Although I love Airedales, I know that they’re not the right dog for everyone. I’ve put together the following guide to talk about some of the more challenging aspects of owning an Airedale.

So, what are some problems with an Airedale? Airedales are stubborn dogs, who’s energy level can be difficult to deal with it. Health-wise they don’t have many issues, although there is a risk of canine hip dysplasia.

Bred for work, and born with an independent streak, Airedales can certainly be a handful. These dogs require not only physical exercise, but also attention and mental stimulation to avoid being bored. When they do get bored, they tend to take their boredom out in an obnoxious manner (such barking or chewing furniture). In terms of health, Airedales maintain a fairly good genetic composition for a purebred dog; there are no major health concerns to be had with the breed, but there are a few issues worth mentioning.

Behavioural Problems

First, let’s talk about some of the behavioural issues with the Airedale terrier. Although I love these dogs dearly, they can certainly be challenging at times (although it’s well worth it, I promise). Below are some of the challenged that you may run into when owning an Airedale:

• Stubbornness
• High energy requirements
• Bored easily
• Destructive behaviour
• Not great in apartments
• Need to be socialized
• Some health issues

Stubbornness

One of the defining characteristics of the breed is an Airedale’s stubbornness. Once they’ve decided on something, it’s really hard to convince them otherwise, especially if they form bad habits when they’re young.

This trait has led to Airedales being referred to as ‘air-heads’ sometimes, because of their apparent inability to listen to commands. People unfamiliar with the breed think this is because they don’t understand, but anyone who’s owned an Airedale knows the truth: they understand what you’re saying, they just chose not to listen.

Because of how stubborn they are, Airedales can sometimes be frustrating to work with, and they can seem borderline insolent at times. I would recommend having a good training routine, especially when the Airedale is a puppy. These dogs are super intelligent, and if you train them to listen well and have good habits, this won’t be as much of an issue. If you let the Airedale get away with poor behaviour when they’re young, however, it can be difficult to break them out of it.

Another thing to note is that Airedales tend to be more stubborn when they feel they’ve been wronged. These dogs don’t respond well to punishment or yelling, and doing so may actually cause them to dig their heels (paws) in and behave even worse. Positive reinforcement and encouragement work better.

High Energy Requirements

If you want a lapdog, I definitely would not recommend getting an Airedale. Originally bred for hunting and farm work, these dogs need a good amount of exercise every day or they’re going to get bored.

To give you an idea of what it takes to tire out an Airedale, I’ll give you a look into my own Airedale’s fairly routine. First thing in the morning we let him outside, where he’s free to run around, chasing birds and exploring out back yard. That usually takes about fifteen minutes. Next, we take him to the dog park before lunch; he spends an hour playing fetch, fighting with other dogs, and roaming around.

Usually after that he’s pretty tired, so he’ll come home and nap. In the afternoon I try to play with him at least once a day; this involves chasing him around the house for a quick 15-minute burn (sometimes longer, if my family gets involved). Then, after dinner, someone will take him for a good hour’s walk.

All of this together still isn’t enough to totally tire him out, and we sometimes have to play with him at night or risk having him sprinting around the house to just burn off excess energy. If you don’t have at least 2-3 hours a day (minimum!) to devote to entertaining your Airedale, I wouldn’t recommend getting one.

Bored Easily

Another thing that makes the Airedale’s daily routine so challenging to deal with is the fact that they don’t rely solely on physical exercise to keep them entertained. As a utility dog, Airedales gained an inquisitive nature, and they love to explore and face new challenges. As a puppy, one of my Airedales wandered around our property so much that he often got lost.

This means that Airedale’s need mental challenges as well as physical ones to keep them entertained. This isn’t a greyhound, where it’s satisfied just running until it’s tired. It’s also not a dog where you can expect to play a repetitive game of fetch and have them be satisfied. Instead, Airedale’s need something that keeps them interested an entertained, and preferably a game that changes/evolves as it goes on.

One of the best ways to do this is to get involved yourself. An Airedale is never happier than when they’re playing with you. Unfortunately, this obviously requires more time and commitment from you, and that can become difficult to schedule.

Destructive Behaviour

When Airedale’s get bored, they tend to wreck things. These dogs don’t handle inactivity well, and failure to keep your Airedale entertained can lead to the following:

• Lots (and I mean lots) of barking. Remember how I said the Airedale was stubborn? They’ll stand there and howl at you continuously, no matter how much you tell them to be quiet.
• Destruction of furniture. Especially if they’re home alone, Airedales will take to chewing on household items to entertain themselves. This usually means that the Airedale has grown sick of their own toys and is looking for something else to do.
• Digging holes. If you like your garden, it’s best not to have a bored Airedale around. Harkening back to their roots as a hunter, they’ll go full terrier on you and start burrowing into the ground.

It’s easy to get frustrated when confronted by this behaviour, but you have to remember that your Airedale is trying to communicate to you that they’re bored. Especially with a breed this stubborn, listening and working with them will get you a lot farther than yelling or punishing them.

Not Great in Apartments

These three factors combine to mean that Airedale’s don’t do super well in apartments. If you live in one and want to bring an Airedale into your life, I would recommend waiting until your living situation changes a bit.

Airedales are fairly large, super energetic dogs. Not having a backyard means you don’t even have the luxury of letting your Airedale outside to run around and explore, which means you’ll need to spend more time with them. Unless you have several hours a day to spend with your Airedale (including, preferably, the ability to visit them mid-day), I wouldn’t recommend getting an Airedale.

Of course, if you own one and find yourself living in an apartment, there are a few things you can do to make the situation more manageable. Hiring a dog walker, or enrolling your Airedale in some kind of doggy day care, will allow them to get the socialization and exercise they need.

Need to be Socialized

It’s important that you get your Airedale enough exposure to both humans and other dogs when they’re young, or they can grow up with a slightly cold or even suspicious towards strangers. Though they’re incredibly loving towards their family, Airedale’s as a breed tend to not be super trusting of people they don’t know.

This means that, when they’re young, it’s important to expose your Airedale to new people so that they can learn how normal people act. This helps them adjust socially and prevents them from being hostile towards other dogs.

Luckily, socialization isn’t too difficult. Taking your Airedale to the dog park, letting him meet friends, or even going on walks where he can interact with other people/dogs are all excellent ways to get more exposure for your Airedale.

Socialization is also essential if you ever want your Airedale to have to live with cats or other small animals. Airedales were often used to hunt small game or keep vermin off of farms, so their natural instincts tell them that these creatures should be tracked down and taken care of. Introducing your Airedale to them at a very young age, and strictly reprimanding them if they show any outward signs of aggression, is the only way to be sure that you can break them from this habit.

Health Issues

As purebred dogs go, Airedales tend to be fairly healthy. I did a lot of research on the topic, and there were only a couple common issues that I could find. As a whole, I would say that you don’t need to withhold purchasing an Airedale because of health concerns, although you do want to be aware of them. Additionally, you should make sure that you’re working with a quality breeder that does their best to limit genetic issues within their litters.

Stomach Issues

Because of their build (long-legged and large chested), Airedales tend to be prone to a few digestive and colon issues. Their body shape can sometimes lead to ‘bloat’, which is a dangerous build-up of gas in their digestive track that needs to be treated as quickly as possible. Feeding your dog infrequently and in small quantities is a good way to prevent this.

Even without bloat, Airedales can be susceptible to irritable or sensitive bowls. Sometimes this is caused by their own curiosity, as they like to drink or eat stuff that they definitely shouldn’t.

Canine Hip Dysplasia

CHD is a common issue for many larger dogs, particularly ‘pedigree breeds’ that come from a continuous line. It’s caused by a malformation in the hip joint that sometimes leads to mobility issues in the Airedale. Because it’s partially genetic, pure-bred Airedales are susceptible to it.

CHD isn’t a massive issue for Airedale owners, but it is something that you should be aware of. It usually manifests in dogs before they reach the age of two; using a hip score test on the dog can be an excellent way to test for it.

Is an Airedale Right for Me?

Now, after reading all of that, it may seem that the Airedale is an impossible, destructive dog who won’t listen and will wreck your house. Of course, as someone who’s owned one nearly their entire lives, I can testify to the fact that this isn’t true al all. Airedale’s have a lot going for them, and they’re sure to bring joy to your life. You should make sure to be familiar with some of the benefits of the breed before you make a decision whether or not to buy one.

Benefits

So, what are some of the good things that come with being an Airedale owner? The list is long, but I’ve tried to summarize a few of the highlights below.

Personality

I’ve talked a lot about how the Airedale is stubborn, suspicious, and easily bored. While all of that is true, there are also some real upside to this dog.

This breed toes the line between seriousness and playfulness more so than any other. As a puppy, Airedales are fast-growing balls of energy: they love to explore, play, fight, and do anything else to get their energy out. If you’re someone who likes playing with your dog, you’ll love chasing and fighting with your Airedale puppy until both of you are exhausted.

As the get older, the Airedales develop into a much more poised dog. They carry themselves with a quiet sort of dignity, although they never really lose that heart of playfulness. With their family, they’re incredibly loving and will dote on everyone; they tend to not pick favourites.

Airedales are also super loyal. There’s no one that they would rather spend time with, and you’ll never lack affection or playfulness from your Airedale.

So, while it’s true that Airedales require a lot of work, you also get a lot back from them.

Protective Nature

Airedales, even without being trained, make fairly good guard dogs. Not many people buy them solely for that role, but if you want a family companion who can also provide a little bit of reassurance, the Airedale is the perfect dog for the job.

This breed has an innate ability to understand who’s friendly and who isn’t. They’ll rarely be out-right aggressive, but if anyone threatens them or their family members, the Airedale will almost never back down from a fight. They also have the size and fighting instincts to stand up for themselves; because of their history as a hunter, Airedales can hold their own against larger dog breeds.  

Intelligence

Aside from being cheerful and loving, Airedales are incredibly smart. Whether you’re looking for a utility dog, or you just want to be able to teach them tricks, the Airedale should be able to learn almost anything you ask about them.

In the past, Airedales were used for a variety of different jobs, from wartime messengers to hunting dogs. They were often required to work independently and think for themselves, and these traits have stuck with the breed until this day.

For the rest of us who just want a companion, Airedales can learn a variety of different tricks, and can be taught to behave very well in public. My Airedale Theo almost always comes when called in the dog park, and he learned the standard slew of tricks — sit, stay, rollover, etc — in a matter of hours. Airedales are also very quick to house train themselves, often becoming ‘dry’ in a week.

Hypoallergenic

Another great thing about Airedales is that they’re hypoallergenic, meaning they cause lower levels of reaction in people who are sensitive to dogs. However, it should be noted that this does not mean they cause no reaction.

Allergic reactions to dogs happen when you come into contact with the protein that they produce in their skin and hair. This protein is spread in three ways:

• Dander, or dead skin cells, which stick to you when you pet the dog and can also be released into the air.
• Drool from the dog
• Shedding, which leaves pieces of hair lying around that can basically get everywhere in your house.

Airedales have hair, not fur, which means the produce less dander than most other dog breeds. This leads to less protein floating around the house and, therefore, less of a reaction.

Similarly, as a dignified breed, Airedales tend to not drool in large amounts. Of course, this is going to vary from dog to dog (mine drools a bit, although usually not unless he’s begging for food), but for the most part these are pretty tidy dogs.

Finally, there’s the Airedale’s short, wiry coat to consider. These dogs shed very little, so they won’t go leaving hair around your house. Especially if you have a good brushing routine in place, you can expect minimal amounts of dog hair to come from your Airedale.

Combining those three factors gives you a dog that’s known for causing some of the lowest levels of allergic reactions — great for households in which that might be a consideration.

Deciding to Get an Airedale

So, now that you know the ups and downs of the breed (for more about the benefits of an Airedale, check out my article here), you should be able to make a decision about whether or not they’re a good fit for you.

I WOULD recommend an Airedale if:

• You want a playful, high energy dog who you can roughhouse with and take on adventures
• You’re looking for a companion who you can devote lots of time to
• You want a dog who, while not outwardly hostile, can act in a protective roll to your or your family
• You love other breeds, like the German shepherd or husky, but you can’t deal with them for allergic reasons.

I WOULD NOT recommend and Airedale if:

• You’re strapped for time / are not willing to devote several hours a day to your dog
• You want a relaxed companion to lounge around with you
• You’re a novice dog owner or you have trouble training/being strict with dogs
• You have a household with a cat or other small rodent in it.