Airedale Terrier

An active dog, the Airedale breed needs a moderate amount of dog exercise (1 to 2 hours daily), including dog games and training, to prevent boredom and to keep them fit and healthy.

The Airedale Terrier is a large dog who enjoys space and so needs a large-ish house and garden - plus space to exercise so they are best in a rural environment.

Airedale Terriers need to have a balanced diet including the main nutrient groups and a constant supply of fresh water. It's important to conduct regular body condition scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape and remember to feed him at least twice daily and in accordance with the feeding guidelines of his particular food. The Airedale dog breed is prone to bloating and stomach problems. Smaller, more frequent meals can help minimise this risk.

The waterproof, double Airedale coat consists of a hard, wiry top coat and a shorter, softer undercoat. When it comes to dog grooming, Airedale Terriers require daily brushing, together with stripping when the coat begins to shed (twice a year).

The Airedale is a joy to train and they love working with their owners although they do need to be kept motivated with reward-based dog training and plenty of variety. They can excel at dog sports such as agility and can become experts at scent work and love to have a job to do. They do need early and ongoing socialisation to ensure they stay reliable around other dogs and should be taught a strong recall.

Airedales are generally gentle with children although may be too big for younger ones. They are best suited to active families with older children.

While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with each other and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.