I am thinking of getting an Airedale terrier, does anyone have any experience or views?

[OwlLady]

Firstly I live in the country with good walks and a large garden. We have three children who are all used to dogs (age range 13-5) We have one dog, a border collie, but used to have two until we had to have the one put to sleep in November last year. She was a collie/lurcher cross, a rescue dog with a lot of problems, some we rectified and some we had to just accept in the end and live with. She was 18 when she died (:() Either me or my husband are at home at certain points in the day, so the dog(s) aren't really left alone. I have chickens.

Like most people in the country I also have a rat problem and I can't have a cat because I am allergic to them and thought a terrier might be an alternative answer to keeping them away...

So.

I want a dog
My dog misses having a another dog
I walk 5 miles a day, plus shorter walks later in the day whatever the weather
We are financially stable, not homeowners, but we earn enough money to rent long term in houses that accept dogs. We can also cover vet bills comfortably.
I have time to train as all the children are now at school and I have time on my hands
hmm I have always fancied having an Airedale anyway and the rat issue is just an excuse
Are they okay with chickens?

Am I mad?

Any advice greatly received :)

[ClaimedByMe]

My mum has an Airedale, she got him as a pup and he is now 2, he is the most gorgeous cutest dog but it has been a long 2 years getting him to a calm, well behaved dog, but my mum had no expereince of dogs before she got him.

He is a good affectionate dog and is now great with the kids, they are quite a rare breed, whenever we have him out for walks someone always asks what he is or says they havent seen an airedale for years!

[ClaimedByMe]

I have added a couple of pics on my profile!

[OwlLady]

ouch at your burning, how did you do that?

He looks lovely :) are they hard dogs to train then or was it just due to your mums inexperience? Border Collies are working dogs and I didn't find them that hard to train, apart from the one with problems but even she ended up being a good house dog in the end - though i am not sure many owners would have had the patience. I was thinking this time i would do the whole training class thing though from puppy, as for the first time in years I will have time

[OatyBeatie]

I don't know for sure, but I get the impression that Airedales aren't as "terriery" as other terriers, and I'm wondering if an Airedale would be much use with your rat problem. I meet a few Airedales on walks and they seem very good natured and jolly, but also a little, erm, dim and uninterested, much calmer and steadier than my Parson Russell Terrier, who is constantly shooting about after rabbits and squirrels and god-knows-what that the Airedales seem to ignore.

If the rat issue is a big motivator I'd go for a standard sort of terrier, rather than one that has been enlarged for (presumably) appearance and pet-related reasons rather than working-dog reasons. Airedales just don't seem to have the terrier va-va-voom.

[OwlLady]

oh Parson Russel terriers are lovely. I was just concerned about the snappiness of some breeds of terriers with the children (have been bitten by a jack russel ) or do you think if trained properly this is limited anyway? and what sort of terriers do you recommend have experience of?

thanks both by the way, this is really useful

[OatyBeatie]

I absolutely agree that PRTs and several other terrier breeds do bring possible problems of their own! Airedales seem much more reliable in terms of dog-on-dog aggression and general affability.

My PRT is absolutely wonderful with our children (though the oldest was 7 when we got him: I'm not sure whether a small-child household would have suited him) and would certainly lay into your rats with ecstasy. But he is a little bleeder with other dogs and not a great fan of people he doesn't know well.

Plenty of PRTs are good with people and dogs, I suppose, but I think you'd have a greater chance of success in those respects with an Airedale.

I get the impression that Border terriers are less snappy than PRTs and JRTs? But still terriery enough to want to murder little creatures?

[OatyBeatie]

Agree of course that training plays a vast part too. Breed isn't destiny!

[ClaimedByMe]

A newly filled with boiling water out the kettle burst on me, not one of my brighter ideas!!!

My mums inexpereince played a big part in his behaviour, after she got herself a dog trainer and started puppy classes the change has been amazing, they are very very intelligent dogs and very stubborn. They are otter hounds so they are supposed to be hunting dogs so they might help with the rats.

[Floralnomad]

We have a Patterdale X ,but looks like a Patterdale, he is great with kids ,not at all snappy and it would be his idea of heaven to live somewhere where he could kill small furry creatures. However on the downside he would also have your chickens and any passing cats! My mother has 2 jack Russell x border terriers and yes they are snappy!

[maybeyoushoulddrive]

I grew up with an Airedale and now have an Otterhound.

They are waterloving animals and love mud, so if you're houseproud maybe think again! Neither have ever caught anything, but will enjoy the chase and think they're in with a chance The neighbours cat is currently running rings round him!

The Airedale was a good guard dog and once caught a burglar by the seat of his trousers, she also hated postmen and anyone in uniform... She would 'nanny' us while we were growing up, if we went for a walk she would keep circling us, counting us, and if anyone came near she'd instantly be on guard.

