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Reprinted with permission from Kathy Dowd and Lori Valentine

Food:

Airedales do well on high quality foods. Some may have slightly dry "itchy" skin and can be supplemented with certain oils and kelp. Also many Airedales respond well to lamb and rice foods.

One thing worth mentioning here is how long to feed puppy food. Some research indicates that feeding puppy food for too long can increase the incidence of hip dysplasia in dogs that are susceptible to it. The theory is that the higher percentage of protein found in puppy formulas can accelerate growth before the developing skeleton can support the weight. Some breeders start feeding adult food very early. Most people tend to gradually switch to adult food at 8-10 months. Again, this is something to discuss with the breeder and your veterinarian.

Grooming:

Many pet Airedales are clippered to the characteristic King of Terriers look. A good groomer should be able to provide this service. If not, contact a breeder in your area, many will be willing to provide grooming assistance on a limited basis. Airedales should be brushed with a pin brush on a daily basis to remove dead hair, since they do not "shed." Slickering their furnishings (leg hair and face hair) will also remove dead hair, allowing new hair to grow in.

Airedales do "blow" their coat if it is allowed to grow out.

Dogs to be shown are stripped and trimmed. This is described in a couple of the books in the References section of this FAQ. It is a very time consuming endeavor and somewhat difficult art to master.

Housing:

Airedales prefer to be with their families but also love to romp and play. A fenced area is great for exercise and play, while after play, they are ready to make great house dogs.

CAUTION:

Airedales are lovers of digging. They are definitely "terre-iers." Always keep that in mind when preparing an exercise area.

Crate training is a good idea for the young dog. As he gets older he may tend to use this as his "den" and has a secure area for travelling or your long days at work.

Exercise:

Airedales are very active dogs and need lots of exercise. They need a fairly large area to romp and play. Daily walks are great exercise and fun time for both you and your Airedale.


Thanks to the following people who directly contributed their time and efforts toward this FAQ.

Kathy, Lori and the kids

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Copyright 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 by Kathy Dowd. All rights reserved. You may download and print a copy of this file for your personal use. Further distribution must be with the explicit permission of the author. NOTE: Airedale Terrier Rescue organizations may freely distribute copies of this document.

Kathy Dowd and Lori Valentine (MoonDance) are members of the Airedale Terrier Club of America, and work together to breed, train, and show (conformation and obedience) Airedale Terriers.

Special thanks to those people sending helpful corrections/additional information:

  • Linda Baake (Lynaire),
  • Margo Dupre (Traymar),
  • Chris Halvorson (co-owner of DogAds)

Please visit the K9web for lots of useful dog related information.