Airedale terrier – history and origin of the breed
The largest of the terriers, the Airedale terrier, comes from Yorkshire, England. Its name comes from the town of Airedale, where the so-called "waterside" terriers were exhibited. The breed was probably created by crossing English terriers, otterhunds and Scottish setters (Gordons). It is known that English farmers and hunters from the Aire Valley bred Airedale terriers in the XNUMXth century for hunting, especially river otters, as well as for sheep herding and dog fighting, which were very popular at that time. They were also used as guard dogs.
In a short time, these dogs' excellent sense of smell was appreciated. For this reason, the Airedale Terrier was widely used in Africa, India and Canada for tracking and also for exploration purposes. He served as a service dog in the British and Russian armies. The breed was also frequently used by the Red Cross during warfare. The Airedale terrier was also a fashionable companion for English ladies of high society. Currently, outside the comfort of home, it is visible in dog sports such as agility and dog tournament sports. In 1886, the English Kennel Club officially recognized the Airedale terrier breed. According to the FCI classification, the breed belongs to group 3, section 1 - large and medium terriers.
Character and skills
The Airedale terrier is a brave and intelligent dog with a cheerful temperament. Like a typical terrier, he is extremely energetic and enjoys every adventure. He is very trusting towards people, friendly and fearless, he gets along with children without any problems, which makes him a great family dog. He is an excellent guard, always vigilant and devotedly guards his territory. Despite their strong personality, Airedale Terriers are willing to cooperate and willingly undergo training. They like long walks and all forms of sports activity. Since dogs of this breed get bored quite quickly, in addition to satisfying their need for exercise, each Airedale Terrier also requires a lot of mental exercise. Otherwise, it seeks its own challenges. Then it may happen that he will dig up a neighbor's garden or go for a walk alone to attract attention. The Airedale is the only terrier that is a recognized service, tracking and protection dog.
Suggested sizes and widths of accessories for this breed of dog:
Here are the suggested sizes for adult dogs of this breed. They were selected on the basis of many years of experience in sewing accessories and the most common choices of other dog owners of this breed. Remember, only measuring will give you 100% certainty - every dog is different.
Airedale terrier appearance
The Airedale Terrier is the largest representative of the English terrier breeds. This muscular, active dog impresses with its compact proportions and graceful, elegant movements. Males reach a withers height of 58 to 61 centimeters, females 56 to 59 centimeters and a body weight of 20 to 30 kilograms. The position of the ears and the tail, which is always carried high, typical of the breed, give the impression of determination, enthusiasm and expectation. The well-proportioned head with dark, small eyes and a black nose has a barely visible stop between the upper part of the skull and the muzzle. The small V-shaped ears point forward. The muscular neck leads into a short, straight back, over which a medium-length tail (carried in the shape of a sickle) is set. Straight and well-muscled legs and a deep chest emphasize the compact, almost square figure.
What attracts attention is the thick, rough, sometimes slightly wavy fur that adheres to the body. The hair, slightly longer on the head and limbs, forms a charming beard and slightly wrinkled "stockings". The undercoat, which is very dense, short and softer than the outer coat, provides good protection against difficult weather conditions. Airedale terriers come in two-color coats. The basic fur color is light brown (red), and there is a black or dark gray saddle running along the back, neck and tip of the tail.
Care
Because Airedale terriers shed small amounts of their outer coat, their hard, coarse coat must be trimmed regularly to remove dead hair. These treatments should be performed approximately every 3-4 months to maintain the shine of the topcoat. In addition, the breed is quite easy to care for. After an intense walk, simply wipe your pet's fur with a wet cloth and, if necessary, also wipe its paws.
Airedale terrier health
Although Airedale Terriers are very hardy dogs, the breed is affected by some hereditary diseases. For this reason, reliable breeders, in order to minimize the risk of spreading these health problems, pay special attention to properly targeted selection of breeding animals.
As with most large dog breeds, Airedale terriers often suffer from:
- joint diseases, in particular hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia
- eye problems, most often including progressive retinal atrophy
- juvenile nephropathy (kidney failure), which can become extremely severe
The average life expectancy of representatives of this breed is from 10 to 12 years.
Interesting and worth knowing
Among the representatives of the breed, the first dog of US President Harding, named Laddie Boy, was the most popular. The four-legged friend accompanied the president both at official events and less formal ones, e.g. during golf matches. Warren Harding had 1000 small bronze figurines of his Airedale terrier made to prove his bond with his pet. He gave them away to his friends.
Like the Poodle, the Airedale Terrier is suitable for people who are allergic to animal hair. It can also be a suitable four-legged friend for people who are particularly sensitive to smells. If it is brushed and trimmed regularly, it does not emit the typical dog smell, even in hot summer or when wet.
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Photo used in the entry: Zuni1520, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons