Edie MacKenzie

Edie MacKenzie is a published author, traveler, dog lover, and tortoise enthusiast. Passionate about what she does, her books provide peopel a firm grounding in the dog breed and their unique characteristics with a nice touch of humor.

Focus on the Airedale Terrier

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A medium-sized, athletically built dog, the Airedale can stand up to 24 inches at the withers, and weigh as much as 65 pounds. It is the biggest of the true terrier breeds, and is often known as the ‘King of Terriers’

They have a wiry, black and tan coat and a unique ‘square’ profile, which makes them easily recognizable. The Airedale has the typical, ‘game’ terrier temperament, with an alert and energetic demeanor that suggests they are ready to meet any challenge.

The breed originated in Yorkshire, England in the area between the Rivers Aire and Wharf. The original cross was between the Otterhound and Welsh terrier, and was called by a number of names, including Waterside terrier, Bingly terrier, and the Rough coated terrier

The breed was recognized by the UK Kennel Club in 1886, and thereafter was known as the Airedale Terrier.

By this time the breed had already gained a reputation as a hard working, trustworthy dog, and this saw it make the transition from a purely hunting dog, to one that became a favored breed of the police and military.

These are active, independent and highly intelligent dogs. They are generally easy to train, but have a decidedly stubborn streak and also become bored quite easily. It is therefore important to base training on short, very focused sessions.

But the Airedale isn’t just all work and no play. These fun-loving dogs have a decided sense of humor and a genuine love of life. They love to play and make excellent pets for the right owner.

The Airedale is a generally healthy dog although it is not immune to the medical problems that typically affect purebred dogs. Hip displaysia, eye problems and skin disorders (especially hot spots) occur in the breed. Bloat, a serious, often fatal, condition can also occur if the dog is exercised too soon after a meal. Average lifespan for the breed is 12 years.

The rough wiry coat of the Airedale requires a daily brush down to keep it in good condition. The coat will also have to be professionally hand stripped a couple of times a year.

The Airedale is a low shedding breed, so it is a good for those who have a particular aversion for dog hair. It may even be suitable for allergy sufferers.

They ideal owner for an Airedale is someone who is reasonably active and can give the dog a lot of attention and daily exercise. These dynamic terriers are simply not suited to the lazy life, and will not do well in an apartment.

As with most active breeds, they will look for ways to amuse themselves if they are bored, and this can lead to destructive behaviors like digging, chewing and problem barking.

If you’re looking for a name for your Airedale Terrier, the best advice is to visit a dog names, website. The one that I recommend is Puppy Names HQ, which has a huge database of excellent dog names including 1000s of girl dog names.

The Airedale

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Airedale History and origin:

Developed by crossing old English black and tan terrier with Otterhound bloodlines, the Airedale was first used in 19th century England for big game hunting, vermin killing, and police and military work. The breed is named after the valley of Aire in Yorkshire.

Description:

The tallest of the terriers, the Airedale stands 22 to 23 inches at the shoulder and weighing between 50 and 60 pounds. He has a strong, muscular, sturdy body and a wiry, non-shedding coat that requires daily grooming with a stiff brush and periodic clipping. Show dogs, however, need hand-stripping, a process that involves pulling dead hair out by hand to preserve the luster and hard texture of the coat. Color is normally black-and-tan, with some red and, less often, white markings.

About the Airedale:

This beautiful, strong, athletic breed exhibits all the tenacity and determination of a terrier, only in a larger package. The Airedale is stubborn and is often difficult to train. He learns slowly, so do not expect one to pick up on things as quickly as a German Shepherd or a Border Collie. The Airedale is active, sometimes flighty, and often sensitive to the demands of training. If an Airedale resists learning a certain command, the last thing you should do is get firmer with the dog. His resistance will only increase and could accelerate into panic. He should not be spoiled, either; a concise, incremental training technique needs to be implemented from puppy hood. Though affectionate with his owners, the Airedale tends to be suspicious of strangers and can show aggression toward people and dogs. He makes a great watchdog because of his territorial instinct. The Airedale cannot always discriminate between a friend and a stranger, however, and he may give your friends and your children’s friends a hard time. This breed is not recommended for families with young children. Early obedience training and lots of socialization with people and other dogs from an early age is mandatory.

Feeding Your Airedale

Recommended feeding for the Airedale is at least 1-1 ½ cans (13.3oz) of high-quality dog food or the fresh meat equivalent everyday with biscuit added.

Ideal home:

A house with a fenced yard is essential for this breed. The owner of an Airedale should be a strong, confident leader who combines firm discipline with patience and precision. Persons considering this breed should desire a dog that has an active, tenacious temperament and is reserved with strangers. Nervous persons will create a pushy, obnoxious dog that lacks confidence. Overbearing types may bring out fear-aggressive behavior. The Airedale needs daily exercise and makes a good jogging partner because of his athletic physique. If left alone for long periods, he might become destructive and noisy. This breed has a high prey drive, so be careful around small animals. He may not tolerate the hectic, unpredictable behavior of young children. Older children are okay, provided they can gain the animal’s respect by working him in obedience. The elderly and the disabled may have trouble controlling this energetic, driven Airedale.

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