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Breed Guide

The Airedale Terrier: What They Were Bred to Do

The work was hunting vermin along rivers, which meant swimming and rough terrain.

What drives your dog?

Breed is a starting guess. Take the free drive test to see which job your dog actually runs on, with three ways to give them that job this week. We email you the result.

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Where the Airedale Terrier came from

The Airedale comes from the Aire valley in Yorkshire, England, in the mid-1800s. Working-class breeders there crossed the old Black and Tan Terrier with the Otterhound and other breeds to get a bigger terrier. The dogs were first shown in 1864 under names like Waterside Terrier and Bingley Terrier.

Fanciers settled on the name Airedale Terrier in 1879, and the Kennel Club in England accepted it in 1886. The breed became known as the king of terriers because it is the largest terrier. In World War I, Airedales carried messages and helped Red Cross teams find wounded soldiers.

The AKC recognized the Airedale in 1888. Today they are family dogs and hunters.

  • 1864 Dogs of the type are first shown as Waterside and Bingley Terriers
  • 1888 The AKC recognizes the Airedale Terrier
  • 1914 to 1918 Airedales serve as messenger and Red Cross dogs in World War I

The job a Airedale Terrier was bred for

The work was hunting vermin along rivers, which meant swimming and rough terrain. The dog needed to be big, tough and willing to work in water. At home that means a strong, smart, bouncy dog who loves to play.

Sports that fit a Airedale Terrier

  • Scent work. A smart dog who likes a job.
  • Tracking. Good nose and stamina.
  • Dock diving. They like water and are strong swimmers.
  • Agility. Fit and athletic when kept at a good weight.
  • Obedience. A smart dog who enjoys training games.

Training tips for a Airedale Terrier

  • Keep it fun. Airedales get bored with repetition and may tune out.
  • Teach calm manners early. They are bouncy and strong.
  • Use play and food. They respond well to games.
  • Give them a job every day.

Body and health

Airedales are big, athletic dogs. Watch their hips and avoid heavy repetitive jumping while they grow.

Fun fact. President Warren Harding's Airedale, Laddie Boy, has been called the first celebrity White House pet.

Breed is where we start

A study of more than 18,000 dogs found breed explains only about 9 percent of the differences in behavior between dogs (Morrill and others, Science, 2022). So your Airedale Terrier is a starting guess, not a label. We find the drive your dog actually runs on, give it a job, and teach you to read them.

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Looking for a different breed? See what 75 breeds were bred to do.