Community Chat

[littleblueparakeet]

I'm thinking about getting one at some point and would appreciate any feedback/opinions of the breed.

Thanks.

[3blackdogs]

I have back in the day. She was the first dog we adopted when my kids were small. She was a wonderful dog.. Terriers tend to be pretty energetic and need lots of exercise. She was pretty stubborn which is typical of them too.

[littleblueparakeet]

Thanks for your input 3blackdogs.

Is training an issue with terriers?

[CamilleP]

I have never lived with a purebred Airedale, but I did foster an Airedale cross many years ago, when I was doing Rescue for my own breed, Scottish Terriers. Archie, the boy I fostered, was solid black, but half again as tall as a purebred Scottie would be, he was 14" at the withers at 9 months of age. He'd been sold at a pet store as a "purebred Scottie", but he wasn't, he was a "Scottsdale Terrier"! He was a lovely happy boy, and I was lucky to find him a very good home. I recognized the breed he was crossed with because he had that one completely characteristic Airedale trait, the Big Nose! Airedales know what to do with that Big Nose, too, the Big Nose Poke! Their favorite "target" is the most shy, prim, proper and genteel lady or gentleman they can find, but don't ever bend over with an Airedale behind you, unless you don't mind being "goosed", LOL!

As to "training", Airedales, like all independent-thinking breeds (all Hounds, all Terriers, many working breeds), are often labelled "stubborn", but training them really just entails standard positive reinforcement techniques and generally making them think whatever you wanted was really their idea in the first place. Like all Terriers, 'Dales are brave beyond all bounds of reason (they were used as war dogs in WWI), loyal to the death, and versatile in the extreme, their Otterhound ancestry enables them to be working waterfowl retrievers in cold Autumn waters, as well as their more usual furred quarry animals, such as raccoon or otter. The King of Terriers is also smart, and has a significant sense of humor, it's how they target that Big Nose Poke so perfectly. I am sure the Airedale Club of America has a website that can give you lots more information and contacts to find a responsible breeder in your region.

Hope this is helpful, Best Wishes!

[Ceci]

These can be a difficult breed in the wrong hands. If you aren't experienced with training and everyone taking a dominant role in the household, you can run into trouble. They can be very assertive and tough. We lived, trained and showed Rotties and I found Airedales more difficult to deal with.

[CamilleP]

Actually, Ceci, none of the Terrier Tribe responds well to the leadership model that works so well with many of the Working breeds. The more you try to assert your alpha role with them, the more they rebel and resist. You have to convince them what you want was their idea in the first place, or, failing that, you have to make performing whatever task you are requesting worth their while. The best example of any kind of canine training I ever saw was an agility performance by an Airedale. The dog's handler was a very elderly gentleman, who stood pretty much smack dab in the middle of the arena, simply turning as his dog ran the course, calling out which obstacle the dog was to take next, and the dog ran exactly as directed, completed the run clean, under time, and earning a qualifying score in the class. I believe he actually completed a title the weekend I saw him run. I seriously doubt if any of the traditional agility breeds would ever perform so well without their handler running pretty much right beside them the whole course.

The independent, self-directed thinking required of the free-hunting breeds is not the mind-set that many people expect or like or want in a canine-companion, but for those dog-lovers who like it, no other dogs will do. I often call my Scotties "Barking Cats", they are that independent, but at the same time, a Terrier's loyalty is literally boundless.

[Kachina624]

My mom, who would have been 100 years old this year, had one as a child and told this story about the dog. He was somewhat aggressive and someone reported him to the police. An officer came to their door to talk to grandma. When she opened the door, the dog escaped and bit the cop. I don't know what happened after that.

Every year we take our collies to a Celtic festival. There has been an Airedale there on occasion and I've watched his owner pluck his hair rather than brush it as I do my dogs. That sounds rather time-consuming to me.

[Kachina624]

On 7/23/2014 littleblueparakeet said:

Thanks for your input 3blackdogs.

Is training an issue with terriers?

Terriers typically have their own agendas, and they often are quite different from those of their masters. This tends to create frustration and conflict on both sides.

[mousiegirl]

On 7/23/2014 littleblueparakeet said:

Thanks for your input 3blackdogs.

Is training an issue with terriers?

It can be due to their stubbornness or one track minds. You have to convince a terrier that what you want it to do is more important than what they want to do. I find a quick reward helps a lot. I buy tiny dog cookies from Vitacost, though are available at pet supply stores, my pups are small, and when the female obeys me, she gets one or two. My male is a terrier mix, and a fabulous dog, obeys immediately, goes on command, lol, and is a smart sweetheart. The girl has a mind of her own.