The Airedale Terrier
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Courtesy of Yvonne Murgatroyd Pictures courtesy of Yvonne Murgatroyd "BUXTON" Airedales & Pomeranians. [email protected] |
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.PERSONALITY:
The Airedale is a man made breed during the 1800's and were used for hunting Otter and Water rats, he is the product of a cross between an Otterhound and the now extinct Old English Black & Tan Terrier, which after some research it was found to be the very early Welsh Terrier.
He is the largest of the Terrier breeds as is known as The King Of Terriers.
He is an excellent guard dog, who will NOT go out and attack anyone who comes into the garden as some other breeds do., but rather he will bark to let his owners know that there is someone there, and will stand and stare at the stranger, tail up with a barely perceptible wag.
He is a wonderful child's playmate, taking no offence if play gets a little rough. But as in all breeds of dog, the child MUST be taught to respect any dog. (In other words Train Your Child".)
STUBBORN.... Oh yes, but so are all people of character.
LOYAL:.... Yes to the death if necessary
GOOD FRIEND:....Always!
CLOWNS & ENTERTAINERS....Without a doubt.
WATCH DOG....The very best!
IS THIS THE BEST DOG FOR YOU:
If you are "Houseproud" or have an immaculate garden, then I don't think the Airedale is for you, they are Terriers, they never grow up, and can be very boisterous when puppies.
But if you don't mind the odd hole being dug in your flower bed, or having muddy paws on your white tiles, then yes he could be the dog for you.
You can provide him with a patch of his own to dig in, bury bones and treat there and she will get to know that this is HIS patch.
He is the largest of the Terrier breeds as is known as The King Of Terriers.
He is an excellent guard dog, who will NOT go out and attack anyone who comes into the garden as some other breeds do., but rather he will bark to let his owners know that there is someone there, and will stand and stare at the stranger, tail up with a barely perceptible wag.
He is a wonderful child's playmate, taking no offence if play gets a little rough. But as in all breeds of dog, the child MUST be taught to respect any dog. (In other words Train Your Child".)
STUBBORN.... Oh yes, but so are all people of character.
LOYAL:.... Yes to the death if necessary
GOOD FRIEND:....Always!
CLOWNS & ENTERTAINERS....Without a doubt.
WATCH DOG....The very best!
IS THIS THE BEST DOG FOR YOU:
If you are "Houseproud" or have an immaculate garden, then I don't think the Airedale is for you, they are Terriers, they never grow up, and can be very boisterous when puppies.
But if you don't mind the odd hole being dug in your flower bed, or having muddy paws on your white tiles, then yes he could be the dog for you.
You can provide him with a patch of his own to dig in, bury bones and treat there and she will get to know that this is HIS patch.
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IS THIS THE BEST DOG FOR YOU:
If you are "Houseproud" or have an immaculate garden, then I don't think the Airedale is for you, they are Terriers, they never grow up, and can be very boisterous when puppies.
But if you don't mind the odd hole being dug in your flower bed, or having muddy paws on your white tiles, then yes he could be the dog for you.
You can provide him with a patch of his own to dig in, bury bones and treat there and she will get to know that this is HIS patch.
WHERE DO I GET MY PUPPY:
ONLY from a registered breeder, as with lots of other breeds there are many 'backyard' breeders, who breed their bitch without regard for what health problems she might have.
Try and see both parents and see what their temperaments are like, especially the mother, she 'teaches' the puppies how to behave.
A registered breeder will have their stock x-rayed for Hip Dysplasia, and would is asked show you the certificate.
All puppies should be given a diet sheet and general instructions on what to do and not to do. Puppies should have had their first vaccine and also be micro-chipped, the registration certificate may not be available when puppy is ready for his new home as KUSA take their time regarding issuing certificates.
A good breeder will ask the prospective owners lots of questions, like, where will the dog sleep, will there be someone at home all day, are your fences secure etc. Also if they will have the dog/bitch neutered/spayed.
A Spayed bitch makes a wonderful companion. The male of the Human race has some hang ups about neutering a male for some unknown reason.
A bitch comes into season about every 6 months and can only conceive at these times, whereas an un-neutered male can sire a litter of puppies every day of his life.
Generally the Airedale is a very healthy breed with very few problems.
WHICH OTHER BREEDS ARE COMPATIBLE?
The Airedale gets on with most breeds, I have had them with the Miniature Schnauzer, Welsh Terriers, Smooth and Wire Fox Terriers, and also German Shepherds.
TWO OR MORE
Well there are some sayings:
What is better than One Airedale? Two of course.
Airedales are like Potato Chips, you can never have just one.
But I would add the rider, don't get two at the same time from the same litter, they will bond with each other rather than the family, rather space them 6-9 months apart.
If you are "Houseproud" or have an immaculate garden, then I don't think the Airedale is for you, they are Terriers, they never grow up, and can be very boisterous when puppies.
But if you don't mind the odd hole being dug in your flower bed, or having muddy paws on your white tiles, then yes he could be the dog for you.
