Airedale Terriers in California
httpv://youtu.be/O3sFPwc4rsM
Training my mountain Airedale Terrier, Oakley, with a simple do-it-yourself hurdle course
Airedales have wonderful dispositions and are easily trained. The Airedale Terrier, the largest member of the terrier group, is known to admirers as the King of Terriers. They have broad versatility, intelligence, and unswerving loyalty.
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Thanks for watching!
Is it true that Airedales have great dispositions? I have never heard this before and a woman I know who has been breeding them for nearly half a century has told me just the opposite. We were staying at an Inn a few years back and her Airedale Terriers came flying out the door and literally tore up the side of my brand new BMW. It was something out of a horror movie as they tried to get at my dogs whom they heard barking in terror inside the car. When I was able to get out and speak w/ the owner, she said “this is how Airedale’s behave – welcome to my world”… I couldn’t believe that she had the audacity to say that to a guest when she was advertising her Inn as “Pet Friendly” – when in actuality it was more like “Pet-hungry!” – as her dogs were ready to rip into mine and eat them for lunch if I had not high tailed it out of there. Later on, when she called me to apologize and pay for a paint job on my new car, she told me that I had missed a sign on the way in that said “beware of the Airedales” which I did see but thought it was a joke since the Inn was listed as “Pet Friendly”.. And in the process of making up and telling me all about her years of breeding Airedale’s – who she says are notoriously unfriendly and hyper vigilant/protective of their owners around other dogs – I got an earful about the breed from one who calls herself an “elite breeder of Airedales”. While I realize that it’s all about the owner and the relationship they have w/ their dogs – including behavior modifications – it was a pretty disarming experience nonetheless that left me a bit numb afterwards. But it’s interesting that even though I work w/ many rescue groups, I almost never come across Airedales in a shelter or a w/ rescue – evidently, their owners are very loyal to them as well. BTW – they were MUCH larger than the dog in your training video. They almost looked like “Giant Schnauzers” but they were Airedales alright!
Posted by Kathleen Hart
Kathleen – thanks for your comment.
Oakley is my third Airedale and probably the smartest. So, over many years of owning Airedales and meeting dozens of other owners and their dogs, it is certainly true that they have great dispositions.
They were originally bred to hunt small animals so it’s in their nature. But with that said, and because of the ease of which they can be trained, I have yet to see any Airedale, the aggressive toward other dogs.
Sometimes at our monthly Airedale meet ups here in San Diego, there can be as many as 15 to 20 Airedales. So, I’ve seen great interaction with other Airedales, as well as other types of dogs that usually show up at these meet ups.
And keep in mind, usually the Airedale will not stand idly by for bullying by any other dog. They stand their ground and will loyally defend themselves and their masters from danger.