HISTORY OF THE AIRDALE TERRIERS:
Airedale terriers, along with many other terriers, are descended from the extinct black and dun terrier.
These energetic dogs were bred to hunt vermin of all kinds and sizes.
They did not have highly developed sniffing and swimming skills, so in the 19th century, near the Aire River, those terriers were crossed with Otterhounds to create the "king of terriers": the Airedale terrier.
There were probably also crosses with Irish Terriers and Bull Terriers to create this tough, good-sized hunter.
Airedales are not only vermin hunters, they have also been used successfully in big game hunting and as defense and security dogs.
Most American Airedales are descended from the CH Master Briar, a British dog introduced to the country around the turn of the century.
Airedale's can still be seen today as hunting dogs for both big game and small game, as police dogs, and as wonderful family companions. Airedales also compete in agility and obedience competitions.
The Airedale terrier is known as the "king of terriers" in part because of its size.
They measure about 60 cm and their weight ranges between 25 kg in a small female and 35 kg in a large male.
The Airedale has the classic terrier head with virtually no naso-frontal (forehead) depression, V-shaped ears drooping forward, and a straight back with erect docked tail. Their profile is quite square and they are robust dogs.
The color of the Airedale is black and dun; the classic terrier's hair is dense and hard with a softer undercoat.
Long outer hair will appear practically curly.
Hair and color appear more intense when dead hair is plucked by hand.
Airedale's that have their hair cut short can appear gray and dun.
The Airedale Terrier is the largest of the terriers, a large or giant-sized dog, and has long been a working dog by nature.
At first glance it may look like a giant fox terrier in black and tan, but a closer look reveals differences that go beyond size and color.
If you are thinking of adopting a dog with these characteristics, it is essential that you adequately inform yourself of its character and the care it requires, as it is a very active dog with a special personality.
In this AnimalWised file we will detail everything you need to know about the Ariedale Terrier and its behavior.
THE PERSONALITY OF THE AIRDALE TERRIER IS VERY IMPORTANT TO PROMOTE ITS CARE:
The hound and terrier mix has slightly toned down the Airedale's personality.
They are still tough dogs, but tend to get along better with other dogs than many of the terrier breeds.
They are tolerant of the pets they grow up with and generally get along well with children, although they can be somewhat rambunctious around small children.
Airedale are somewhat aloof with strangers at first, and need early socialization and training.
They are very intelligent dogs, but with a certain degree of stubbornness and independence.
They require firmness and understanding from the time they are puppies.
Most Airedales are not great barkers, although, true to their terrier heritage, they can be serious diggers and biters.
Airedale need to interact with humans to be happy.
Airedale terriers can vary greatly when it comes to food, with some being picky eaters and others prone to obesity.
This breed is active and needs plenty of daily and regular exercise.
Combining training with exercise is often a good idea, as Airedale find fulfillment when stimulated physically and mentally. They usually live about 12 years.
You can count on your Airedale to alarm you in the face of danger, and he will be brave enough to deal with said alarm.
They can be very protective of their family, especially young children.
Early socialization is important.
Airedale can be quite stolid, so their owners must be on the lookout for injuries.
Grooming can vary a lot.
Maintaining an Airedale's coat for show requires expert hand-plucking every two months or so.
Most pet owners choose to trim curly hair once or twice a year.
With clipped hair, a quick brushing once or twice a week is sufficient.
The Airedale Terrier is a cheerful, confident, brave and intelligent dog.
He is usually friendly with people and also with other dogs, but he needs good socialization from puppyhood.
This dog is impulsive and tends to exhibit intense prey behavior.
It is necessary to train it from puppyhood, although training without abuse or domination attempts will always be preferable.
Given his mental acuity and physical strength, the Airedale Terrier is an excellent candidate for dog sports.
He can perform very well in any dog sport including Schutzhund, Mondio-ring, Agility, Canine Freestyle and more.
Its character also makes this dog a great collaborator in hunting, since it is not afraid of prey and has even been used for hunting larger game.
The courage of the airedale terrier makes this dog an excellent guard and protector.
Although this breed is very versatile, it needs a lot of physical and mental exercise.
An Airedale can be a bit rough when playing with young children and dogs that aren't used to rough play.
THE BEST CARE OF THE AIRDALE TERRIER:
The Airedale requires a lot of exercise, so it is not recommended for living in a small apartment.
It is necessary that you have at least a medium garden or patio to be able to play.
Long daily walks are necessary for proper socialization and to help burn off energy.
The game as a means of training is often very useful.
Even with a garden, daily walks, and a daily play schedule, the Airedale may need more exercise, especially during his first three years of life.
It does not hurt to take it to the field or practice some dynamic canine sport such as Agility.
The coat is a matter of conflict for those who have an airedale but do not have enough time to take care of it.
The coat of the airedale terrier requires frequent brushing, but it also needs specialized care on a regular basis.
It is best to take the dog to the dog groomer about twice a year, and brush it regularly.
It is important to clean his beard frequently to avoid food remains.
If you have an airedale for show, coat care should be done by an expert and more frequently.
THE EDUCATION OF THE AIRDALE TERRIER:
The education of the airedale terrier must begin early, when it is still a puppy, to initiate a correct socialization of the dog that allows it to relate well to people, pets and the environment in which it is going to live.
Providing you with a variety of positive experiences will help us prevent future behavior problems.
Physical exercise is also of paramount importance for this very reason as otherwise you can develop destructive and excitable habits.
Intelligence games are a good option.
Obedience can be somewhat complicated, but with consistency and the use of positive reinforcement, our airedale terrier will learn the basic orders of obedience and the education that must be maintained at home.