The Otterhound is much much friendlier, thinks everyone and thing would like to play with him. he is a fantastic family pet and we will miss him when he goes He's nearly 14 so that's on my mind... He would probably maim a chicken by sitting on it, but probably wouldn't try to eat it! I would have another one like a shot!

HTH

[OwlLady]

oh maybe, it's hard when they get old isnt it? :( I still really miss our old dog, they just become part of the family dont they, even if you are a dog is a dog person.

I have had a quick look on the kennel club and our local breeders do Irish terriers and Borders but someone does Airedales in the neighbouring county. I have never bought from a breeder before as my dogs have always been rescue dogs. Should I try rescue first? I need a puppy though really

I am off to google patterdales and otterhounds now :)

ouch at the kettle claimed :(

[oldqueenie]

oooh terriers are just the best! How about a bedlington? They are fantastic and would definitely deal with the rats for you (if mine is anything to go by)... as well as any squirrels / cats / anything fast and furry really. They are quite terriery though (stubborn and feisty!).

[oldqueenie]

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?hl=en&safe=off&sa=X&biw=1163&bih=638&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=92Z5CGBkhMJryM:&imgrefurl=www.dogbreedinfo.com/bedlingtonterrier.htm&docid=QgKKV6jxvW3cyM&imgurl=www.dogbreedinfo.com/images16/BedingtonTILLYJUNEJULY2006046.JPG&w=400&h=340&ei=W_NJUMOnLOe40QWkz4GgBw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=257&vpy=308&dur=208&hovh=208&hovw=244&tx=155&ty=116&sig=115500693019471294002&page=1&tbnh=129&tbnw=163&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:0,i:135" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">here, a lamb bedlington...

[OwlLady]

oh that's a cute dog :)

[pinkbeachchick]

Our Airedale is nearly 3 years and has calmed down a lot in the past 3 or 4 months, and is a now brilliant dog. He was always adorable, but recall was selective and stopping him jumping up was an ongoing battle. Again though this was probably partly due to him being mine and DHs first dog, my parents always had dogs but I wasn't responsible for training any of them. He is very intelligent and would run rings round you if you let him. He catches rabbits, pheasants and pigeons on a regular basis in our garden, but he's not a killer, plays with them, throws them about and if they die then it is down to shock rather than his aggression. He is a great guard dog which is very important to me as we live in a rural area. I walk him at least 5 miles each morning then DH walks him for half an hour in the evening and all day he has the run of a large garden. I would definitely have another...just got to persuade DH that we should have 2!

[suburbandream]

We have a Welsh Terrier, they look just like Airedales but in a smaller package . Ours is still a pup and very bouncy, fun, affectionate and although he's quite easy to teach tricks etc he has a one track mind when he's out and catches a scent (he'd love a go at your rats ). I adore the look of Welshes and Airedales, we get loads of compliments when we are out because they are so handsome and quite unusual.

[chuzzlewit]

Airedales are so gorgeous - terrific guard dogs. They get a bit territorial about their owner though, IME - sort of "one man dogs".

There are loads of Airdale rescue places, worth checking out: Planet Airdale and Airedale rescue etc.

[FarloWearsAGoldRibbon]

I got an Airedale as a young teenager, she was fabulous. Lived until she was 12. Very calm and great with kids, a lovely companion. She barked at strangers a lot but never went for anyone. She was completely non-aggressive with other dogs also but could hold her own if attacked by another dog. I can't speak for how they would be with chickens or rats exactly, all I know is that when we were out on a forest walk with her she caught up with a duck once which had wandered away from the duck pond and she didn't harm it, but when I had a pet rat she used to drool all over the carpet if she caught the smell of it so I certainly wouldn't have trusted her with it!

[Aquelven]

My dad had two Airdales when I was growing up. Great dogs but not typical terriers really. I've always had terriers since, Cairns mostly (had 17) now got Skyes, who are the bolshiest of terriers & Yorkies who aren't cos they're toys.

[OwlLady]

I hadn't realised there were rescue places. Thank you for all your help. Dh and I are currently arguing over whether to have a terrier or another border collie

[AnnieLobeseder]

We had Airedales when I was a kid, so they're good with children. And they were good guard dogs too. Oddly, ours never liked water though. And they did fight with next door's corgie, to the point that they ripped it's neck open once. So they can be aggressive with other dogs.

I had hamsters, and if they got out of their cages the dogs didn't kill them, just picked them up and carried them about!!

[Tintingal]

I've had an Airedale and now have an Irish terrier and I would recommend an Irish over an Airedale. Our Airedale was a much loved family dog, but was tricky with other dogs and even a little grumpy with my father. We live in the countryside too and our Irish is a delight, bouncy and fun with the kids, friendly with other dogs, but happy to hang with me on his own. Irish terriers are great at hunting, loyal defenders of their home and family, but true terriers (quick to learn, slow to obey) so don't expect unthinking obedience. If you're interested, we got ours through the kennel club from a Dutch breeder in Kent - try googling or pm me. 18 months on, we are very happy with our choice.