Airedale Terrier: description, content and popular nicknames

The Airedale Terrier today is not one of the most popular and popular dogs - this is one of the many reasons why you should choose this pet. Such a friend will be no worse than representatives of more popular breeds, but at the same time it will once again show that its owner is an original person, with unbanal outlook on life, able to have his own opinion, and not follow the flow under the influence of fashion trends. If you are already interested, you should familiarize yourself with the Airedale Terriers.

It is curious that the Airedale Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier are countrymen originating from the same English Yorkshire county, although their appearance is fundamentally different. The name of the breed was due to the valley of the Ayr River, where it first appeared. The dog is obliged by its appearance to the local workers, who brought him out, crossing the red terrier between themselves (he is the Welsh Terrier) with the wire-haired Old English subspecies of the black and tan terrier and Otterhound.

In 1864, a new dog went to the exhibition for the first time, where it was sent by the Airedale Terrier Breeding Society that existed at that time, although by that time the breed was not officially recognized and did not even have a standard name. At first, the new terrier was called just a hard-haired, then coastal, then bingley, and the modern name was fixed only in 1879. Seven years later, it was under this name that the dog was officially listed in the English club of dog lovers.

The place of breeding a new breed was not chosen by chance - throughout the century before last, the Eyre River valley was famous for hosting regular sporting events, which involved catching large river rats with the help of hunting dogs. For these purposes, relatively small dogs were used, capable of fighting the enemy directly on its territory, that is, in a burrow.

Erdel turned out to be relatively large and didn’t crawl into the burrow, but, unlike most other terriers, he had an admixture from a hound, therefore he could pursue prey by smell, kill it himself and bring it to the owner. Such activities required considerable courage, strength and skill, so the dog quickly gained popularity among the "official" hunters and poachers, and soon began to be used also to protect farms or houses. To understand how quickly people rated a new breed, it should be clarified that The first dog went for export to the USA as early as 1880 - before the breed was officially recognized.

Already in 1904, the Russian embassy in the UK officially asked for help: they wanted to buy dogs that would help carry the wounded from the battlefield - Just started the Russian-Japanese war. The British helped: they set up terriers, mostly Erdel, and since then the breed has taken root in Russia.

For several decades they have been used as the main service dogs in various areas of activity. In 1906, the Airedale Terriers were appreciated in their homeland - here they were hired by the police, where they were initially accompanied by patrols engaged in maintaining order in the ship docks. It was these dogs that were chosen not only for their excellent instinct, but also for their excellent intelligence and extreme simplicity in the care of hard wool.

World War I brought the Airedale Terrier to the pinnacle of worldwide recognition - These first-class animals performed many important tasks, delivering mail, including over the front line, as well as finding the wounded and pulling them out of the battlefield or leading to them physicians. After the war, a wise and brave dog became overgrown with legends, its popularity grew immensely, because even several US presidents, including Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, owned representatives of this particular breed.

Despite the impressive fame of these dogs, Erdels never knew mass distribution. For example, in the States they reached the peak of their popularity in 1949, but even then they entered only the top twenty of the most sought-after breeds, which is not bad for the then list of 110 breeds, but does not allow us to speak of nationwide love.

Erdel, the language does not turn to call small - among his fellow terriers, he is rightly considered the largest. When compared to some other breeds, this dog may seem miniature - his height is 58–61 cm for males and up to 59 cm for females.

Although growth characteristics do not practically differ depending on gender, things are completely different with weight. the male weighs 30 kilograms, whereas for his girlfriend 20 kilograms are already the limit. Naturally, the difference in weight with the same height affects the size of the body - the girl looks like a mini-version of a boy.

The standard assumes that the Erdel’s head is folded proportionally and has a narrow, elongated shape. There is no prominent forehead - it flows into the face smoothly, without a sharp transition. The muzzle itself is rectangular, a significant part of its width is occupied by an elongated nose, black at the end. The lips are tightly pressed to the jaws, which is characterized by high compressive power and is dotted with large white teeth. Breaking the grip of such a dog is extremely difficult.

The dog has deep-set, round eyes, whose shade may vary, but is always dark - close to dark brown or black. From the look of the dog it is already obvious that he is intelligent and perceptive. The ears are located close to each other, they are small and have the shape of a triangle, half hanging down, but still are not limp.

