Airedale Terriers

[Lotobear]

I've always wanted an Airedale ever since I was a young boy and one lived down our road.

I have 2 Welsh terriers which I love dearly - one is now approaching 16 and though in rude health is not going to go on forever. The other is only 3 and a corker.

I'm fast approaching the 'our last dog' age and keep thinking if not now then probably never.

Does anyone on here have one or have you ever had one? I know quite a bit about them and of course they are very much an upscaled Welshie (it's said that a Welsh and an Otterhound were cross bred into the Airedale/Bingley).

I would love to hear anecdotes and see pictures of your Airedale to help persuade me. I'm fit and healthy, live on the edge of the Lakes, and not afraid of the exercise that would come with one, it's just we have always had small dogs (always terriers though) and i'm slightly nervous of taking on such a beast endearing as they are.

.....young Ted, dominating the couch

[moorx]

Not got any experience of them, but will watch with interest, as I've always admired them too (along with Welsh Terriers like your gorgeous boy) and Fox Terriers.

[otolith]

My uncle and aunt had them for a long time. I do remember one of them accidentally getting a golf ball between the eyes at dangerously close range, wobbling for a second, and then carrying on as if nothing happened. They were used in the trenches in WWI - allegedly because of their intelligence, though I suspect that their lack of fear and doggedness were more relevant.

[Lotobear]

It's may be worth mentioning Paddy the Wanderer in this discussion:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paddy_the_Wanderer

The Airedale from my childhood was named 'Paddy' and it never occurred to me why until I learned of this story some years ago now. My other Welsh is called Paddy as a tribute to that Airedale my my childhood and by extension the NZ Airedale.

[TikTak]

moorx said:

Not got any experience of them, but will watch with interest, as I've always admired them too.

+1

[XCP]

Had two Airedales. One from the dogs home, the other a puppy from a rescue organisation. Lovely dogs, if a bit mad. Don't shed very much.
Allow for cost of trimming to keep smart, otherwise they get very 'fluffy'.

[Mr Fix It]

We had two. They are a great breed. They weren’t very agile, so we had to lift them over gates and stiles when walking in the hills. But could walk for miles.

[XCP]

Oh and people say they love swimming. Ours certainly didn't! Hot air balloons used to set them off too!!

[Mr Fix It]

Our didn’t like swimming, in fact one of them didn’t even like getting her feet wet!

[richwain24]

One of our friends has just got one called Frankie. Very sweet breed!

[JurassicGTS]

So lucky to have two Welshies.
Both Welshies and Airdales are wonderful breeds.
We sadly lost our beautiful Welshie girl last September, I have never been so distraught over the loss of a pet, they are just such characters.
Our breeder kept both Welshies and a couple of Airdales, he did say one Airdale was more work than half a dozen Welshies

[JurassicGTS]

Our Welshie

[JurassicGTS]

Beautiful Welshie just got 4th in Terrier class at Crufts.