Every year, Crufts gives dog lovers the chance to discover new breeds and meet ones they might not have known about. This year’s event saw an impressive aisle of all sorts of terrier breeds highlighted at the NEC in Birmingham.
Nevertheless, one of them stands out, mostly because it’s the biggest terrier of them all: the Airedale Terrier, affectionately known as the ‘King of the Terriers’. Emma Sharpe stands at her Crufts booth with her two loyal companions, Rory and Bunty on each side. The two Airedales are brother and sister, two years apart.
“They’re very tenacious,” Emma sayd. “They’ve got oodles of character, and they’re affectionate to a degree on their terms.”
Airedale originated in Yorkshire, when a group of breed enthusiasts met to ‘show’ their terriers at Airedale Show – in the area around Ilkley. The breed was often known as the Waterside Terrier because of their working of the riverbanks to keep down vermin, the Kennel Club explains.
The club notes the Airedale was used by the armed forces in the world wars, with their excellent scenting powers meaning they were perfect as tracking dogs. They were also used as messenger dogs in the trenches and as pack dogs with the Red Cross.
Nowadays, Airedales often enjoys a cosy yet active family life. In one survey, Airedale were the third most popular dog breed in the UK, after the wire-haired fox terrier and German shepherd.
“They’re very goofy. You know, they are clowns every day,” Emma says. “They have me in stitches doing something stupid.”
But don’t let their jokester nature foul you, Emma says the breed has significant brainpower. According to Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Airedales are very intelligent dogs that are quick to learn commands and tricks.
Moreover, they require a lot of mental stimulation, especially when they are young. “They are very, very quick, she’s very sharp,” Emma says, noting that Rory is more laid back than his more focused sister Bunty.
While Airedale are more cool and collected than other terrier breeds, as is often the case with larger breeds, they do share one characteristic that is typically found across every terrier. “Training is challenging,” Emma says as the King of the Terriers are just as stubborn as their terrier counterparts.
With a need for at least 1.5 hours of exercise per day and some mental stimulation, Airedale terriers aren’t for everyone. However, Emma isn’t against the idea of them being a first dog, as they were her first breed.
“I heard people say no (they’re not for first time dog owners), but then you’ve got to start somewhere,” Emma says. “Just be prepared for the stubbornness in general.”
The Airedale lover urges the importance of acquire the breed from a reputable breeder to avoid any health concerns. Nevertheless, the breed is quite robust, she says, especially considering their size.
As per the Kennel Club, Airedale have a rather long lifespan considering their size, over ten years. Airedale terriers typically stand 56–61 cm tall, with males weighing 18–23 kg and females 16–18 kg.