The neck is not long or thick, but it is muscular and strong. Strong addition is typical for the body of the dog - it is square, it has a reliable bone structure, a powerful back and a developed chest. A highly set tail is most often arrested - in the original conditions of the struggle with the enemy, for which the Erdel was created, it would only hinder it. The body rests on the elongated strong paws of a small size.

A distinctive feature of the dog is the increased stiffness of the coat - thick guard hairs are often compared with wire. The Airedale Terrier is adapted for survival in low temperature conditions - under the “wire” sheath there is a soft and dense undercoat that reliably retains heat. This dog does not have a total length of hair - depending on the part of the body, it may be longer or shorter, but it mandatory curly and curly.

The standard allows a certain variation in the color of the pet - it can be bright red or red and yellow, just yellow or brown, although the back always remains black. This color is called cheprachnym. Wherein monotony of “color” color is considered an important requirement - foreign spots on the chest are still allowed, but they should be small and slightly affect the aesthetic perception of the individual.

At the same time, puppies of the Airedale Terrier from birth have a strictly black fur, only as they mature it is replaced by a more familiar one.

Contrary to the fact that in their history, representatives of the breed sometimes had to solve very serious problems, the Erdel is a cheerful dog, from among those who with pleasure will find an extra reason to have fun. A wise animal intelligently entertains itself and can figure out that the owner needs to cheer up, at the same time inventing how to do it.

Most often, such an energetic dog is the favorite of the whole family, including children, but it is noted that there are types of people with whom the Airedale Terrier character is incompatible. These are too calm, harsh or tough people - in short, all those who do not support the desire of the pet to have fun.

A clever dog becomes very attached to its owner, but it does not create big problems for him - this is not a decorative dog, which will defiantly "die" from grief every time the owner just went to work.

A properly trained dog will be happy to see the owner, but he will not go crazy in his absence. The dog is inclined to divide people into friends and foes - for the former, they are very friendly and count on signs of favor from them. In this case, the animal is not prone to servility - it obeys the person, but tends to build relationships with the owner on the terms of relative parity.

The hunting essence of an Airedale Terrier can create certain problems in that it can coexist normally with other pets. In most cases, the dog shows aggression against cats, rodents and birds, for him they are the prey, which must not only be driven out of sight, but by all means catch up, kill and bring to the owner.

The only animals that the Airedale doesn’t exactly fight with are other dogs, including its breeds. Nevertheless, a certain upbringing from an early childhood can solve the problem - there are known cases of friendship of the dog with those whom he usually considers his hunting goal.

Aggression (except for the manifestations of the hunting instinct) is not typical for the Airedale Terrier. He rarely becomes the initiator of the fight, but the peacefulness disappears if the aggression is directed at the dog itself. Representatives of this breed are vindictive, they remember their offender well. If the neighbor's dog offended the kid when he was a puppy, he will grow up and show signs of aggression against the insolent, who now himself would not risk provoking a matured opponent.

Such situations happen quite often, and since many owners forget about past clashes between dogs, they may have the wrong opinion that Erdel - a fighter who doesn’t need a reason for scandal.

Dog's mental abilities are largely judged by the way she interacts with children. The Airedale Terrier understands the difference between a child and an adult, he loves children and is willing to allow them a little more due to the fact that they can cause discomfort to a pet not so much from evil as from misunderstanding. At the same time, experienced owners advise not to leave the kids alone with the animals, but the reason lies not in aggression - just a large and rather active dog may accidentally push the little man, and he will fall.

What can not boast of the largest of the terriers, so it is indicators of longevity. It is noted that the average life expectancy of representatives of this breed is only 10-12 years, and then only if it is properly cared for and that there are no diseases. Despite the fact that Airedale Terriers are not considered to be particularly painful, they are still susceptible to the effects of certain diseases that can shorten the lifespan of a dog or turn its everyday life into suffering.

One of the most common problems for airedale terriers is hip dysplasia, which is usually congenital. The puppy is not always noticeable the presence of such a disease from early childhood, but sooner or later it will lead to serious violations of the function of the hind limbs, the dog may become disabled.

Of congenital diseases is also very dangerous von Willebrand disease - it is characterized by spontaneous bleeding that does not contribute to the formation of a complete, physically healthy individual. Many Erdel diseases are acquired, the skin and eyes are most at risk. In contrast to the above-described congenital ailments, at least such problems can be effectively dealt with.

