Airedale Terrier History 

The Airedale was developed in middle of the 1800s in Yorkshire England to control the otter and rat populations in the Valley of the Aire River and as useful multi-purposed breed for the common yorkshiremen as most could not afford separate breeds for separate purposes such as a smaller terrier for ground work and the large and powerful Otterhound for water work. 

The breed first appeared to have been crosses from the now extinct Broken Coated Olde English Black and Tan Terriers (Common Ancestor of most all the english rough coated terrier breeds) for the fearless and incredible cognitive ability of the Terrier and the Otterhound. The otterhound improved on the Broken Coated Terrier’s scent and swimming ability while also provided a dog of substantial power and water resistant coat. It has been said that several other breeds were used to add and improve on endurance and durability with the addition of Collie with its trainability and Olde English Bull Terrier - extinct (Predecessor to most Staffordshire type bull terrier) for its protective abilities. 

By the late 1800s the Airedale Terrier (Also known as the Bingley, Waterside, and Working Terrier) the breed was quickly gaining popularity in England as it was a Town and Country dog just like today. In the early 1900s the breed came to America where the breed became the popular dog in the country through the 1920s as they were popular with Thedore Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, William Harding whose dog Laddie Boy became the first White House Celebrity Pet with several news articles and I believe even a gossip column. 

Airedales served the United States and our Allies well in both World Wars as a field messenger, risking life and limb to cross battlelines. It has been said that over 3,000 Airedales lost their lives in the trenches. Around the same time the Airedale had gained quite the gaming reputation. It appears there was an article written regarding an Airedale that President Teddy Roosevelt had chosen to accompany him on a big game safari in Africa. This article fueled the demand in the early 1900s and America fell in love with breed over and over again. The Airedale spread across the country and has developed urban legends in all corners o f the map. In Texas, the old timers talk of Airedales bear hunting in New Mexico and Coyote hunting on the plains. 

Fame, however, has its downsides and the Airedale grew so popular that little care was taken in the breeding choices. This is very similar to today when we think of our current top 10 popular dog breeds. Currently the dog breed with the most attack records is the Golden Retreiver. When a breed becomes popular – people begin to breed for profit and notwithstanding anything else breed inferior dogs to inferior dogs without even goals for the next generation other than to sell and make a buck. The Airedale is ranked in the 40s to 50s of over 150 breeds on average. Protecting the breed has been a labor of love for countless Airedale breeders that are breeding for proper temperament over several generations. The Airedale of today is happy and clownish and great with families and loves kids. The breed still has the instinct to protect their family and your home as well as a great hunter while gladly obeying the commands of your toddler.

The DogwoodDales Airedale Type:

Starting with the best dogs we could locate, we began sharing our love of the breed with others by helping to make well-bred, healthy, and well cared for Airedales available to select homes that met our criteria and have produced excellent companion animals across North America. Originally based on our working line dogs with their roots in champion stock from the 70s and 80s, we have begun to move to a style more inline with the AKC Airedale Terrier breed standards as our working lines reach their retirement. We have dedicated ourselves to constant improvement and the Airedale Terrier as a breed. We will be growing from our roots and will meet our goal of having a homebred current AKC Grand Champion soon with a continual focus temperament, personality, health and type.

DogwoodDales Airedale Terriers of today reflect our dedication to the breed and offer a rare opportunity of European Confirmation and Working titleholders based on several current USA championship lines. Our Airedales are health screened and fully vetted. Our Airedale Terrier puppies receive the highest level of care, attention, and behavioral analysis. All pups are selected by us for their home based upon the pup’s personality.