Life Span:	10-13 years
Litter Size:	8-12 with an average of 9 puppies per litter
Group:	Terrier, AKC Terrier
Recognized By:	CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, ANKC, NZKC, APRI, ACR
Color:	black body with tan markings on the legs, head, chest and tail. A small white patch on the chest is acceptable as is a slight amount of red in the black parts of the body.
Hair Length:	Medium, Short
Size:	Large
Shedding:	Moderate Shed, Heavy Shed
Male Height:	22-24 inches (56-61 cm)
Male Weight:	50-65 pounds (23-29 kg)
Female Height:	22-23 inches (56-58 cm)
Female Weight:	40-45 pounds (18-20 kg)
Living Area:	Since the Airedale Terrier is a very active dog and will be active indoors they are not recommended for small spaces and apartment life. They do need a yard and a fenced area for exercise on a frequent and regular basis throughout the day.

About this Breed

The Airedale Terrier is a large and very lively terrier that is often known as the "king of terriers". They are excellent companion dogs as well as hunting, agility, obedience and even police and military dogs. They can be very playful and attentive to their owners but can also be serious workers, an excellent combination for a great all-round dog. The Airedale Terrier should have a smooth yet jaunty kind of gait that shows good power and athletic ability. The overall impression should be one of excellent conformation and straight and parallel legs with no turning in or out of the hocks, elbows or feet. The body should be short and compact with very little space between the final rib and the hip joint. The loins and hind legs should be muscular and strong with good driving ability. The top line or line along the back should be straight from the withers to the rather high set tail with no slope or drop of the hindquarters. The tail should taper from the base to the tip and should be carried pointed straight up and slightly forward but not curled or touching the back. The front quarters and the chest should be well developed with the chest deep but not broad. The brisket should extend down to the level of the elbows. The shoulders should be clean and tight to the body, sloping and muscular and blending well into the chest and back. The neck is placed high in the shoulders and moderately long, wider at the shoulders and tapering slightly to the base of the throat. The skin on the neck should not be loose or folded but should be tight the muscles. The head is carried very high, proud and erect on the neck. The foreface and the skull should be approximately the same length giving a balanced appearance. The profile is almost rectangular in shape without a noticeable or pronounced stop. There should be no wrinkling on the skin of the head and the cheeks should be noticeable but not heavy or pronounced. The ears are triangular in shape and proportional to the head, folded over about at the top of the skull. The ears are actually positioned to the side of the head, as are the small, dark and very lively and alert looking eyes. The eyes should be typical of a terrier, full of fearlessness and intelligence. The mouth and lips are fine in feature and the lips are close to the teeth. The muzzle tapers very slightly to the dark and well developed nose. The breed has a noticeable beard and moustache giving the muzzle a very angular appearance. They also have bushy eyebrows that add to the expressiveness of the face. The coat is wavy or crinkly in appearance and comes in various shades of black and tan with a black saddle and tan points.