Regular prevention and timely response to the first signs of a problem will help prolong the life of the dog and protect it from any health problems.

The Airedale Terrier is often confused with the Welsh Terrier - two dogs are not only very similar to each other, but also are close relatives. Even those who clearly understand the difference between the two breeds, are not always ready to answer on the move, which of the two he would prefer. Consider the main differences between the two brothers.

• The key difference is that animals were bred for different purposes. The commonality of their appearance is due to the fact that both had a common ancestor - the Old English coarse-haired black and tan terrier, but the breeders in the process of breeding one and the other pursued different goals. Welsh is a classic hunting terrier who is obliged to climb for prey in a hole and there fight with it. This is the reason for the fundamental requirement that the height of the Wales dog cannot exceed 40 cm.

• The Welsh Terriers are sometimes mistakenly called a mini-version of the Erdel, but this, of course, is a mistake - the differences are not only in size, but also in proportions. For example, on the body of a welsh's head, it stands out noticeably stronger - it seems to be larger in relation to the body than in the Airedale Terrier. Welsh's ears, as opposed to their brethren, are directed slightly forward, as it were. If terriers from the Eyre river valley are taken to glue their ears at a young age in order to correct their shape, then for the “Welsh” such a procedure is still rare.

• In the description of both breeds indicated that the terrier's tail should not be pressed under him, but should not be pressed against his back. Owners of dogs of different breeds refer to deviations of the tail position differently, which is caused by the already mentioned features of the original use of animals. So, for the Airedale, the position of the tail is not too fundamental - it was docked and does not interfere in a fight, but it is not used for any practical purposes. The Welsh relatives can still be used for hunting with penetration into burrows.

• The black color is characteristic of both breeds, but among the Welsh dogs, the hue of the hind limbs is rather common. Since this is a completely typical trait, nobody finds fault with it - it is considered the norm that does not contradict the standard. For Erdel, such a feature of appearance is not a direct admission to the exhibition, but be prepared that you will miss the points.

• Airedale terriers are famous for their hard wool, which does not require care at all, but occasionally there are individuals with excessively soft hair, which is also called “sheep”. For aesthetics, this could be a plus, but at dog shows they are judged not for wanting to stroke them, but for the ability to perform direct functions. Since Erdel is a hunting dog, he doesn’t need soft fluff - he will only get dirty and crawl, so this is an obvious minus for the individual. In Welsh, the problem is solved radically - they simply are not shitters.

• The Welsh Terriers are often acquired by city dwellers, believing that in the conditions of a cramped apartment “a reduced copy of Erdel” will turn out to be just right. This is not quite true - the compact dog is no less active than its larger brother, and in terms of cockiness it is even more impudent, since it was specially bred for tough fights in close conditions, where it would be impossible to dodge the enemy’s attack. Welsh is constantly looking for adventures, and he is also attracted by the fur clothing of the owners, in which he can smell the prey, something good.

Despite its rather large dimensions, the Airedale Terrier is well suited for home maintenance even in a city apartment, not to mention a country house with at least a small backyard. Properly educated dog does not create problems for its owners, behaves quietly and correctly.

An additional advantage of choosing in favor of representatives of this particular breed is also the fact that the wire-haired pet practically does not shed, which means it creates fewer reasons for the development of allergy. However, the saliva or dander of the animal can still replace the dog's hair as allergens.

Terriers from the Ayr Valley are not deprived of a warm undercoat, but in the case of year-round maintenance in the street in our conditions, we must take care to warm the dwelling for the dog - to do this, it is necessary to build a capital booth or to design a warmed aviary. An animal can be used as a reliable guard dog, especially if a particular individual has been specially trained in this since childhood.

Erdel was created for long-term pursuit of the goal, so it’s not unusual for him to sit for a long time - the animal loves prolonged physical exertion and needs regular walking. This is not a chain dog, a walk purely at a distance of the leash by a pet will not be counted - having seized the moment, the pet will simply run away to get the desired space. Experienced owners advise it is mandatory to lower the Airedale Terrier from the leash, being in a suitable place, where the dog does not get involved in a fight with any animals.

So that the pet is not too keen on and did not run away to an unattainable distance, it should be kept at a short distance with periodic hails. To the dog it was also interesting need during such short meetings something to treat her.