You can provide him with a patch of his own to dig in, bury bones and treat there and she will get to know that this is HIS patch.
WHERE DO I GET MY PUPPY:
ONLY from a registered breeder, as with lots of other breeds there are many 'backyard' breeders, who breed their bitch without regard for what health problems she might have.
Try and see both parents and see what their temperaments are like, especially the mother, she 'teaches' the puppies how to behave.
A registered breeder will have their stock x-rayed for Hip Dysplasia, and would is asked show you the certificate.
All puppies should be given a diet sheet and general instructions on what to do and not to do. Puppies should have had their first vaccine and also be micro-chipped, the registration certificate may not be available when puppy is ready for his new home as KUSA take their time regarding issuing certificates.
A good breeder will ask the prospective owners lots of questions, like, where will the dog sleep, will there be someone at home all day, are your fences secure etc. Also if they will have the dog/bitch neutered/spayed.
A Spayed bitch makes a wonderful companion. The male of the Human race has some hang ups about neutering a male for some unknown reason.
A bitch comes into season about every 6 months and can only conceive at these times, whereas an un-neutered male can sire a litter of puppies every day of his life.
Generally the Airedale is a very healthy breed with very few problems.
WHICH OTHER BREEDS ARE COMPATIBLE?
The Airedale gets on with most breeds, I have had them with the Miniature Schnauzer, Welsh Terriers, Smooth and Wire Fox Terriers, and also German Shepherds.
TWO OR MORE
Well there are some sayings:
What is better than One Airedale? Two of course.
Airedales are like Potato Chips, you can never have just one.
But I would add the rider, don't get two at the same time from the same litter, they will bond with each other rather than the family, rather space them 6-9 months apart.
Airdale Puppies
DO THEY GET ON WITH OTHER ANIMALS:
Yes they do, BUT with training. I will cite my own experience.
I had an 8 year old Airedale when we moved to a large cattle farm in the Drakensberg, He had never seen cattle, sheep or poultry.
He of course wanted to chase the sheep, but he was put on a lead and taken amongst them, with sharp "NO" if he decided to attempt to smell them, plus the ram butted him a couple of times. Cured.
The cattle themselves trained him, he got himself surrounded by irate crossbred Brahman cows with calves at foot, and he decided to leave them alone.
The poultry also generally trained him, the large rooster was not amused by being chased and gave him a couple of good pecks, he still tried to chase the hens but sharp NO stopped him.
So the answer is yes the can get on with other animals, but again I say WITH TRAINING.
GROOMING & TRAINING
The Airedale has a double coat, by this we mean he has a harsh outer coat with a woolly undercoat, which keeps him fairly waterproof. If he is not brushed regularly his furnishings (Leg hair) can become matted and he will end up looking like something the cat dragged in.
If he is to be shown his coat needs to be 'stripped' by this we mean pulled out, the hair grows to about 3" in length and then dies, and when it is at this stage one can pull the hair out by finger and thumb very easily. Hand stripping an Airedale is a lengthy process, but when his new gleaming black and tan coat has grown through he looks really beautiful. Generally hand stripping is only done by people show their dogs.
The general public don't like the 'skinned' look and go for the clipped look, which means cutting the hair instead of pulling it out. It achieves the same effect, BUT over time it can lighten the black saddle and also the tan shoulders and thighs, and some look more like slate and cream rather than black & tan. But if he is not to be shown then this is the easiest way to keep him looking tidy. He should be clipped about every 3 - 4 months depending on how fast his coat grows.
As regards training, yes the Airedale certainly does need some form of formal training, but should be taken to 'puppy socialisation' classes when young, so he can get used to other dogs, learn to play and not to argue for domination.
More formal training like walking to heel etc., can be started when he is about 4-5 months old, a good training school can be found in almost every area.
The Airedale learns very quickly and consequently gets bored easily, if he has done it once he think why should I do it again, also the retrieve, he seems to say, 'you threw it, you fetch it' BUT they can get to the top, we have had a dual champion here in South Africa, both Beauty and Obedience.
BUT one has to remember the three "P's" of training,
PATIENCE
PRAISE
PERSEVERANCE.
If not given some form of training he will not be a pleasure to have around the house.
Yes they do, BUT with training. I will cite my own experience.
I had an 8 year old Airedale when we moved to a large cattle farm in the Drakensberg, He had never seen cattle, sheep or poultry.
He of course wanted to chase the sheep, but he was put on a lead and taken amongst them, with sharp "NO" if he decided to attempt to smell them, plus the ram butted him a couple of times. Cured.
The cattle themselves trained him, he got himself surrounded by irate crossbred Brahman cows with calves at foot, and he decided to leave them alone.
The poultry also generally trained him, the large rooster was not amused by being chased and gave him a couple of good pecks, he still tried to chase the hens but sharp NO stopped him.
So the answer is yes the can get on with other animals, but again I say WITH TRAINING.
