The Airedale Terrier was developed in England and known by a large variety of names in its early days, including Waterside, Yorkshire Waterside, Bingley, Warfedale, Broken-haired, and Working Terrier. It is known as the ‘King of Terriers’ simply because it is the largest breed of terrier.



As the largest terrier, the Airedale stands at 22-24 inches and weighs in at 44-50 pounds. They have a square appearance with v-shaped ears that fold slightly to the side of the head and forward. Their tails are carried, but not curled over the back. They have a hard, dense, wiry coat that is tan with a black or black grizzle saddle. Red mixtures are also found in the black; and a white blaze on the chest is seen in some strains of the Airedale Terrier.


It is believed that the Airedale Terrier is descended from the extinct Black and Tan Terrier in the valley of Aire in England. It has been suggested that this ancestry is shared with other terriers, including the Irish, Fox, and Welsh. The Black and Tan was used by Yorkshiremen to hunt fox, badger, weasel, otter and other small game, and while they excelled in many areas, it was thought that they lacked the keen nose and swimming ability of the Otterhound. The two were crossed and made the basis for the breed, other dogs were undoubtedly added, and examples closely resembling today’s dog were in place by the late 1800s. From their original function of hunting they became used for a wide variety of tasks and jobs such as police and guard dogs, as well as messenger dogs in the various militaries. In 1902 there was a movement to delete the word ‘terrier’ from its name, due to the fact that it was too large to go to ground, but as the Airedale remains a terrier in all other aspects it did not succeed.


The Airedale Terrier is a highly intelligent breed that is fairly easy to train. They excel at any job they have learned to do such as hunting or dog sports. A loyal and protective breed, they make good watchdogs. When properly socialized at an early age Airedales get along well with older children and cats, some can be dominate toward other dogs.


The life expectancy of an Airedale Terrier is round 13 years. They are prone to hip dysplasia, bloat, eye and skin problems.

Although this breed can adapt to apartment life keep in mind that they are a working breed and need not only daily exercise but mind stimulation. A bored Airedale Terrier can turn destructive, particularly if left alone for long periods. It is not recommended to let this dog off leash unless they are in a safe, fenced area, as they are prone to chase.

The hair of an Airedale Terrier should be plucked twice a year and if kept hand stripped it will shed little. If kept in good repair it requires little brushing.