Airedale Terrier
The King of Terriers.
- Weight
- 50–70 lbs
- Height
- 22–24 in
- Lifespan
- 11–14 yrs
In short
The Airedale Terrier is the largest terrier, bred in Yorkshire, England, in the 1800s to hunt otters and rats along the River Aire. Adults weigh 50–70 lbs and live 11–14 years. Expect a clever, independent dog that needs real daily work and a fence it can't dig under.
Is it right for you?
A great match if you…
- want a funny, bold dog for hiking and adventures
- enjoy training a clever dog that thinks for itself
- like a low-shedding coat and don't mind grooming
Think twice if you…
- can't give it 90 minutes of exercise a day
- have cats or small pets and no time to manage them
- want a dog that does what it's told the first time
The daily plan
- Exercise
- 90–120 min a day
- Training
- 3–5 × 5–10 min sessions × length
- Treat limit
- 120–150 kcal all treats, 10% rule
At a glance
TrainabilityQuick study8.5/10
EnergyAthlete8.0/10
Calm at homeSettles well6.0/10
SheddingLight shedder3.0/10
What sets it apart
-
01
Wiry double coat
A hard, dense topcoat over a soft undercoat; it sheds little but needs hand-stripping or clipping to stay neat.
-
02
Long, strong muzzle
Built to grab and hold vermin, so it needs supervised chew toys and early lessons on soft mouths.
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03
Square, athletic frame
Leggy and fast for a terrier, an Airedale can clear low fences and outpace most dogs on a trail.
Size & coat
| Specification | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 55–70 lbs | 50–65 lbs |
| Height | 23–24 in | 22–23 in |
| Lifespan | 11–14 yrs | |
| Coat | Hard, wiry double coat | |
Personality
Airedales are funny, bold and busy, and they get bored fast. They will test every rule twice and often find a better way out of the yard. Give them a job and a sense of humor and they are excellent all-round partners.
With kids
Good with older kids who can handle a strong, bouncy dog; supervise with toddlers, since play can be rough.
With other pets
Usually fine with dogs raised alongside them, but terrier prey drive means cats and small pets need careful introductions.
With strangers
Reserved and watchful; a natural alarm barker that warms up once properly introduced.
Alone time
Can manage a workday once adult and well exercised; bored Airedales dig, chew and escape.
Training
Airedales learn quickly but ask "why?" and switch off with drills. Keep sessions short and varied, and treat training as a game they want to win.
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How often
3–5 short sessions a day of 5–10 minutes each, changing the exercise often.
-
Socialize early (8–16 weeks)
From 8–16 weeks, focus on calm meetings with many dogs and supervised exposure to cats and small animals. Early handling of the coat and feet makes grooming easier for life.
-
Self-control
Build a solid "leave it" around fast-moving critters and a reliable recall on a long line. Practice "wait" at gates and doors, since Airedales are escape artists.
-
What it works for
Food, tug and the chance to chase all work; rotate them so the dog keeps guessing. Use small, high-value pieces such as freeze-dried liver for hard work, keeping treats within 10% of daily calories.
Exercise
Airedales need hard, varied work: running, hiking and games that use their brain as well as legs. A walk around the block is a warm-up, not exercise.
Exercise a day
90–120 min
CouchModerateAthlete
Good outlets
- Trail hiking or running on a long line
- Flirt pole and tug sessions
- Swimming
Brain work
- Barn hunt or scent games
- Hide-and-seek with toys around the house
- Trick training with new tricks each week
Best home
Best with a securely fenced yard; apartments only work with an owner committed to long daily outings.
Watch for Prey drive can override recall, so keep them leashed or fenced near wildlife and roads.
Feeding
Adult maintenance for a typical Airedale Terrier (50–70 lbs) lands around 1,175–1,500 kcal a day. Feed to body condition, not the bag's chart alone, and keep treats inside the 10% rule.
