NextAiredale Terrier
Description
The Airedale Terrier is a large terrier with a
harsh wiry coat, long flat head, and a deep chest. Its hair is bristly and
resistant to dampness, but it needs stripping. The well-balanced dog stands
square, with a level topline and very straight front legs. The v-shaped ears
fold slightly to the side and forward. The nose is black. The teeth should meet
in a level or scissors bite. The tail is carried high and is customarily docked;
left undocked it should be carried gaiy, but should not curl over the back. The
wiry outer coat is lined with a soft undercoat. The coat should be tan with
black (or dark grizzle) markings. A bit of red in the black and/or a small white
star on the chest are permitted. The legs (all the way to the thigh), chest,
undersides, head and ears should be tan. Sometimes tan also extends up to the
shoulders.
Grooming
Airedales have a hard, short-haired, double
coat. The hair should be plucked about twice a year, but for dogs that are to be
shown, much more intensive grooming is needed. Trim excessive hair between the
pads of the feet when necessary. If you keep the coat stripped it will shed
little to no hair, however if you do not strip the coat, you will most likely
find fur piles around your baseboards, even with trimming, and brushing almost
every day. They actually require a good bit of grooming. Burrs stick in the coat
and beard. The beard should be washed daily because of food residue.
Coat
Should be hard, dense and wiry, lying straight and close, covering the dog well over the body and legs. Some of the hardest are crinkling or just slightly waved. At the base of the hard very stiff hair should be a shorter growth of softer hair termed the undercoat.
Color
The head and ears should be tan, the ears being of a darker shade than the rest. Dark markings on either side of the skull are permissible. The legs up to the thighs and elbows and the under-part of the body and chest are also tan and the tan frequently runs into the shoulder. The sides and upper parts of the body should be black or dark grizzle. A red mixture is often found in the black and is not to be considered objectionable. A small white blaze on the chest is a characteristic of certain strains of the breed.
Registry
FCI, AKC, UKC, KCGB, CKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, CET,
Group
AKC Terrier
Grooming
Airedales have a hard, short-haired, double
coat. The hair should be plucked about twice a year, but for dogs that are to be
shown, much more intensive grooming is needed. Trim excessive hair between the
pads of the feet when necessary. If you keep the coat stripped it will shed
little to no hair, however if you do not strip the coat, you will most likely
find fur piles around your baseboards, even with trimming, and brushing almost
every day. They actually require a good bit of grooming. Burrs stick in the coat
and beard. The beard should be washed daily because of food residue.
Littersize
Average of 9 puppies
Healthproblems
A very hardy breed, although some may suffer from
eye problems, hip dysphasia and skin infections. If your Airedale Terrier has
dry skin, he should be fed an adjusted omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid ratio in the
diet.
Lifeexpectancy
About 10-12 years.