Is an Airedale Right for You?

Is an Airedale the Right Breed for Your Family?

Before bringing an Airedale into your home, it's important to carefully consider whether this energetic and unique breed fits your lifestyle. Airedales are not your typical, low-maintenance dog. While they may be irresistible with their stunning looks, they require significant time, energy, and attention. Here's everything you need to know to determine if an Airedale is the right fit for you and your family.

The Airedale's Personality

Do you want a dog that will sit at your feet quietly most of the time? That is not an Airedale.
Do you have a sense of humor? Do you want a dog that is inventive, clever, finds each day a grand adventure, wants to supervise and help with your every activity, and is loyal and loving to those he respects? Are you looking for a buddy to join you for long walks or hunting, backpacking, agility, canoeing, skiing, hiking, or jogging? Perhaps an Airedale is for you.

Airedales Are Full of Energy

A man stands at the edge of a cliff and asks a Labrador to jump off. The Labrador replies, "OK," and leaps without hesitation. Next, the man asks a Dalmatian to do the same, and the Dalmatian eagerly agrees and jumps as well. One by one, he asks several other popular dog breeds, each responding with the same obedient "OK" and jumping off the cliff. Finally, the man asks an Airedale to jump. The Airedale looks up and responds with a playful, "You first." [Courtesy of Terry Wertan - original author unknown]
We cannot stress enough just how much energy an Airedale has and how important it is to provide positive outlets for that energy. If your lifestyle is already full of activity, an Airedale may not be a dog you can simply fit into the margins of your day. An Airedale won’t quietly wait for you to find time to play with it. Don’t expect to toss a ball in the yard and call it a day. Providing an Airedale with the exercise and mental stimulation it needs requires your active participation.

Adding an Airedale to Your Family: A Commitment Like No Other

Bringing an Airedale into your home is much like adding another child to the family—one that requires just as much attention and possibly even more loving supervision than the two-legged kind. A well-behaved Airedale demands significant time and dedication during its puppy years. Raising an Airedale isn’t something you can do on the side; it requires everyone in the household to make changes and compromises to fully embrace life with this dynamic breed.
Are Airedales Good with Children?
The answer to this question varies depending on the Airedale, the child, and—most importantly—the adults in the household, particularly the one who is primarily responsible for the day-to-day care. For simplicity, let's call this adult "Mom."
While Dad and the kids may have the best intentions, it is typically Mom who will spend the most time with the Airedale puppy. She must be enthusiastic about meeting the puppy's physical and emotional needs. After all, when Dad forgets to clean up the yard, or the kids forget they can’t play with the puppy until it’s taken care of its business, it’s Mom who will step in to handle it. If things go awry, like the puppy having an accident in the middle of the living room rug, Mom can’t take out her frustrations on the puppy.
An Airedale needs to be fed, housebroken, and trained in basic manners. If other family members fall short, it will likely be up to Mom to pick up the slack. Of course, she can growl at Dad or the kids, but she must remember that the puppy is not to blame.

Raising an Airedale

To understand what you’ll be up against when raising an Airedale, it helps to read the Puppy Timeline and learn why Terriers are different.
Most young Airedales are a whirlwind of muscle, hard-edged play, and head-butting enthusiasm. From puppyhood until about two years old, they are a real handful. They need careful training, constant watching, and loving discipline. Although they are a challenge for some to train, Airedales love to learn as long as learning is a game. They will reward your patience and your sense of humor with years of loyalty and devotion.