The Airedale Terrier, often referred to simply as Airedale, is a dog breed created for otter hunting. It can be kept as a family dog as well, but you have to provide it with suitable outlets for its energy and hunting instinct otherwise your Airedale Terrier can grow bored and develop destructive habits. With suitable training, its underlying capacity for herding can be put to use by cattle owners.

The Airedale Terrier breed was created in Airedale, a valley located between the River Aire and River Warfe in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Working class dog owners created the breed during the mid 1800s by crossing Otterhounds with the traditional old English rough-coated Black and Tan Terrier. The breed was formally recognized by the Kennel Club of England in 1886.

The Airedale Terrier is the largest of the terrier breeds and weighs from 50 to 100 pounds (23-45 kg). Due to its size, it is sometimes referred to as the King of the Terriers. According to the UK Kennel Club, a male Airedale Terrier should measure approximately 58 – 61 centimetres at the shoulder, while a bitch should be 56-59 centimetres.

The Airedale is a very brave dog, and it is also known to handle pain in a stoic fashion. It is therefore important to keep an eye on your Airedale Terrier, since poor health might otherwise go unnoticed for weeks.

There are many websites devoted to the Airedale Terrier. These are a few examples.

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