Airedale Terrier

Temperament

The FCI standard describes the Airedale as outgoing and confident, friendly, courageous and intelligent, always alert, not aggressive but fearless, "on the tiptoe of expectation at any movement." At home it can be funny and inventive, and its sense of humor can catch you off guard. The AKC gives it top marks for alertness and protective instinct and average scores for its other traits, including trainability. It's a typical terrier: independent, quick to make decisions and fond of testing boundaries. It can get into conflicts with other dogs, especially of the same sex. It often sees small animals, neighbors' cats and squirrels as prey. It's loyal and protective toward its family, and it matures mentally fairly late, so a young Airedale acts like a rambunctious puppy for a long time.

Energy

calmvery energetic

Affection

independentvelcro pet

With children

not idealgreat

With other pets

difficultgreat

Trainability

stubborneager to learn

For first-time owners

for experienced ownersyes

With strangers

waryoutgoing

Playfulness

dignifiedeternal puppy

Shedding

minimalheavy

Grooming

easydemanding

Being left alone

strugglescopes well

Apartment living

needs a house and yardgreat in a flat

Barking

quietvocal

With other dogs

difficultgreat

Protectiveness

lowhigh

Drooling

hardly anya lot

Cold tolerance

feels the coldexcellent

Heat tolerance

strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Airedale Terrier for?

The Airedale suits active, patient people who enjoy training, want to do sports or take long hikes with their dog, and appreciate a terrier's sense of humor. People with allergies may consider it, since it sheds little, though no dog is fully hypoallergenic. It's not a good choice for people looking for an unconditionally obedient dog, for homes with cats and small animals, or for anyone unwilling to pay for regular hand-stripping.

Size and looks

Care and exercise

The Royal Kennel Club gives up to an hour of exercise a day, but most Airedales will happily do more: long walks, fetch, tracking, obedience or protection sports. A bored terrier digs holes and invents its own entertainment. The wiry coat barely sheds, but it needs regular grooming (the Royal Kennel Club even lists daily brushing) and hand-stripping, plucking out the dead hair, several times a year. Clipping is easier but softens the coat and lightens the color. Wipe the beard after meals. Check the ears every week. Training should be varied and short, because a terrier quickly gets bored with repetition. The yard needs a solid fence set into the ground, since an Airedale loves to dig and check out what's on the other side.

Health and breed-related conditions

The AKC describes Airedales as generally healthy dogs and considers hip dysplasia screening the most important breeding test. It also recommends cardiac, eye and kidney screening. The Royal Kennel Club recommends hip and elbow X-rays as good practice. Regularly cleaning wax out of the ears and brushing the teeth helps prevent frequent minor health issues. As with other active breeds, a lean build that protects the joints is important. The AKC gives a life expectancy of 11–14 years, and the Royal Kennel Club places the breed among dogs that live more than 10 years.

• hip dysplasiaThe main condition breeders screen for.
• elbow dysplasiaThe Royal Kennel Club recommends elbow X-rays as good breeding practice.
• kidney diseaseThe AKC recommends kidney screening for breeding dogs.
• heart and eye diseaseOn the AKC's list of recommended tests.
• ear infectionsThe ears need regular cleaning to remove wax and debris.

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

The Airedale Terrier comes from the county of Yorkshire. According to the FCI standard, the breed takes its name from a show in the Aire valley where many so-called waterside terriers from the valleys of the Wharfe, Calder and Aire rivers were exhibited. The AKC describes how, in the mid-19th century, factory and mill workers bred them by crossing dogs including Otterhounds and the now-extinct Old English Black and Tan Terrier. The dogs hunted ducks and rats. Thanks to their excellent noses, Airedales tracked game in Africa, India and Canada, helped the Red Cross in wartime and served with the police and the armies of Britain and Russia. In World War I they worked as messenger dogs, among other roles.

Fun facts

• The Airedale Terrier is the largest of the terriers and is sometimes called the King of Terriers.
• The breed is named after a show held in the valley of the River Aire in Yorkshire.
• Airedales served in the British and Russian armies and helped the Red Cross.
• In North America the breed was famous as a "three-in-one" dog for hunting waterfowl, upland birds and fur-bearing game.

Frequently asked questions

This breed also appears in

• Large dog breeds
• Dogs for allergy sufferers
• Dogs that don’t shed (much)
• Guard dog breeds

Sources

1. 1FCI standard nr 7 – Airedale Terrierfci.be
2. 2AKC – Airedale Terrierakc.org
3. 3Royal Kennel Club – Airedale Terrierroyalkennelclub.com

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.