 The Airedale Terrier (also known as the Waterside Terrier because it was originally bred to hunt otters) is an agreeable and fun-loving dog breed. Airedales have a sweet disposition and are both extremely loyal and intelligent. They have very good eyesight and hearing, are very agile and have unending courage. These qualities make them great small game hunters, mainly hunting foxes, badgers, weasels, ducks and birds.
Airedales are the largest dogs in the Terrier family. The Airedale's coat is tan with black areas on the sides and upper parts of the body. An Airedale's ears have a half-drop and the tail is normally docked. Their fur is very wiry and it is generally kept short. Airedales require lots of care and grooming and should ideally be brushed daily.
The Airedale breed originated in Yorkshire, England during the 1860s by the crossing of the old English rough-coated Black and Tan terrier and the Otterhound. The result was an intelligent, hardy dog perfectly at home in the water, on land, at work, or with the family. In 1886 the Airedale Terrier breed was formally recognised by The Kennel Club of England.
Airedales were one of the first breeds to be used as police dogs in Germany and England in the 1900s, and during World War I Airedales were enlisted by the Russian and British armies to aid the Red Cross, locate wounded solders and to carry messages to soldiers behind enemy lines.
The life span of an Airedale is approximate 12-14 years although they have been known to live as long as 17 years. The Airedale Terrier makes a good jogging partner because of his athletic physique so an Airedale's ideal owner should be strong, athletic, and confident. Airedales need a lot of space to roam because of their inherent activeness, so flats are generally not the best of places for them to live. |