Puppy (to 12 mo)
- Daily calories
- 1,450–1,875 kcal
- Protein
- 26–30%
- Fat
- 16–20%
- Treat limit, all treats
- 145–190 kcal
- Saylor's liver, suggested
- 7–9 pieces a day
Adult Maintenance
- Daily calories
- 1,175–1,500 kcal
- Protein
- 24–28%
- Fat
- 14–18%
- Treat limit, all treats
- 120–150 kcal
- Saylor's liver, suggested
- 6–8 pieces a day
Active / Working
- Daily calories
- 1,600–2,050 kcal
- Protein
- 26–30%
- Fat
- 18–22%
- Treat limit, all treats
- 160–205 kcal
- Saylor's liver, suggested
- 8–10 pieces a day
Senior
- Daily calories
- 1,025–1,300 kcal
- Protein
- 24–28%
- Fat
- 12–16%
- Treat limit, all treats
- 105–130 kcal
- Saylor's liver, suggested
- 5–7 pieces a day
Compare every life stage
| Life stage | Daily calories | Protein | Fat | Treat limit (all treats) | Saylor's liver, suggested / day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puppy (to 12 mo) | 1,450–1,875 kcal | 26–30% | 16–20% | 145–190 kcal | 7–9 pieces |
| Adult Maintenance | 1,175–1,500 kcal | 24–28% | 14–18% | 120–150 kcal | 6–8 pieces |
| Active / Working | 1,600–2,050 kcal | 26–30% | 18–22% | 160–205 kcal | 8–10 pieces |
| Senior | 1,025–1,300 kcal | 24–28% | 12–16% | 105–130 kcal | 5–7 pieces |
The treat limit is the 10% rule for every treat combined. Saylor's liver is suggested at about 2% of daily calories, as a small topper: liver is very rich in vitamin A, so it should not become a staple. Check with your vet if your dog has a health condition or a special diet.
Health & grooming
Airedales are generally sturdy, but hips, thyroid problems and skin allergies show up in the breed. Choose a breeder who screens hips and eyes and keep your dog lean.
| Watch for | Ask the breeder or vet for | When |
|---|---|---|
| Hip dysplasia | OFA or PennHIP hip evaluation | Once, in breeding dogs (ask the breeder) |
| Elbow dysplasia | OFA elbow evaluation | Once, in breeding dogs (ask the breeder) |
| Inherited eye disease | Eye exam by a veterinary ophthalmologist (CAER) | Yearly in breeding dogs (ask the breeder) |
| Hypothyroidism | OFA thyroid panel | In breeding dogs; ask your vet if your dog gains weight or loses coat |
| Heart disease | Heart exam by a veterinary cardiologist | Before breeding; ask for the latest result |
Official health tests for breeding dogs
The OFA's CHIC program asks Airedale Terrier breeders to test for these. Ask to see the results before you buy a puppy.
- Hip evaluation
- Heart exam
Also recommended
- Eye exam (ophthalmologist)
- Thyroid panel
- Elbow evaluation
Grooming Low; loose hair comes out when the coat is stripped or brushed
Brush 1–2 times a week with a slicker and comb. Hand-strip (for a show-style coat) or clip every 6–8 weeks. Trim nails monthly, check ears weekly and wipe the beard after meals.
History
Mid-1800s
Aire Valley vermin hunter
Working men in Yorkshire crossed Otterhounds with local terriers to get a dog that could hunt rats and otters along the River Aire.
Early 1900s
Military and police dog
Airedales served in World War I as messengers, sentries and casualty dogs, and were among the first breeds used for police work in Britain and Germany.
1920s
American favorite
The breed peaked in US popularity in the 1920s, helped by President Harding's Airedale, Laddie Boy.
Questions owners ask
Are Airedale Terriers easy to train?
Moderately. Airedales are bright and learn fast, but they get bored with repetition and will test boundaries. Short, varied, upbeat sessions work far better than drills.
Are Airedale Terriers good with kids and other pets?
Usually with older kids, if supervised. They are playful but strong and can knock small children over. Most live well with dogs they grew up with, but cats and small pets trigger their terrier prey drive.
How much exercise does an Airedale Terrier need?
A lot: plan on 90–120 minutes a day. Mix running or hiking with brain work like scent games, or an Airedale will invent its own projects, such as digging.
Do Airedale Terriers shed?
Lightly. The wiry coat holds loose hair until it is brushed or stripped. Expect weekly brushing and a hand-strip or clip every 6–8 weeks.
What health problems do Airedale Terriers have, and how long do they live?
Airedales live 11–14 years. Watch for hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism and skin allergies. Ask the breeder for hip, elbow and eye results, and keep your dog lean.
Is an Airedale Terrier good for apartments or first-time owners?
Not usually. Their energy, size and independent streak suit experienced owners with a fenced yard. A committed first-timer can succeed with a trainer and lots of daily exercise.
Freeze Dried Beef Liver Dog Treats
Back in stock soon
We're restocking. When it's back, a Airedale Terrier needs only 6–8 pieces a day, well inside the 120–150 kcal treat limit.
See the productWhere the Airedale Terrier ranks
Health tests follow the OFA's CHIC program. The treat limit is 10% of daily calories for all treats combined. Every dog is different, so use this as a starting point and ask your vet about yours.
Breeds like the Airedale Terrier
Closest in size, energy, trainability, calm at home and shedding.