Previously we mentioned Agility as a sport that also stimulates their intelligence, recommended in this breed.
THE HEALTH OF THE AIRDALE TERRIER:
This breed is usually very hardy and has few health problems.
Attention should be paid to eye diseases, skin infections and hip dysplasia.
The ideal is to prevent these problems before they begin to develop, for this we recommend the following indications:
- Although it is a dog that needs a lot of physical exercise, it is advisable not to force it, as this can cause the premature appearance of hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia.
- A high-quality diet based on fish and rice feed will help prevent skin problems as well as offering supplements such as omega 3 omega 6 that will give your coat a great shine.
- We must pay attention to its facial cleaning by removing its legañas, food remains and accumulated dirt.
- In the canine hairdresser it will also be ideal to ask the professional for a review of these areas.
- It will be enough to go to the veterinarian twice a year, who will help us to quickly detect any disease and provide the airedale with the relevant vaccines.
IS A SUITABLE PERSON FOR AN AIRDALE TERRIER:
If you have never seen an adult Airedale Terrier, the time to do so is before you decide on this breed.
It is advisable to see more than one copy.
Not every good dog owner will necessarily be the right person for an Airedale Terrier.
It is a medium-large sized dog, with a height at the withers for the FCI/KC of 55 to 61 cm for males and 56 to 55 cm for females and without specifying weight; for the AKC 58 cm at the withers and weighing between 20.4 and 29.5 kg. Thus, the owner must have the physical ability to handle a dog of this size and strength.
Add to that the ability to take charge and enjoy with the Airedale Terrier's cheerful, exuberant and playful personality.
As a final point, this dog should be accepted as a lifelong commitment.
If you buy a puppy, it will remain a puppy for 18 months, a young adult for another 18 months, and share your life for another 10 years.
The Airedale Terrier is a protector of property, but will not necessarily stay on it.
The solo expeditions of these "hunters" often have a tragic end with road traffic, so the Airedale Terrier living in the countryside or in residential areas on the outskirts of cities should have a fenced and safe area. .
Although this breed does not have its best place in the cities, there are exceptions, and if a garden is not available, a sturdy leash and frequent walks should suffice.
If you admire just about everything about this breed, you'll need to go one step further to learn about character changes as they occur.
One that comes to mind is the transition a puppy undergoes as they enter adolescence.
Perhaps you have known or raised a fifteen-year-old son.
There are many similarities, but be clear, it is easier and shorter to get through this stage with an Airedale Terrier.
Keep your good humor and be consistent and firm in enforcing the house rules: all this will pass in a few months.
Airedale Terriers are said to reach adulthood around the age of three.
An Airedale Terrier owner needs to have a good sense of humor, be fair, firm, and consistent, reward the dog's every effort with praise, and be generous with rewards when he does a good job. Always remember that if you can't control your Airedale Terrier, he will happily and instantly take charge.
All terriers are opportunists, eager to climb the family hierarchy, and the Airedale is perhaps number one in this regard.
From a canine point of view, he cannot trust a weak leader who cannot ensure the survival and safety of the pack, so when we say that the Airedale Terrier is capable of assuming any position, this includes even the title of leader. supreme.
After all, he knows he is the "King of the Terriers."
However, any dog with such innate versatility and intelligence will not easily submit to training where he has to learn things by mechanical repetition.
It is constantly distracted by sights, noises, and smells, while most races are only moved by one or two of these three impulses.
The owner must understand this mental capacity before beginning their training.
Instructors used to agree that terriers, in general, were not good students, even labeling them "terrible terriers" or "untrainable terriers."
Lately, many trainers have found that it is not the terrier's fault, but rather the teaching method.
Positive reinforcement, praise for the correct response to a given command works, while harsh verbal and physical corrections for mistakes have no effect.
This positive reasoning also applies to training utensils.
Head restraint collars have been shown to be a better choice for terriers than the link choke collar.
The Airedale Terrier is instinctively a protector of his property and his family, and his size and his powerful bark, which shows us his large teeth implanted in strong jaws, make him a terrible enemy for those who do not know this breed. .
It will only attack if it perceives that it is necessary to do so.
Wherever the Airedale Terrier is used as a guard dog, it is trained to do this job.
There are far more stories of Airedale Terriers saving children from drowning or being thrown into traffic than stories of them attacking an intruder.
A formal, friendly and extroverted temperament is, however, of paramount importance in the Airedale that we have as a family companion, just as it should be for the show dog, the working dog and the obedience dog.
THE BATH AND CLEANING OF THE AIRDALE TERRIER:
The Airedale Terrier bath is every two or three months, always using a shampoo for dogs that are neutral, never a shampoo for people, not even those formulated for children.
- ARTERO MOISTURIZING SHAMPOO 250ml.
- Arquivet sanitary wipes.
- Crafty Aurigel.
- Cunning eye-cleaning thimble.
- Artero PRETTY EYES 250ml.
- KERATIN VITAL CONDITIONER (ARTERO).
- VITAL PROTEIN (ARTERO).
- TOILET CLEANING WIPES.
- Artero Classic Perfume.
To clean the Airedale Terrier's ears, it will be necessary to clean the hairs, pulling them out with the help of your fingers. After removing the hair, it is important to clean with a cotton pad moistened with a product specially formulated for it.
The nails need to be trimmed using a special nail clipper for dogs.
Dog nails are very different from human nails, and not just in appearance.
If you have doubts, go to a dog grooming professional to do it, but do not neglect it.
In fact, you should take it to the dog groomer at least every 3 months.
In addition to cutting the nails and hair, the dog groomer can take care of all the grooming of the dog.
