Is the Airedale Terrier the Right Dog for You?

Airedale Terriers are fun, energetic dogs that demand to be loved. Maybe you have seen one at a dog show or on television and you are thinking they are so cute you want to bring one into your family. Before you do so, ask yourself the following questions:

If you are a couch potato, an Airedale Terrier is probably not for you. Airedales like to be active and should be walked or ran at least once a day. Airedales are highly intelligent and bore easily, so the more active they are, the happier they are.

Airedales can get pretty fluffy. If they go too long without a haircut they can start to look like Fozzie Bear. That is fine if you live in a cold climate, but during hot weather months, it is important for the Airedale Terrier to be groomed. Airedale Terriers need to be groomed every 6 weeks and it can get expensive. Many groomers are not familiar with the Airedale cut, so be sure to bring in a photo of how you want your baby to look. My Airedale Terrier Hyacinth has gotten some pretty good haircuts and some bad ones. One groomer forgot to shave her tail and Hyacinth ended up looking like a squirrel. If you have a steady hand and a well-trained Airedale, you can buy a grooming kit and groom your pet at home.

Airedales are not small dogs. They can be as small as 45 pounds and as large as over 100 pounds. They are very energetic and need plenty of room to run.

Airedale Terriers can be very overbearing. My Airedale Hyacinth likes to talk back, is stubborn and likes to get her own way. If I let her, Hyacinth would run my life. She is so sweet and wants to please, but she needs to be put in her place. Training your Airedale Terrier needs to start right away and it is never too early. They have large teeth that can be very destructive when they are teething, so they need to know how to mind their pet parents or they could end up destroying furniture. They are people pleasers, so if you are consistent with them, you will find that they can be fun to train.

If you do not have experience with dogs you probably should start with a dog that is easier to handle. Airedale Terriers are extremely strong natured and willful, so they are a bad idea for first time dog owners.

Even though the choice to get an Airedale Terrier should not be taken lightly, they are delightful dogs. They are comical, loving and loyal. With a lot of work you can have a nice addition to your family.

Before I adopted Hyacinth, I did a lot of research on the Airedale breed. As much as research helps, it is good to have someone to ask about what it is like to be owned by an Airedale. So ask away and I will try to answer to the best of my ability!