Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I am researching dog breeds because my husband and I would like to add another dog to our family. I would love to hear from anyone who has/had an Airedale, and if you think they'd be a good fit for our situation.

We are both late 20s, very active and athletic (love to spend time outside), into walking/hiking, camping, really anything outside. I love to take our dog with us as much as possible. We own our own home and have a large yard - not fenced in yet but we are planning to do so. My husband is an Army officer, I am not working at the moment but may return to work part-time in the future.

We have one dog and one cat. Our dog is a 3 year old lab mix that we rescued about 2 years ago. She is very friendly with other dogs but can be timid/submissive - she is easygoing, but also easy to push around. Mostly, though, she loves to run and play (always enjoys the dog park or doggie daycare.) She needs moderate exercise but doesn't mind skipping a walk if the weather is nasty (hates the rain and cold.) She is very ladylike!

The cat will be 5 this year. He is feisty and doesn't take any silly business from anyone.

Both are 'inside' pets.

How might an Airedale puppy fit in with our family? If we got the puppy at 8 - 10 weeks, what should we expect in terms of settling in with our other animals? Would a male or female pup be more likely to settle in with them? Of course we will introduce them all gradually and carefully, but it's a mostly-peaceful house and I don't want to drastically change that. I definitely believe that plenty of exercise routine discipline/training makes for a happy and well behaved dog - is an Airedale likely to fit in with that lifestyle? I have had labs, a beagle mix, a Sheltie, and lab mixes in the past - all happy, healthy, super dogs to be around. What new challenges should we expect from an Airedale?

Oh - I have also read that Airedales may not be the best choice for a family with small children. We will not be having children so that, at least, is one thing I am not worried about. We would be taking the puppy to puppy 'social' class and then obedience, would love to do agility or rally if the dog seems to enjoy it.

One last thing - I have heard that Airedales can be protective. I would really like to have a dog that is at least a little protective/barks when someone comes to the house. I am alone when my husband deploys and would like the extra feeling of security! But could there be a problem with my husband coming home after 12 - 15 months away and the dog not recognizing him? I know Airedales are VERY smart - is this something they might have trouble adapting to, or will they figure it out?

Looking forward to hearing from anyone with Airedale experience. Thanks!

Airedales can be very aggressive to other dogs, including in public, especially dogs of the same sex. I'm not sure you could enjoy some of the activities you have in mind with an Airedale.

It is best to get a dog of opposite sex from the one you have, and two dogs is a whole lot more flexible lifestyle for you than having three. So you want to choose this next dog very carefully.

I would suggest a black male Lab. Looks protective, but not too likely to bite. Of you might consider a herding breed such as a Belgian Tervuren. If you enjoyed having a Sheltie, you would enjoy a good-tempered Tervuren.

For more about Same Sex Dogs in the Home, read my article by that title, alphabetized, at the Canine Behavior Series link with my signature below.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

Your home sounds wonderful, but not 100% sure the Airedale would be a great fit. The active lifestyle is good for them and they are smart, but they aren't a very biddable breed. By that I mean, obedience is not a strong suit for them. The activities you describe they would enjoy, but the Airedale would need to be leashed while doing them. Dog parks are almost certainly not going to be a good idea once the dog gets older even if you get him as a puppy.

A 1 to 2 year old rescue male Australian Shepherd may be a great a better choice. You'd have to be very committed to the exercise idea. Yet, you'd get the loyalty and biddability you have from the lab mix you currently have.
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Chelle and the rest of the crew including, but not limited to Kita and Taiko (the shiba inu wrestle maniacs), Adi (reserved and dignified tabby cat), and all 28 reptiles www.freewebs.com/performanceshibas

I'm happy to share information about the Airedale, having had 20 years experience with the breed as an owner and also having fostered several hundred Airedales doing Airedale rescue.

I’m really pleased that you are doing your breed research prior to puppy selection, that’s definitely the smart thing to do. The Airedale is a very active breed and does best with families that enjoy a dog that likes to think for himself and are willing to provide plenty of exercise plus positive reinforcement type training.
An Airedale is a social animal, good with other dogs. They must be taught to respect cats, as an Airedale has a strong prey drive and could see cats as prey. I would absolutely recommend a fenced yard be provided prior to bringing an Airedale in to your home.

With your resident female lab mix being rather submissive, a male companion dog would be a better choice. The challenges you could expect would be the arrival of a very active puppy that would require lots of attention, supervision and training. The Airedale needs to be groomed at least 4 times a year, with regular brushing in between.

A wonderful place to learn more about the breed is the National Airedale Rescue website at www.airedalerescue.net On the opening page, click on the box titled “About Airedales” at the top of the page. From that drop down menu, be sure and read the sections titled “Why an Airedale”, Airedale Terrier FAQ’s, and “The Airedale Personality.” The articles “A Comic With Heart” and “What “sit” means to an Airedale” will give you even more insight to the fun-loving personality possessed by an Airedale.
After reading the information on this website, you should have the information you need to make the decision if an Airedale would be the right breed for your family.

The best way, of course, to decide if you like the Airedale personality is to meet other Airedales and their owners. Where are you located? Perhaps I could introduce you to other Airedale owners in your area.