A happy Airedale Terrier

Airedale Terrier Insurance, Care and Health Advice

The Airedale Terrier originates from Yorkshire and was originally bred for hunting vermin along the riverbanks of the River Aire. Also known as the “King of Terriers”, it’s the largest of the Terrier breeds.

It’s thought to have come from a cross between an Otterhound and the now extinct black and tan Terrier, back in the 19th century. They were used by the military in the World Wars as tracking dogs because of their fantastic scent tracking. The most common coat colour for this breed is black and tan.

Airedale Terrier Facts

Dog breed type icon
Type
Terrier
Dog breed lifespan icon
Lifespan
10 - 12 years
Dog breed size icon
Size
Medium
Dog breed weight icon
Weight
18 - 30 kg
Dog breed height icon
Height
53 - 60 cm
Dog breed temperament icon
Temperament
Intelligent, independent and outgoing
Dog breed exercise icon
Exercise
60 - 120 mins per day
Dog breed grooming icon
Grooming
High maintenance

Is an Airedale Terrier Right for Me?

The Airedale Terrier is very intelligent with boundless energy. They need regular training and space to run and play in. If you live in a small house or are a first-time dog owner, they may not suit you.

However, if you can provide them with plenty of space and training, you’ll be rewarded with a loving companion for all the family. They form strong bonds with their owners and can be protective, so make good guard dogs... if that’s what you’re looking for!

An Airedale Terrier Puppy

What Are Airedale Terrier Puppies Like?

Airedale Terrier puppies are cute bundles of fluff. Full of energy and confidence they need a firm but fair hand from an early age to prevent any unwanted behaviour. Training is very important with this breed as they can be very independent and stubborn. 

Puppy socialisation and training are essential. Be warned, they can be a real handful until they’re at least two years old, especially if they’re left to their own devices.

An Airedale Terrier running down a forest path

Life with an Airedale Terrier

Life with this breed will be full of fun! They want to be on the go all the time - going out for long walks, hiking, jogging, or having a go at dog sports like agility or hunting. Any activity you can think of, they’ll want to do it! 

They’re not the type to be quietly sitting by the fire, so are best suited to owners with an active lifestyle. They get bored easily and will get up to mischief if left alone or don’t get enough exercise.

Caring for Your Airedale Terrier

Whether you choose to feed a dry food, wet food, or both is your choice. But, whatever you choose, check the food packaging for feeding guidelines. This is usually based on your dog’s adult weight. 

Airedale Terriers are known for piling on the pounds, especially if they don’t get enough exercise. Monitor your dog’s weight regularly, and check with your vet or vet nurse if you need any advice on feeding.

This breed has a harsh double coat made up of a wiry, stiff topcoat and a shorter, soft undercoat. Their coat can be clipped short, so you only need to give them a quick brush a couple of times a week. 

If you want to maintain their coat length, it’ll need daily grooming, regular hand-stripping and trimming a few times throughout the year. Hand-stripping involves removing dead hair by hand. This is commonly done in breeds that have a double coat. If you’re not sure how to do this, a professional groomer can do it for you.

This dog breed is extremely intelligent and energetic, so training and exercise are essential to keep them out of trouble. Consistency is vital otherwise they’ll be off doing their own thing! Their natural hunting instincts will soon kick in, so keeping their attention can be tricky. 

Training classes are great for socialisation and picking up tips on how to keep your pooch in check. Exercise is essential, and not just a quick walk round the block. They’ll need some high energy-burning games and places to explore to burn off their boundless energy.

Airedale Terrier Insurance

At Everypaw, our Airedale Terrier Dog Insurance provides a variety of coverage options, and we understand that it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. That's why we simplify the process by providing a clear comparison table for easy decision-making.

Our Dog Insurance goes beyond just vet fees. Our primary goal is to ensure that both you and your dog are taken care of with the best interests in mind; all our policies come with a range of additional benefits, from complementary treatment to 24/7 access to a UK vet team. We're all about insuring your dog with their and your best interests at heart.

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Common Airedale Terrier Health Problems by Vetstream

Luckily this breed doesn’t suffer from many health issues. We’ve joined forces with veterinary experts Vetstream to provide some information on commonly seen health issues that you may want to keep an eye out for.

Bloat is a condition seen in bigger breeds, middle-aged and older dogs, or dogs that are highly stressed. In bloat, gas accumulates in the stomach. Burping quickly relieves this gas, but some dogs struggle to do this causing the stomach to inflate like a balloon. The stomach can swell or twist on itself which is a life-threatening emergency. 

If you think your dog is suffering from bloat, call your vet immediately. Your vet may need to give your dog a fluid drip if they’re in shock and will need to put a tube into the stomach to let the gas out. If the stomach has twisted surgery may be the only option.

This is a common problem that tends to affect larger breeds, especially pedigree dogs. It causes the hip joints to become unstable causing pain and lameness, and eventually arthritis in older dogs. 

Hip dysplasia is inherited and is often made worse by things like poor diet or too much exercise in young growing dogs. In most dogs, it can be managed with pain relief and anti-inflammatories. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary. 

Hip scoring schemes are available for early detection of the condition so dogs can be treated, and to prevent affected dogs from being used for breeding. If you buy a pedigree puppy, ask the breeder about the parents’ hip score status. Low scores mean your puppy is less likely to develop hip dysplasia.

Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) causes problems like weight gain despite a good appetite, bald patches, feeling cold, and poor moulting causing coat matting. It can be a tricky condition to diagnose, but your vet can do some blood tests to measure the level of thyroid hormone in the blood. 

The condition can be easily managed by giving hormone replacement tablets for the rest of their life. Your dog will soon start to feel better but will need regular blood tests to make sure the tablets are working properly.

Quick Airedale Terrier Q&A

Understanding the Airedale Terrier temperament is important to avoid any aggressive or dangerous behaviour. They have a high prey drive and are very loyal dogs so can become protective and aggressive if they’re not trained correctly from an early age. 

Consistency is key when training this breed. They’re extremely intelligent and willing but can be easily distracted. It may take time, but with regular positive reward-based training your Airedale Terrier will soon be top of the class.

If you have the time to dedicate to training and exercise, this breed makes a great family dog. They’re loving and loyal and enjoy going out for long walks. Be warned though, if they’re not exercised regularly and their minds aren’t kept active, they’ll soon get up to mischief.

Because of their size and temperaments, this breed isn’t the best breed choice of first-time owners. They need consistent training from an early age and must be given lots of exercise to prevent any unwanted behaviours. Even experienced dog owners can find the Airedale Terrier a handful at times!

That’s All You Need to Know About Airedale Terriers

This breed isn’t for the faint-hearted dog owner! They’re intelligent, independent and full of energy and will run rings around you if they're not trained or don't get enough exercise. But they have an enormous heart, lots of love to give and make great family pets if trained from an early age. Be prepared to have an active lifestyle with an Airedale about!

Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Canis

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.

 

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