game hunter, the Airedale has been Health: A very hardy breed, although some may used to hunt big game in India, Africa and suffer from eye problems, hip dysplasia and skin Canada. The breed was also used as a police dog infections. If your Airedale Terrier has dry skin, and a wartime guard in World War II. Today the he should be fed an adjusted omega-6/omega-3 Airedale is primarily a companion dog, but there fatty acid ratio in the diet. are still working lines out there. Some of the Airedale's talents are guarding, watchdog, hunting, Living Conditions: The Airedale Terrier is not rodent control, tracking, military work, police work recommended for apartment life. They are very and competitive obedience. active indoors and will do best with at least an average-sized yard.

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