On the downside, the Airedale Terrier is what is called “mouthy,” that is, given to barking loudly and for long periods if not silenced, which is one reason that he should not be tied up. Any dog tied up outdoors will initiate a barking scenario that goes like this: Dog barks non-stop. Person shouts at dog to stop (in other words, barks back). Dog barks in response; person barks back, and so on and on, infuriating the two of them plus everyone in earshot. Airedales are social animals and need to be with the family, not left alone without anyone to follow about or to curl up beside. The remedy is a fenced area, regular outdoor play or nice (preferably long) walks.
The owner of an Airedale Terrier definitely needs a sense of humor; to be fair, firm and consistent; to reward every well-meaning effort with verbal praise and to be generous with treats for jobs well done. Remember always that if you cannot control your Airedale, he will gladly—and instantly—step in and control you. Terriers are all opportunists, always ready and able to move up in the family hierarchy and the Airedale probably tops the list in this skill. From the canine viewpoint, weak leaders cannot be trusted with the safety and survival of the pack, so when we say the Airedale is capable of taking on any job, that includes becoming “chairman of the board.” After all, he knows he’s the “King of Terriers!”
However, any dog with such innate versatility and intelligence is not one to submit easily to rote training. He is persistently distracted by sight, sound and scent, whereas most other breeds are governed by only one or two of these three drives. The owner needs to understand this diverse mental energy before beginning to train. Instructors used to contend that terriers in general did not make good pupils, going so far as to label them “terrible terriers” or “untrainable terriers.” Lately many enlightened trainers have come to realize it is not the terrier that’s the problem, but rather the method of teaching. Positive reinforcement (praise for the right response to a given command) works, whereas harsh verbal and physical corrections for failure do not. This affirmative reasoning extends also to training equipment, where the head collar has proven to be a far better choice for terriers than the chain choke collar.
HEART-HEALTHY
In this modern age of ever-improving cardio-care, no doctor or scientist can dispute the advantages of owning a dog to lower a person’s risk of heart disease. Studies have proven that petting a dog, walking a dog and grooming a dog all contribute to lowering your blood pressure. The simple routine of exercising your dog—going outside with the dog and walking, jogging or playing catch—is heart-healthy in and of itself. If you are normally less active than your physician thinks you should be, adopting a dog may be a smart option to improve your own quality of life as well as that of another creature.
The Airedale is instinctively a protector of his property and his family. His size and strong bark, which exposes large teeth in powerful jaws, make him a formidable foe to the unwary. Only if he senses the need to do so will he attack. Wherever the Airedale is used as a guard dog, he is trained for the job. One hears many more reports of Airedales’ saving toddlers from drowning or from darting into traffic than stories of Airedale attacks on intruders.
One day, two of my husband’s business associates came to the house to wait for him. Our Airedale greeted both men in a friendly, but formal, manner and then took a spot on the floor between where they were seated and where I sat. He appeared to have fallen asleep, but when one of the men partially rose out of his chair to reach an ashtray, the dog’s head was over his arm in a flash! No growl, no curled lip, no sign of aggression other than a look and body language that said it all: “Watch it! I’m on duty here.”
An Airedale Terrier with the right owner makes a happy and rewarding match.
The hereditary factor of gunshyness has been a source of arguments for years among those who hunt their dogs. Unreasonable shyness should be looked upon as a more serious breed fault than houndy ears, bad tail set or a soft coat, all of which may be faulty in show circles but perfectly acceptable in a lovable pet. A steady, friendly outgoing temperament, however, is of paramount importance in the family Airedale, as it should be in a show dog, working dog and obedience dog.
THE AIREDALE AT WORK AND PLAY
In Cynographia Britannica (1800), Syndenham Edwards wrote of terriers as a whole, “As his courage is great, so is his genius extensive; he will trace with the foxhounds, hunt with the beagle, find with the greyhound or beat with the spaniel. Of wildcats, martens, polecats, weasels and rats, he is the vigilant and determined enemy; he drives the otter from the rocky clefts on the banks of rivers, nor declines combat of a new element.” It is a sad state of affairs that dogs bred to hunt are no longer allowed this pursuit in their native land, but such are the laws today. In the US, however, the reverse is happening as more and more people are becoming actively involved in breed-specific sporting activities, including carting trials for Bernese Mountain Dogs, sledding races for Huskies and, of course, earthdog trials for Scotties, Dachshunds, etc.
When we speak of working or hunting dogs versus show or breeding stock, we are not referring to different types of Airedale Terriers. There is only one type, the one described in the breed standard. A dog earning hunting, obedience or agility titles may not be up to snuff for the show ring from a “beauty” standpoint (ears, coat, etc.), but still retains type and, in order to work, must be sound. Conversely, there is no reason why a show dog could not add other titles to his conformation championship, and many are doing just that.
There are numerous stories, especially in the US, of Airedales’ taking down bears and mountain lions. Their heroics have not gone unnoticed worldwide by the hunting Airedale enthusiasts, nor has that group been reticent to laud the breed’s natural accomplishments over those achieved in the show ring! As a result, dogs bred for show, including those that actually are conformation champions, are becoming increasingly involved in field work.
The Airedale’s working attributes have gone far beyond anything perceived by the breed’s creators. In the early 1900s, American fancier Walter Lingo began to breed and train Airedales for hunting. Oorang Airedales (he never called them Airedale Terriers) were not AKC registered, ranged in size from 35 to 100 pounds, came in any ancestral color and were without any adherence to type! He advertised them as hunters, but was hardly original in his claim. As Gladys Brown Edwards, noted breeder, author and artist wrote, “In fact, it is harder to keep an Airedale from hunting than it is to find one reluctant to hunt.”
Will Judy, writing in Dog Encyclopedia (Chicago, 1936), raved about the dog’s capabilities, including success as a police dog and on the battlefield, as a hunter of wild game (lions and tigers) in Africa, as a retriever in icy waters, as a sled dog in the frozen North, etc. High praise indeed, but he also noted that the Airedale Terrier wears his heart on his sleeve, is sensitive and demands attention and praise, but “all with a loveable terrier nature.” He was right on the mark!
Before considering the Airedale as a family pet, one must consider the breed’s instinctive working traits. Potential owners must realize that these are active dogs, not hyperactive dogs, but are working terriers with a will and a need to be given something to do. The alternative is to get into mischief. Small jobs are perfectly acceptable. Such tasks as carrying in the morning paper or toting a basket of tools about the garden qualify as gainful employment, so long as you remember that the dog also needs sufficient physical exercise.
During an off-season, show dogs and hunters are often trotted alongside bicycles to keep them in top condition. For the pet, a brisk walk, retrieving games or perhaps the Airedale’s favorite—a run in the fields adjacent to an irresistible stream or pond—will do nicely. City dogs can make do
