Airedale At-a-Glance

The big, strong, noble Airedale is known as the “King of Terriers”. Their dignified, smart, and courageous nature makes this an accurate description! Although a poor choice for a first-time dog owner, this can be a good choice for your family so long as you establish yourself as the alpha and give it the attention it needs.

Characteristics Ratings

We rate 19 characteristics for each breed, divided into three categories:
Highest Rated – Characteristics for which this breed is rated 4 or 5 stars (on a 5 star scale).
Neutral Rated – Characteristics that rated 3 stars.
Lowest Rated – Characteristics that rated only 1 or 2 stars.

---

Highest Rated

• Good Family Dog
• Kid Friendly
• Good With Other Dogs
• Low Shedding
• Low Drooling
• Protective Nature
• Easy to Train
• High Intelligence

Neutral Rated

• Friendly to Strangers
• Likes to Play
• Handles Change Easily
• High Energy Level
• Low Amount of Barking
• Tolerates Cold Climate
• Tolerates Hot Climate
• Good General Health

Lowest Rated

• Suitable for Small Yards/Apartments
• Good for Novice Owners
• Tolerates Being Left Alone

General Overview

From a personality standpoint, Airedales are more likely to bond with a single person than with a family, even though they do make excellent family dogs. They are wary of strangers but are good with other dogs.

They are naturally protective and make excellent guard dogs. They also have a fairly aggressive nature, so early training and socialization are particularly important for this breed. Due to their hunting instincts, Airedales should be raised early with smaller animals such as cats, if there will be other smaller animals in your household.

You should be a bit cautious at the dog park with your Airedale. While it will likely not start a fight, it most certainly can end one!

Unlike most terriers, Airedales don’t shed, making them quite easy to care for. They are also low droolers and don’t bark unnecessarily.

However, you won’t want to leave them alone either inside or outside, as they are easily bored. They can become destructive if not given enough physical and mental stimulation. This means you’ll need to provide them with activities, toys, and lots of exercise.

When it comes to training, Airedales are quick learners and very intelligent. But they are also very stubborn, so you’ll need to be consistent in your training.  It’s important to establish yourself as the alpha and Airedales are not a good choice for a novice owner.

Overall, Airedales are a fairly healthy breed. They can do well in cold climates due to their coats but can also tolerate hot climates if you strip their coats down when the temperature rises.