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Airedale Terrier
An Australian & New Zealand Champion
Alternative names
Waterside Terrier Bingley Terrier King of the Terriers
Country of origin
England
Common nicknames
Airedale, 'Dale
Classification and breed standards
FCI:	Group 3 Section 1 #7	Stds
AKC:	Terrier	Stds
ANKC:	Group 2 - (Terriers)	Stds
CKC:	Group 4 - (Terriers)	Stds
KC (UK):	Terrier	Stds
NZKC:	Terrier	Stds
UKC:	Terriers	Stds

The Airedale Terrier (often shortened to "Airedale") is a terrier dog breed originating from Airedale in Yorkshire, England. It is sometimes called the "King of Terriers" because it is the largest of the terrier breeds, 50 to 70 pounds (23-32 kg). The breed has also been called the Waterside Terrier, because it was bred originally to hunt otters.

Contents 1 Quick Facts 2 Appearance 2.1 Coat 2.2 Tail 2.3 Mouth 3 Temperament 4 Health 5 History 6 References 7 External links

Airedale Terrier Quick Facts
Weight:	22-31 kg	50-70 lbs
Height:	58 cm	23 inches
Coat:	Hard, dense, wiry
Coat (cont):	soft undercoat
Activity level:	High
Learning rate:	High
Temperament:	Intelligent, responsive
Temperament (cont)	active
Guard dog ability:	High
Watch-dog ability:	High
Litter size:	5-12
Life span:	12-14 years

Like many terriers, the breed has a 'broken' coat: a harsh, wiry topcoat with a soft, fur-like undercoat. Because of this coat, Airedales do not significantly shed. Airedales being shown are generally groomed by stripping: a small serrated edged knife to is used pull out loose hair from the dog's coat.

The correct coat color is a black saddle, with a tan head, ears and legs; or a dark grizzle saddle (black mixed with gray and white). Both are acceptable in the AKC breed standard.

The Airedale's tail is usually docked (surgically shortened) within five days of birth, but this is not a requirement of breed standard authorities. To show an Airedale in the United States, the tail is expected to be docked, while in the UK it is illegal to dock dogs' tails unless it's for the dog's benefit (e.g., the tail is broken).

Airedales have a normal 'scissors bite', where the top teeth close over the bottom. Airedales' teeth are the largest among terriers.

The Airedale can be used as a working dog and also as a hunter and retriever. Airedales exhibit some herding characteristics as well, and have a propensity to chase animals.

The Airedale is relatively free of inherited diseases except for hip dysplasia in some lines. Airedales, like most terriers, have a propensity towards dermatitis. Allergies, dietary imbalances, and under/over-productive thyroid glands are main causes for skin conditions. Airedales usually live for around twelve years, but have been known to last until the age of seventeen.

Airedale, a valley (dale) in the West Riding of Yorkshire, was the birthplace of the breed. In the mid-19th Century, working class people created the Airedale Terrier by crossing the old English rough-coated Black and Tan Terrier with the Otterhound. In 1886, the Kennel Club of England formally recognised the Airedale Terrier breed.

Well-to-do hunters of the era were typically accompanied by pack of hounds and several terriers, often running them both together. The hounds would scent and pursue the quarry and the terriers would "go to ground" or enter into the quarry's burrow and make the kill. Terriers were often the sporting dog of choice for the common man. Early sporting terriers needed to be big enough to tackle the quarry, but not so big as to prevent them from maneuvering through the quarry's underground lair. Obviously these terriers had to have a very degree of courage and pluck to face the foe in a tight, dark underground den without the help of human handlers.

During the middle of the nineteenth century regular sporting events took place along the Aire River in which terriers pursued the large river rats that inhabited the area. A terrier was judged on its ability to locate a "live" hole in the riverbank and then, after the rat was driven from its hole by a ferret brought along for that purpose, the terrier would pursue the rat through water until it could make a kill. As these events became more popular, demand arose for a terrier that could excel in this activity. One such terrier was developed through judicious crossings of the Black-and-Tan Terrier and Bull-and-Terrier dog popular at the time with the Otter Hound. The result was a long-legged fellow that would soon develop into the dog we recognize today as the Airedale Terrier. This character was too big to "go to ground" in the manner of the smaller working terriers; however, it was good at everything else expected of a sporting terrier, and it was particularly adept at water work. This big terrier had other talents in addition to its skill as a ratter. Because of an infusion of hound blood it was blessed with the ability to scent game and size to be able to tackle larger animals. It became more of a multipurpose terrier that could pursue game by powerful scenting ability, be broken to gun, and taught to retrieve. Its size and temperament made it an able guardian of farm and home. One of the colorful, but less-than legal, uses of the early Airedale Terrier was to assist its master in poaching game on the large estates that were off-limits to commoners. Rabbits, hare, and fowl were plentiful, and the Airedale could be taught to retrieve game killed by its master, or to pursue, kill, and bring it back itself.

The Airedale was extensively used in World War I to carry messages to soldiers behind enemy lines and transport mail. They were also used by the Red Cross to find wounded soldiers on the battlefield. There are numerous tales of Airedales delivering their messages despite terrible injury^{[citation needed]}.

Before the adoption of the German Shepherd as the dog of choice for law enforcement and search and rescue work, the Airedale terrier often filled this role.

After the First World War, the Airedales' popularity rapidly increased thanks to stories of their bravery on the battlefield and also because Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, and Warren Harding owned Airedales. 1949 marked the peak of the Airedales' popularity in the USA, ranked 20th out of 110 breeds by the American Kennel Club. The breed has since slipped to 50th out of 146.

• Planet Airedale The Global Airedale Terrier Club, with hundreds of pictures of Airedale Terriers from around the world.
• North American Working Airedale Terrier Association
• The Airedale Terrier Club of America, Inc.
• The Airedale Terrier Club of Canada
• The Airedale Terrier Club of Victoria (Australia)