Statement that The hard fur of the Airedale Terrier does not need any care at all - a kind of myth. Certainly, care for this breed is a little easier than for decorative sleek-haired dogs, but you shouldn’t completely ignore the same combing, because otherwise development of one of the numerous potentially dangerous skin diseases is not excluded.Since Erdel does not have the characteristic dog smell, it is not necessary to bathe him regularly.

Shedding for this variety of terriers is not typical, but the hairs in their cover are also able to periodically die off. Trimming, that is, the removal of dead hair, should be carried out relatively rarely - once every 3-6 months.

Please note that in the summertime the Airedale Terrier's coat can give the dog some discomfort, so it will be reasonable and humane to mow it. This is usually done according to a scheme that preserves the characteristic features of the appearance of the animal. If all hair is cut relatively short, then the beard and mustache gently trim so that the purebred dog remains himself.

On the contrary, it is undesirable to cut the haircut before a cold and long Russian winter, as representatives of this species do not have the ability to withstand low temperatures. Moreover, for walking along the street, a pet will not interfere with a blanket that allows at least a little warming of the body.

The purebred English dog is not among the most susceptible to various acquired diseases, but it is better to take care of yourself once again and to engage in constant prevention of major diseases. Examination of the eyes, ears and oral cavity is not done daily, as would be the case with decorative dogs, but once a week the owner is simply obliged to find time for it.

Cleaning the ears and teeth is also not necessary every day, but as necessary it is necessary to perform such procedures. - usually it occurs at the moment when enough sulfur has accumulated in the ears, and a characteristic patina has appeared on the teeth. In this case, perhaps the only obligation from which the Airedale Terrier owners are exempted is cutting the claws, although this condition is observed only if the pet does not have a lack of regular exercise.

The energetic behavior of the Airedale Terrier implies a constant supply of calories, while the menu must be balanced so that the fit and athletic dog does not become a barrel. You can feed your pet as a dry store feed, and natural products. In both cases, there is a sense in advance consult a veterinarian - he will tell you what food to choose and how to create a balanced program, including a sufficient amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, as well as the necessary vitamins and minerals.

As befits a predator, the basis of the diet for Erdel is meat and offal. It is not necessary to boil a similar product, but it is desirable to cut it into pieces of such size that the animal does not have to bite them. When choosing a variety of meat, try to give preference to low-fat varieties, such as chicken, beef, or rabbit.

It is impossible to feed such a large dog with one meat, and there is no point - the dog also needs a side dish as a source of carbohydrates. As such, it is necessary to use buckwheat, oatmeal or millet, it is better not to experiment with other cereals. Dairy products can not be considered the basis of the dog's diet - they appear there relatively rarely and in small quantities, but there must be a place for them.

There is also no need to give everything - it is desirable to limit to cottage cheese and kefir. Sometimes it makes sense to give a boiled egg - it contains a lot of useful. Vegetables and fruits are also needed by the Airedale Terrier, some varieties of plant food are very much loved by these dogs.

A completely separate topic - products that are fundamentally not worth giving to Erdels. In principle, this list is approximately the same for all dogs, but one should run over it once again to avoid common mistakes and prevent possible problems with the health of the digestive system of the pet. For everything to be in order, it is highly undesirable to give him the following types of products:

• fatty meat - first of all, pork, but also lamb, smoked meat and fish, as well as products made from them;
• any sweet foods, including pastries, chocolate, confectionery;
• spicy and spicy foods, including onions and garlic;
• citrus in any form;
• pasta.

If in the case of an adult individual, the owner is free to choose what to feed the pet with natural products or dry food, then in the case of puppies, it is necessary to focus on the self-made menu, while the dry food is added gradually and only as the young ones mature. note that young Airedale Terriers eat little by little, but often they are advised to feed them approximately 5-6 times a day.

Chewing activity is especially difficult for a little doggie, so the owner should take care that the food has a texture close to mashed potatoes, while it is best to focus on the room temperature of the food. The transfer to an adult diet occurs gradually - approximately at the age of six months, Erdel can be fed only four times, and from eight months of age - only twice a day. Do not forget that the animal is growing, so reducing the number of meals should inevitably lead to an increase in dosages.

The Airedale Terrier is smart and quick-witted, you can train it perfectly, but the logic that works for most dogs will not work here. Representatives of this breed are very masterful. If there is no desire to learn, it will not be possible to force the dog - even physical punishment does not frighten her, and an attempt to bribe a pet with delicacies will be perceived as a spontaneous treat without any action in response.

