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Just like the name suggest, the Airedale Terrier originates from Airedale in Yorkshire, England. Due to being the largest of all the terrier breeds, it is sometimes referred to as the “King of Terriers”. An adult Airedale Terrier normally weighs 50-70 pounds (23-32 kg). In this article, you will find a lot of fascinating Airedale Terrier information. Did you for instance know that this dog was originally bred to hunt otters? It is still sometimes referred to as the Waterside Terrier. During World War I, the British made extensive use of the Airedale Terrier as a mail carrier and it would even carry messages to soldiers behind enemy lines. In addition to this, the Red Cross had Airedale Terriers that could locate wounded soldiers on the battle field.
Just like most other terriers, the Airedale Terrier has a “broken” coat that consists of a soft, insulating undercoat and a harsh, wiry topcoat. Show dogs need extensive grooming, but ordinary pets only need regular brushings and to have their coat plucked twice a year. The beard should however be washed on a daily basis since it tends to get dirty after meals. Show dogs will normally be groomed by stripping, a procedure where a small knife with a serrated edge is used to pull out loose hair from the coat. An Airedale Terrier coat that is kept stripped sheds little or no hair, while non-stripped coats tend to shed quite a lot, even if they are trimmed and brushed.
The Airedale Terrier dog puppy is a charming fellow, but before you decide to get one you should ask yourself if you are willing and able to care for this dog for the next 10-12 years and provide it with everything it needs. You should also determine if the Airedale Terrier is the perfect breed for you. Getting an Airedale Terrier dog puppy is a good choice if you want a dog that is medium/large, sturdy and energetic and that doesn’t shed a lot. You must be an active person that likes to keep your dog well exercised, otherwise you risk making your dog bored and hyperactive. Getting an Airedale Terrier dog puppy is a bad idea if you can’t handle a dog that is strong willed, stubborn and rowdy. This breed has a strong chasing instinct and can be aggressive towards other animals.
The Airedale is a strong-willed dog and the key to successful Airedale Terrier dog training is to show your dog that you are the pack leader and that your are ten times as stubborn as the dog. Without proper obedience training, the Airedale Terrier can become hard to handle. It is also know for obeying only family members that it deems as being above him in the pack. If you get an Airedale Terrier for your family, you should ideally sit down together and discuss proper Airedale Terrier dog training before the puppy arrives. Airedale Terrier dog training should contain a lot of variation, because this clever dog normally learns new tricks very fast and hates endless repetitions.
Airedale Terrier dog breeding dates back to the mid 1800s when working class people living in Yorkshire developed the breed by crossing the traditional English rough-coated Black & Tan Terrier with the Otterhound. The Otterhound is an old British dog breed with Bloodhound ancestors that were once used to hunt utter and therefore has webbed feet, a love of water and an oily, rough, double coat. The result of crossing terrier with Otterhound was a dog that was too tall to “go too ground” like normal working terriers, but that was excellent at every other task that terriers normally carried out and could be used to hunt otter. Due to the infusion of hound blood, Airedale Terrier dog breeding had managed to create a dog that could both scent game and tackle big animals. In 1886, the Airedale Terrier was recognized by the Kennel Club of England.
The Airedale Terrier is a comparatively healthy breed, but hip dysplasia is fairly common in some lines. When purchasing an Airedale dog, it is important to stick to reputable Airedale Terrier dog breeders that strive to keep the breed healthy by only breeding vet-checked animals of healthy ancestry. Buying your dog from irresponsible Airedale Terrier dog breeders can increase the risk for hip dysplasia, dermatitis, thyroid problems, and allergies.
The Airedale Terrier dog price varies from breeder to breeder, and it is always important to investigate what you actually get for your money. Has the puppy been examined by a vet, de-wormed and vaccinated? Has the parents been screened for hereditary disease? Is the breeder a reputable one known to deliver well-socialized puppies? Going for the lowest Airedale Terrier dog price without investigating why it is low can turn out to be a costly decision in the long run.