GROOMING & TRAINING
The Airedale has a double coat, by this we mean he has a harsh outer coat with a woolly undercoat, which keeps him fairly waterproof. If he is not brushed regularly his furnishings (Leg hair) can become matted and he will end up looking like something the cat dragged in.
If he is to be shown his coat needs to be 'stripped' by this we mean pulled out, the hair grows to about 3" in length and then dies, and when it is at this stage one can pull the hair out by finger and thumb very easily. Hand stripping an Airedale is a lengthy process, but when his new gleaming black and tan coat has grown through he looks really beautiful. Generally hand stripping is only done by people show their dogs.
The general public don't like the 'skinned' look and go for the clipped look, which means cutting the hair instead of pulling it out. It achieves the same effect, BUT over time it can lighten the black saddle and also the tan shoulders and thighs, and some look more like slate and cream rather than black & tan. But if he is not to be shown then this is the easiest way to keep him looking tidy. He should be clipped about every 3 - 4 months depending on how fast his coat grows.
As regards training, yes the Airedale certainly does need some form of formal training, but should be taken to 'puppy socialisation' classes when young, so he can get used to other dogs, learn to play and not to argue for domination.
More formal training like walking to heel etc., can be started when he is about 4-5 months old, a good training school can be found in almost every area.
The Airedale learns very quickly and consequently gets bored easily, if he has done it once he think why should I do it again, also the retrieve, he seems to say, 'you threw it, you fetch it' BUT they can get to the top, we have had a dual champion here in South Africa, both Beauty and Obedience.
BUT one has to remember the three "P's" of training,
PATIENCE
PRAISE
PERSEVERANCE.
If not given some form of training he will not be a pleasure to have around the house.
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HEALTH CONCERNS
As said earlier the Airedale is generally a healthy breed, the main concern, as with all of the larger breeds Hip Dysplasia can be a problem, even though breeding stock is x-rayed etc it does not guarantee that any particular dog will be free.
Some Airedales are slightly susceptible to anaesthetic, so it is always wise to tell your vet that the Airedale is a breed that is susceptible to anaesthetic. One of mine took 4 days to get back to normal after having x-rays done.
Some lines of the breed can develop skin problems, but this is generally the food that they are being fed. I am a great believer in natural feeding (Raw Food)
The Airedale does not show that he is not well, they do not show evidence of pain, so the owner must learn to 'read' his dog.
“In today’s age, with the rising cost of veterinary care, it really is a wise decision to consider medical insurance for your pets. Depending on the plan you choose, you can ensure that if your pet does develop one of the health issues the breed is prone too, that you will be covered –additionally, just knowing that any accident your pet may have will be covered, will out-weigh the monthly insurance fee for most pet owners. Our own personal choice is Genricpet as they have a ‘no limit’ policy and their rates are comparable to the rest of the industry. To find out the questions and things to look for in a Medical Insurance, please just follow this link”
LIFE EXPECTANCY
Being a healthy breed one can expect him to live until he is 13-14 years.
DO'S & DONT'S
DO train him.
Do keep him brushed.
Do feed him quality food (Not table scraps, these are treats not dog food)
Do give him LARGE bones to gnaw on when teething, or you might end up with your furniture being chewed.
Don't let him bark when you have told him to keep quiet.
As said earlier the Airedale is generally a healthy breed, the main concern, as with all of the larger breeds Hip Dysplasia can be a problem, even though breeding stock is x-rayed etc it does not guarantee that any particular dog will be free.
Some Airedales are slightly susceptible to anaesthetic, so it is always wise to tell your vet that the Airedale is a breed that is susceptible to anaesthetic. One of mine took 4 days to get back to normal after having x-rays done.
Some lines of the breed can develop skin problems, but this is generally the food that they are being fed. I am a great believer in natural feeding (Raw Food)
The Airedale does not show that he is not well, they do not show evidence of pain, so the owner must learn to 'read' his dog.
“In today’s age, with the rising cost of veterinary care, it really is a wise decision to consider medical insurance for your pets. Depending on the plan you choose, you can ensure that if your pet does develop one of the health issues the breed is prone too, that you will be covered –additionally, just knowing that any accident your pet may have will be covered, will out-weigh the monthly insurance fee for most pet owners. Our own personal choice is Genricpet as they have a ‘no limit’ policy and their rates are comparable to the rest of the industry. To find out the questions and things to look for in a Medical Insurance, please just follow this link”
LIFE EXPECTANCY
Being a healthy breed one can expect him to live until he is 13-14 years.
DO'S & DONT'S
DO train him.
Do keep him brushed.
Do feed him quality food (Not table scraps, these are treats not dog food)
Do give him LARGE bones to gnaw on when teething, or you might end up with your furniture being chewed.
Don't let him bark when you have told him to keep quiet.
Two Otterhounds. The Airedale he is the product of a cross between an Otterhound and the now extinct Old English Black & Tan Terrier, which after some research it was found to be the very early Welsh Terrier
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