The problem is A pet should be interested in doing it, but since he was not accustomed to training since childhood, even an experienced trainer will not be able to redo it. Obedience and servility in general are not typical features of curly four-legged, so that it will find a way to evade training.

A common mistake of homegrown trainers is a repeated repetition of the same team. Representatives of this breed are very smart and grab new knowledge literally on the fly, but the repetition of a long-learned exercise quickly bothers them, they stop responding to the command. Of course, the dog sometimes needs to be reminded of certain exercises, but this should occur less frequently than with other dogs.

Build a workout so that it does not look the same type and hackneyed, but don't worry about fatigue of an animal - it is extremely difficult to tire an Airedale.

The dog instinctively likes to explore the surroundings and look for adventures, so it is important to teach him that a leash is a duty that cannot be ignored. At the same time, it is necessary to regularly give the dog an opportunity to let off steam - find the opportunity to go with the dog to a place where it can be released on all four sides. Knowing that the hour of the walk will come, the pet will behave more disciplined and will not run away from the leash.

At the same time, be prepared for the fact that growing up in this dog occurs at about two years - before that, she often behaves irresponsibly.

The Airedale Terrier is the dog that can and should be taught to the service, because such a pet is well suited for the needs of the protection of the territory and its protection from any extraneous encroachments. Experts pay attention to the fact that you should not miss the moment while the young puppy is still amenable to upbringing, so if there are any misunderstandings in your communication with your pet, do not expect that the problem will be solved by itself - refer to a professional dog expert who is still manages to train the baby. When a suitable age for learning passes, the dog will become as self-willed as possible, therefore it will not be possible to dictate its conditions to it.

From all of the above, it was possible to make the erroneous conclusion that raising an Airedale Terrier is a difficult and ungrateful business, therefore such a dog is supposedly not worth starting up at all. True, it is only partly - you really have to tinker with the animal, but with the right approach and sufficient patience you can grow a true fluffy friend out of the baby, which will delight not only its own lovely appearance, but also devotion, as well as the performance of guard or hunting functions.

The Airedale Terrier is an active dog, and the owner’s task is to make the pet quickly react to the appeal to him. For this reason Experts advise to call the dog short and sonorous - so that you yourself do not get tired of repeatedly calling her during the day. Some owners prefer to invent a nickname for their dog on their own - this is original and allows you to reflect the tastes of a person on his dog.

In such cases, inspiration is usually scooped up in literature or mythology, the beast is named after real-life people, or even they simply invent a melodic nickname. This approach has the right to exist, but not every person has a fantasy that works quite well, so that the name really fits the curly dog.

If you have a bitch, first of all pay attention to human female names of foreign origin. Options like Bessie, Greta, Gina, Lyme or HelgaThey fit the dog very organically - its curly image is enhanced well with the reference to celebrities with whom such names are associated. Often, inspiration is also sought in ancient legends, thanks to them nicknames such as Vesta or Lyra.

Of the purely domestic prevalence can only boast Hazebut this name rather accurately describes the appearance of a pet.

The list of nicknames for males is even wider - any foreign names that are at least a bit associated with aristocracy, like Glen, Ethan or Richard. However, not everyone is chasing after the sublime - "common people" will also come down Ike, Bob, Johnny, Kim, Mai, Pete, Teddy or Frank. For the unrestrained activity of the Erdeltererie boys are often called Typhoons, and in the Black Sea region it is popular to call them also Scythians emphasizing independent and nomadic nature.

Virtually any erdel owner will surely tell you that there is no better dog than his pet. This is not such a subjective opinion, because intelligence and sharpness for the Airedale Terrier are innate and brightly developed features, and timely proper upbringing allows you to turn the dog into an ideal that will be useful in any situation. For an amateur dog lover, this is a great companion, for the owner of the backyard plot - a reliable guard and protector, for the hunter he will also become a loyal companion.

The outstanding personal affection of the intelligent animal to the owner is exactly what people have domesticated the dog many thousands of years ago. Of the obvious disadvantages attributed to the representatives of this breed, it is possible to distinguish except that waywardness and the desire to hunt literally everything that moves. In fact, both problems are solved timely education.

About the features of the breed, see the next video.