By Heidi Clayton
This weekend my Bull Terriers and I will be volunteering our time at the Javits Center in New York City at an event called “Meet the Breeds.” Hosted by the American Kennel Club, this event is staffed by breeders of purebred dogs registered with the American Kennel Club and allows the public to come meet their dream breed in the flesh. I have decided to write “Meet the Breeds” articles and will start with a dog from my favorite group, the terrier group.
The first terrier in the lineup, the Airedale Terrier, is referred to as “The King of the Terriers” primarily because of their size. Like most terriers, the Airedale originated in England. It was known as a dog for working-class people who didn’t have large farms where they could keep kennels for ratting dogs. The Airedale was bred to not only rat but to dispatch larger vermin as well protecting the family home. It most possibly started as a mix of the extinct Old English Terrier and the Otterhound, which created a hearty wirehaired coat and a “jack of all trades dog.” The name Airedale comes from this breed of dog originating in the Valley of Aire in England.
The Airedale is reported to have first been imported to the United States in roughly the 1880s. They became the most popular dog in the States during the height of World War I when heroic tales of Airedales serving as courageous messenger dogs spread around the world. An Airedale named Jack received the highest honor in the British Military System, known as the Victoria Cross, after he bravely ran the trenches after being shot but was determined to deliver his message before dying.
The Airedale Club of America strives today to preserve the temperament and looks of the original Airedale Terrier first seen back in England. The Airedale stands roughly 23 inches high and is known for its reddish wirehaired coat and black “saddle” on the back. While taller than the other terriers, they are described as “at all times a terrier in appearance and attitude.” Airedales should be jolly and friendly. However, they will never back down from a challenge and are fierce protectors of their families. If you are attracted to the myth of a “low allergy” dog coat, the Airedale’s short wire coat may be for you. When routinely brushed, people with allergies report being able to live with Airedales symptom-free.
The Airedale Terrier is a majestic, keen, and highly intelligent dog with few known health issues. Every Airedale breeder I know still will have their hearts, hips, and kidneys screened before breeding. Visit the Airedale Club of America or the American Kennel Club if you’d like to learn more about the “King of the Terrier Group”.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net.
Heidi Clayton started Four On the Floor Dog Training to provide positive, reward-based dog training in South Jersey. She breeds, trains and shows bull terriers under the SoraBully’s Bull Terriers kennel name. Email questions to heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net or learn more at https://fouronthefloordogtraining.net
