I have always loved the look of these dogs so this had to be my choice for the beginning of my A-Z of dogs.
The Airedale Terrier is a breed of the terrier type that originated in Airedale, a geographic area in Yorkshire, England. It is traditionally called the "King of Terriers" because it is the largest of the terrier breeds. Bred from a Welsh Terrier and an Otterhound, the breed has also been called the Waterside Terrier, because it was bred originally to hunt otters in and around the valleys of the River Aire which runs through Airedale. In the United Kingdom this breed has also been used as a police dog. This one is an Australian and New Zealand Champion:
The Airedale can be used as a working dog and also a hunting dog. They exhibit some herding characteristics as well, and have a propensity to chase animals. They have no problem with cattle and livestock, however if they are not well trained they will agitate and annoy the animals. Like most terriers, they have been bred to hut independently and as a result, it is very intelligent, independent, strong-minded, and stoic and can sometimes be stubborn. If children and Airedales are both trained correctly, they can be an excellent choice for a family dog. They can do well with cats and other small animals, especially when they are raised with them.
This Airedale is in its natural state with an undocked tail and to me looks just the ideal family pet.
I have never agreed that dogs' tails should be docked for any reason at all and I do hope that the hunting of otters has now ceased in Yorkshire. I know in North America the sea otters were hunted for their fur which is one of the finest furs there is but hopefully this trade has also ceased.
I just had to share these delightful pics with you. These dogs are real characters and I hope you will enjoy these photos as much as I have:
