As a dog owner, I always want to know that my pet is getting the best food possible. I wrote the following guide to show everything you need to know about feeding your Airedale.

So, what’s the best food for your Airedale? Airedales live best off of a high-quality diet that includes healthy amounts of protein, fat, and carbs. Some of the best brands for Airedales include:

• Victor Multi-Pro Dog Food
• Chew’s Chicken Dinner Patties
• Orijen Grain Free Dog Food

These are some personal favourites based on my experience as an Airedale owner. However, your choices may vary depending on your dog’s preferences (Airedales can be picky sometimes) or any health issues that they might have. Because of that, in this article, I break down what you need to know before you buy food for your Airedale. That includes some factors to consider (such as dry vs wet food), tips on how much to feed them, and answers as to whether or not it’s okay for your Airedale to eat human food.

Airedale Terrier Diet

So, before we go into specific recommendations, let’s talk a little more broadly about Airedale diets and dog food in general.

As a medium-sized, active breed, Airedales need to be fed a high-quality diet. They must have enough to eat to sustain their active lifestyle, but not too much so that they begin to gain wait. These dogs have also been known to have irritable stomachs, so you may need to tweak their diet a few times to find the food that won’t upset them.

When buying food for your Airedale, you should make sure that it is:

• AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officers) compliant
• Made predominantly with meat
• Decently affordable, because these dogs eat a lot

Furthermore, when choosing a food for your specific Airedale, you’ll need to judge it based off a few different categories:

• Dry food vs wet food
• Allergens or hypoallergenic foods
• How much grain is in the food
• Whether or not the ingredients are all natural

Dry vs Wet

One of the main differences in types of dog foods is dry vs wet food. There are some advantages and disadvantages to each:

• Wet food normally comes from a can, and tends to contain less processed ingredients than dry food. Additionally, because of its smell and consistency, it’s more palatable for dogs; this might make it preferable if your dog is a picky eater. Finally, wet food obviously contains more liquid, so it can help your dog stay hydrated. However, wet food is messier, and if left out overnight it will tend to spoil.
• Dry food, or kibble, is the dog food that comes in pellets. Dry food is more affordable and much lower maintenance; it doesn’t spoil, it’s easier to travel with, and you don’t need to open a can every night. Dry food traditionally has been less healthy, although boutique dog food stores are starting to find more ways to make the kibble nutritious while including fewer preservatives.

I’ve always fed my dogs dry food and never had an issue with it. However, you can feel free to experiment when your dog is a puppy to find what type of food they might prefer.   

Hypoallergenic

Just like Airedales cause lower levels of allergic reactions in humans, some dog food breeds contain lower levels of allergens for the Airedales. Similar to how humans react poorly to certain substances, your Airedale might have a certain amount of sensitivity to some ingredients in their dog food.

If you notice that your Airedale’s bowels seem irritated, you might want to consult a vet or look at the ingredients on their food.

Grain Free

Recently, there’s been a massive sweep of grain-free dog foods on the market. In truth, there’s questionable evidence as to whether or not grain-free food is what’s best for your dog.

Grains can be an important source of nutrients such as energy, protein, and vitamin E. Furthermore, while many people believe that grains cause allergic reactions in dogs, they’re actually responsible for less than 10% of all dog allergies (beef and dairy are actually the leading culprits).

So, while I agree that dogs are mainly carnivores and the majority of their food should be meat-based, don’t write off a brand just because it has grains. In fact, the FDA recently launched an investigation into the link between certain grain-free diets and heart problems in dogs.

All Natural

While the jury’s still out as to whether or not grain-free dog is best for your dog, a lot of people are turning towards all-natural food selections. The reason behind this is simple: these selections tend to have fewer ingredients, which lowers the chance that something in them will irritate your dog. However, all-natural brands may also be more expensive.

Picking the Right Food For Your Airedale

So, with all of that considered, how do you ensure that you’re picking the right good for your Airedale? There are a few things you can consider when looking for a brand:

• Age: Sometimes you need specialty puppy foods (which I go into more detail at the bottom of this article). Likewise, if your dog is getting old, they may develop health problems that could require you to get a different type of dog food.
• Weight: Having an overweight dog isn’t good, and food content can definitely play a part in this. Swapping brands so that your food has a different protein/fat content can help your Airedale gain or lose weight.
• Health: If your Airedale has any allergies or stomach issues, food might be one of the first things you change to help make them better. Similarly, food can have a negative impact on your Airedales health, depending on the ingredients.
• Activity level: If your dog is more active, you may want a food that has a higher calorie content to support their lifestyle. Similarly, if your dog doesn’t get out as much, you want to make sure they’re not getting too much to eat.
• Budget: One of the issues with dog food, especially some of the more speciality brands, is that it costs a lot. This is fine if you can afford it, but that may not be the case for all dog owners. Similarly, just because a certain brand costs more doesn’t actually mean it’s better; you need to be careful to not be tricked by good advertising or unfounded health claims.  

Getting the right food for your dog can be a tricky process that may require a little bit of testing. When in doubt, don’t hesitate to speak to a vet and get some professional guidance.

Best Food for Airedale Terriers

So, now that we’ve covered all of the basics surrounding food for Airedales, it’s time to talk about what some of the best brands are. Remember, the list below should be seen as a generalization only; you need to make the decision that’s best for you given your budget, preferences, and dog’s health. If you’re looking for some food options, though, the three brands below would make an excellent choice.

Victor Multi-Pro

What it is: A general-purpose kibble that will do well for almost any dog

Price: $47.99 for a 50lb bag

Pros:

• Nutrient-dense kibble designed for a variety of activity levels
• Majority of the protein comes from meat, with some still coming from grain sources
• Affordable price

Cons:

• Some complaints about the taste
• Not the highest-calories dog food, so it won’t do as well for super-active dogs

Verdict

First up is the Victor Multi-Pro. This food isn’t the most specialized out there, but it gets the job done and it comes at an affordable price. Made of 70% animal protein and 30% grain protein, the Multi-pro does a good job of limiting its grain content without being excessively avoidant of it. Because it’s a kibble, this food is easier to store and administer, and it won’t go bad.

The main knock found against the Multi-pro is that some dogs, upon receiving it, didn’t want to touch it. Because of that, it might be best to start with the 5lb bag first, which will only cost you $10 to try out. Additionally, some people have said that the calorie content wasn’t enough for their dogs. If you have a super-active Airedale (heaven knows they’re already active enough as a breed), you might want to try something different.

PEDIGREE Real Chicken

What it is: A canned dog food made of natural ingredients

Price: $85 for 50lbs worth

Pros:

• High-quality wet dog food might be more palatable for picky eaters
• Includes calcium, phosphorus, and fatty acids
• Added rice helps to increase grain and calorie content

Cons:

• Small cans are inconvenient to feed larger dogs

Verdict

For people who prefer wet dog foods, PEDIGREE provides several good options. I’ve included the chicken one here, because I’ve found that it tends to be favoured above other flavours amongst Airedales. This particular option is made mostly out of cage-free chickens, while containing enough rice and supplements to ensure that your dog is getting all of the calories they need.

The main drawback to this option is the fact that it’s twice as expensive as the kibble, along with the size of the cans it can come in. This turns into a pain when you’re trying to feed your Airedale, but that’s a small price to pay for a satisfied dog.

Best Food for Airedale Puppies: Wellness Complete Health

What it is: A specially-formatted kibble designed to help your dog grow while not upsetting their stomach.

Price: $95 for 50 lbs worth

Pros:

• Formulated specifically for puppies
• Chicken-protein based while still including proper amounts of grain and calcium
• Smaller kibble size is better for growing dogs

Cons:

• More expensive
• Some complaints that it leads to soft stool

Verdict

Getting the right food for your puppy is essential. The wrong brand could upset your Airedale’s stomach and may actually increase the likelihood of them developing hip dysplasia.

Wellness Complete Health Chicken Puppy Food is the answer to your concerns. Designed to include a healthy balance of animal and grain proteins, along with important substitutes like calcium and taurine, this kibble is perfect for helping your young Airedale grow. You can stick with this brand for the first year of your dogs life, before you should look elsewhere.

There are a few complaints about it leading to soft stool, which you should be sure to monitor. Additionally, it is fairly expensive, but the price becomes less probative when you consider that 1) your puppy will eat less, and 2) you only need to buy it for a year (or less).

Best Food for Airedales with Sensitive Stomachs

My Airedale Theo has had his fair share of stomach problems over the years, leading to several rounds of anti and probiotic treatments. This is a decently common trend with Airedales, and the food they’re given can certainly play a role.

I can’t really offer any specific reccomendations, because I don’t know what might be causing your dog to react poorly to their food. With that being said, some common airedale allergies include:

• Beef
• Dairy
• Wheat
• Eggs
• Fish
• Soy

If you notice your Airedale having stomach issues, it would do you well to scan the ingredient list on their food to check for any of these substances. You can try swapping it out for a different food, or you can consult with a vet and get their recommendation. Whatever the strategy is, don’t be afraid to shop around a bit before you settle on one type of dog food.

How Much Should Airedales Eat?

Once you get your food, you need to figure out the right quantity to feed your dog every night. Obviously overfeeding is an issue, but you also don’t want your Airedale to starve.

Once again, this is a tricky thing to give specific recommendations about, because you’re doing to know your dog better than I will. Additionally, it will vary based on the type of food; more calorically dense foods will have to be doled out in smaller quantities. To help with this, any dog food brands will include guides on their packaging that tell you how much the dog should be eating given their weight and size.

So, how much should Airedale terriers eat? In general, Airedales should eat about 1.5-3.5 cups of kibble (or the eqivalent amount of wet dog food) spread out in 2-3 meals per day. You should also take into account how many treats you give your Airedale.

I know this is a wide range, but all of the factors above (age, weight, activity level) need to be factored in here. Once again, the best way to get this answer is to consult with a vet.

How Much Should my Airedale Weigh?

If they’re fed the right amount, Airedales should weigh about 45-65 pounds, although they can go as high as 75. If your Airedale is more than that, they may be overweight. The females of the species should be a little lighter, while males can tend to be heavier set.

Again, you need to pay attention to the specifics of your dog. If you have a 21-inch tall female who ways 55 pounds, she may be overweight. Similarly, if you have a large Airedale, don’t unnecessarily restrict their diet in an effort to keep them below 65 pounds.

Can I Give My Airedale Human Food?

So far in this guide, all we’ve done is talk about dog-specific foods. I would be lying, though, if I said that I never fed my Airedale human food. It’s hard, when they start begging with their big brown eyes, to deny them a piece of whatever you’re eating.

For the most part, giving your Airedale human food is fine. In particular, plain meats (without an abundance of salt or other seasoning) can act as a great snack or reward for your Airedale.

Some people I know think that it’s best to feed their dog purely meat, but I would push back heavily against this viewpoint. Some nutrients, like fatty acids and vitamin E, are deficient in this type of diet. Additionally, while your dog may have lived off of raw elk thousands of years ago, they’ve likely evolved as a species since then; reverting them back to such a uniform diet may actually cause issues.

So, stick to dog food for the majority of your Airedale’s calories, but don’t be afraid to give them the odd morsel of human food. With that being said, there are some substances that are toxic to dogs; be sure to avoid:

• Garlic and onion
• Grapes and raisins
• Chocolates
• Avocado
• Coffee and Tea
• Nutmeg