Airedale terrier

Description:
The Airedale terrier is different from other terriers because of its size and inimitable versatility as a sporting dog. An adult Airedale terrier should be around 58 centimeters long, which is much more then a dog originally bred to work in burrows needs to be. This dog is incredibly balanced, they have long heads but it should not be too wide between the ears. The ears have a v shape to them and they fold on the side of the head. The nose is black and pretty big; their eyes are dark and should not stick out. Their backs are strong and short and their shoulders are long and inclined. They have hard, thick and strong coats. The color of their coats is reddish brown and black. Both males and females should have strong bones and muscles.

Ideal owner:
The Airedale terrier has a lot to offer to their owners. They are very active and sporty dogs. They are very sweet, agile, intelligent, and their senses are very keen. They are tireless swimmers, great hunters, and they can dig under the ground like professional exterminators. In general these are very confident dogs, however they need to be trained to be "gentlemen" since they are naturally very dominating. They can sometimes be rude and are very protective of their owners and space. They like having fun and they enjoy being around people. They are naturally very energetic and they love to please and can be very obedient if trained well.

Growth:
Puppy Airedale terriers should weigh around 340 to 425 grams at birth. They grow in a consistent and even way until they reach adulthood and by this stage their weight should be around 25 kilograms. Generally they are ready to go and live with their new owners at the age of eight weeks and at this stage they should weigh around 6 kilograms. The hair on the back of their legs, if they have them, should be removed as soon as possible and their tail is usually cut up to two thirds of its length. Often times their ears lift up and they fall back down when they start teething and many dog breeders suggest to have them fastened. You will need to talk with your veterinarian or a professional dog barber about this. Their character and willingness to please their owners during adolescence makes them quite enjoyable to be around. This is the stage that the owner should take advantage of and it is a perfect time to start training the dog and canalize its protective instinct.

General health:
Airedale terriers are very intelligent so they are easy to train. Airedales need to spend a lot of time with their owners and they are very happy when they are challenged to perform a new stunt. Unfortunately they have a tendency to have hip dysphasia, which is why it is very important for the owner to have a radiography done on the dog. An Airedales lifespan is anywhere from ten to fifteen years. On occasions senior dogs can suffer of cancer on their pancreas, nasal sinus tumors, lymphoma, and cancer to the bladder. Besides these there aren't any other major health worries on this specific breed. Some of the veterinarian worries can be of inferior prognathism, umbilical hernias, and dry skin. It's a good idea to get an ocular check up since they can sometimes have eye problems. Skin irritations sometimes occur and these are occasionally caused by fleas or due to possible thyroid problems. It has also been seen that in some occasions there are growth problems due to a deficiency of hormones (dwarfism). The best way to diminish the beginning stages of skin irritations and other problems is to take good care of its coat. Stripping of the hair should be done every twelve weeks and due to the size of the Airedale, this can be quite a big job, so consider having a professional do it for you. One very important thing to know about Airedale terriers is that they hide the pain they may be feeling, therefore the dog could be suffering more than it shows.