A devoted and protective family dog, the Airedale Terrier has many admirers; this dog is the 53rd most popular breed registered with the AKC in the United States. Highly intelligent, this athletic animal is often seen participating in obedience and agility competitions as well as in search and rescue teams.

History and Origin

The Airedale Terrier is a relatively new breed, which appeared in the late-19th century as a companion and hunter for working class citizens of Yorkshire, England. A cross between smaller terriers and Otter hounds, the Airedale Terrier is a larger terrier with very keen senses.

During World War I, this hard-working and heroic dog worked for the British and German armies; the courageous and determined breed withstood personal injuries and hardship to deliver dispatches to and from the front. Helping to locate living soldiers among the casualties, this noble dog worked tirelessly and saved many lives. Once among the most popular dogs in the United States, the Airedale Terrier slowly fell out of favor after movies and TV programs began featuring other breeds – such as Rin Tin Tin (German Shepherd) and Lassie (Rough-coated Collie).

General Information

: The Airedale is a charming dog with a comical side, especially as a puppy. Sweet and loyal with family members, this breed can be aloof with strangers; as with any breed, early socialization to other animals and to a wider circle of people is highly recommended. You’ll find your Airedale highly intelligent and quick to learn - but true to its terrier nature, this dog gets quickly bored with repetitive training and can be very stubborn about it. This is not a difficult or disloyal dog by any means, but it has a mind of its own, and doesn’t always see the point in following your instruction. This strong-willed and opinionated dog will not respond to harsh or impatient training methods, but a confident and experienced owner who understands the Airedale’s needs and temperament can actually train this breed to do quite well in various dog sports including agility and defense dog trials. Generally good with household cats and other pets if socialized to them early, the Airedale can sometimes be aggressive with other dogs.

The Airedale needs plenty of exercise and lots of quality time spent with family – and too much time alone will quickly cause your bored or frustrated Airedale to develop destructive habits. With the right owner and the right living situation, however, the Airedale Terrier makes a wonderful companion.This breed is able to withstand a lot of pain without drawing any attention to itself, so make sure any injuries or illnesses are not going unnoticed.

The Airedale requires a fair amount of grooming;burrs and other souvenirs of the great outdoors will get stuck in the coat, and the beard should be washed daily to keep it clean of food residue. Frequent trimming and brushing are a good idea to help keep the wiry, unruly coat under control.

Health Airedale Terrier

The Airedale Terrier has few health problems. The breed is susceptible to skin allergies, hip dysplasia, bleeding disorders and low thyroid function.

Your Airedale Terrier

Send us pictures and stories about your Airedale Terrier.

Airedale Discussion Group

Get tips from other Airedale Terrier lovers – and submit a few ideas of your own.