Airedale Terrier
About the Airedale Terrier
Temperament
Physical Characteristics
| Size Category | Large (50-100 lbs) |
|---|---|
| Height | 22-24" |
| Weight | 50-70 lbs |
| Coat Type | Wire |
| Coat Length | Medium |
| Colors | |
| Hypoallergenic | Yes |
Care Requirements
Exercise Needs
High (60-90 min/day)
60 minutes per day recommended
Grooming
Regular - 2-3x/week
Mental Stimulation
★★★★★Needs plenty of mental challenges
Drooling
★★★★★Living Conditions
Cost of Ownership
| Purchase Price | $1,000-$2,500 |
|---|---|
| Annual Cost | $1,400/year |
Costs vary based on location, breeder, and individual needs. Annual costs include food, veterinary care, grooming, and supplies.
Health Considerations
Like all breeds, Airedale Terriers may be prone to certain health conditions:
Regular veterinary check-ups and proper care can help prevent or manage many health issues.
Best For
- Families with Children
- Active Owners
- Guard Dog
- Allergy Sufferers
May Not Be Ideal For
- Apartment Living
- First-Time Owners
- Sedentary Lifestyles
Guides for your Airedale Terrier
The story behind the Airedale Terrier
Working men in the Aire valley of Yorkshire created this breed during the 1800s, crossing local rough-coated terriers with Otterhound blood to produce a dog that could kill rats along riverbanks and swim well enough to work otter and waterfowl. Size and swimming ability set the result apart from the traditional terrier pattern, and the type was known for a time as the Waterside or Bingley Terrier before the Airedale name settled. Later refinement is generally credited with adding polish and coat quality. Versatility made the reputation: Airedales served as military messenger and sentry dogs, early police dogs, big-game hunting dogs and family guardians through the early 1900s, when they ranked among the most popular breeds in Britain and the United States. Numbers have fallen a long way since, and the Airedale is now a moderately uncommon but well-established companion.
Originally bred for: Hunting, Vermin control, Guarding, Military service. You can trace how working roles shaped today’s breeds across our dog guides.
Feeding a Airedale Terrier
Large, muscular and typically busy, this terrier does well on a quality adult food with solid protein for muscle maintenance, while growing puppies should be raised on a large-breed formula to keep skeletal development steady. Working or sporting individuals need more calorie density than sofa-based ones.
Watch for: Terrier types quite commonly express food reactions through the skin rather than the gut, with itching, paw chewing and recurring ear irritation among the patterns owners notice. Beard hygiene matters too. Any elimination trial or dietary change belongs in veterinary hands from the start.
Not sure what to put in the bowl? See our picks for the best dog food for large breeds.
Mealtime extras: training treats worth keeping in your pocket, and a slow feeder bowl if your dog inhales dinner. Everything else lives in our dog nutrition and feeding hub.
Living with a Airedale Terrier
Day to day, the basics matter most: how much exercise your dog needs, how often to get out for a walk, and how much sleep is normal.
For play and enrichment, browse chew toys built for strong jaws and interactive toys for rainy days.
Gear that fits the breed makes life easier: a well-sized dog bed, a properly sized crate.
Raising a puppy? Work through crate training and the teething timeline — or see how old your dog is in human years with our dog age calculator.