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AKC: Airedale Terrier breed overview

Terrier group · England

Airedale Terrier

Also called Airedale, King of Terriers, Waterside Terrier

The largest terrier, bred by Yorkshire workers to hunt otters and rats, and later trusted with wartime messages.

The Airedale was developed in the valley of the River Aire in Yorkshire by crossing working terriers with the Otterhound. It kept the terrier's confidence and humor but gained size, a love of water and the ability to turn its paw to almost any job, which is why it has served as hunter, police dog and army messenger.

Original AI-generated breed illustration

Weight

18 to 29 kg

40 to 64 lb

Height

56 to 61 cm

at the shoulder

Life expectancy

11 to 14 yrs

Activity estimate

90 to 120 min

editorial daily planning range

Adult-size estimate

18 months

approximate model input

Life with a Airedale Terrier

In the mid 1800s, mill and factory workers around the Aire and Wharfe valleys wanted a terrier that could do more than bolt a rat from a drain. They crossed the old black and tan working terrier with the Otterhound, and the resulting dogs could swim, track along riverbanks and take on otters and water rats that smaller terriers could not handle. Agricultural shows around Bingley helped fix the type, and the name Airedale had stuck by the late 1870s.

Size and brains carried the breed far beyond the riverbank. Before the First World War, police forces in Britain and Germany experimented with Airedales, and during the war Lieutenant Colonel Edwin Richardson's British War Dog School trained many as messengers and sentries. Soldiers valued their ability to cross broken ground under fire and keep going. In North America, hunters took them after larger game and kept them as all-purpose farm dogs.

At home the Airedale is bold, playful and something of a clown, with a long memory and firm opinions. It is usually affectionate with family and polite but reserved with strangers. Like most terriers it can be quick to answer a challenge from another dog, and small animals that run are fair game unless it grew up with them. Owners often say the breed stays puppyish until about 3 years old.

A great match for

active owners who like a dog with a sense of humor
families with older children
tracking, obedience and working trials
people who want a low-shedding coat and will keep up the grooming

Think twice if

digging and chasing small animals
may not back down from dogs of the same sex
coat needs stripping or clipping every few months
bored quickly by repetitive training
long, mouthy adolescence

Personality and needs at a glance

Living together

Good with children

Good with other dogs

Open with strangers

Apartment friendly

Copes with alone time

Energy and character

Energy level

Playfulness

Easy to train

Barking

5 means very vocal

Care and climate

Grooming needs

Shedding

Drooling

Handles cold

Handles heat

How much an Airedale Terrier eats

Illustrative calculations for neutered adults at midpoint breed weights, with food at 370 kcal per 100 g and 100 g per cup. These are not measured breed requirements. Use actual weight, the food label and veterinary body-condition advice.

Dog	Weight	Calories	Dry food
Female, relaxed lifestyle	22 kg	980 kcal	265 g (2.8 cups)
Female, typical pet	22 kg	1120 kcal	300 g (3 cups)
Male, typical pet	26 kg	1290 kcal	350 g (3.5 cups)
Male, very active	26 kg	1610 kcal	435 g (4.3 cups)

Full Airedale Terrier feeding guide Calculate for my dog

Care guides for the Airedale Terrier

FeedingAn active adult of around 25 kg (55 lb) usually needs about 300 to 380 g of a typical dry food a day, roughly 3 to 4 cups, split into two meals. Working or very busy dogs need more, older and neutered dogs often less.Read more Puppy growthAiredale puppies are born mostly black, and the tan spreads as they grow while the black shrinks back to a saddle over the first year or so. Most reach adult height by about 12 months but take until 18 months or later to fill out through the chest and muscles.Read more ExerciseExpect to provide 60 to 90 minutes of exercise each day, mixing walking, running and brain work. Airedales enjoy swimming, fetch, tracking and tug, and many do well at obedience, agility and working trials once they see the point.Read more GroomingThe Airedale sheds very little when the coat is managed, but the wiry hair keeps growing and the dead hair has to come out. Hand-stripping every three to four months keeps the correct harsh texture and rich color.Read more TrainingAiredales are clever and learn fast, but they get bored by repetition and will test the rules. Short, varied sessions with food and play work best: ask for a behavior a few times, reward well, then move on to something new.Read more HealthAiredales are generally hardy, but the breed is known to be predisposed to hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, some skin conditions and certain cancers. Like other deep-chested dogs they can also suffer bloat.Read more

Things owners are often surprised by

1Early names included Waterside Terrier and Bingley Terrier; Airedale was in general use by the late 1870s.
2Adults stand about 56 to 61 cm (22 to 24 in), roughly twice the height of many other terriers.
3The British Army trained Airedales as messenger and sentry dogs during the First World War.
4Show dogs are hand-stripped, a technique that plucks out dead hair to keep the coat harsh and weatherproof.
5Airedales were among the first breeds tried for police work in Britain and Germany in the early 1900s.

Airedale Terrier questions

Why is the Airedale called the King of Terriers?

It is the tallest and heaviest of the terrier breeds, and early fanciers were proud of how many jobs it could do. An Airedale could hunt vermin, retrieve from water, track, guard, and work with police and soldiers. The nickname reflects that range as much as its size. Owners like to add that it also behaves as though it owns the house.

Do Airedales shed?

Very little when the coat is stripped regularly, because the dead hair is removed by hand before it drops. Clipped coats also shed lightly, though the texture changes. No dog is truly hypoallergenic, but some people with mild dog allergies find a well-groomed Airedale easier to live with than a heavy shedder. Spend time with adult Airedales before committing if allergies are a concern.

Are Airedales good with other dogs?

Many live happily with other dogs, particularly ones they grew up with. Some, especially males, will not back down if another dog of the same sex challenges them. Early socialization, careful introductions and pairing opposite sexes all reduce problems. Watch for stiff posture and hard stares at the park, and leave before tension builds.

What is the difference between hand-stripping and clipping?

Hand-stripping plucks dead hair out by the root with fingers or a stripping knife, letting a fresh harsh coat grow in. Clipping cuts the hair at the surface and leaves the dead roots in place, which slowly softens the coat and fades the colors. Stripping takes longer and costs more but keeps the coat weatherproof. Clipping is perfectly fine for a pet whose owner prefers convenience.

Can an Airedale be a good guard dog?

Airedales are alert, brave and protective of their people, and their size and deep bark put off most unwanted visitors. They are not usually aggressive without reason, which makes them better household watchdogs than true guard dogs. Good socialization keeps that protectiveness sensible, so the dog can tell the difference between a delivery driver and a real threat.

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