Skip to content
PetPrep
Get early access

Animal register · DogIn the app

Airedale Terrier

King of Terriers, Waterside Terrier, Bingley Terrier

The Airedale Terrier comes from Great Britain; the FCI lists it among the large and medium-sized terriers. The FCI standard calls it the largest of the terriers — a muscular, active, fairly cobby dog that is outgoing and confident, friendly, courageous and intelligent, alert at all times, not aggressive but fearless. Males stand about 58–61 cm and females about 56–59 cm. Its hard, dense, wiry coat is tan with a black or grizzle saddle.

The Royal Kennel Club recommends up to an hour of exercise a day; the coat needs grooming every day, does not shed and the breed usually lives over 10 years. PetMD describes great family dogs that, if trained well, generally get along with children, but should not be left to their own devices for too long; it advises brushing a few times a week, a quick ear clean every week and a professional groomer three or four times a year.

Available in the 12-week PetPrep Challenge (paid breed).

Updated:

Airedale Terrier — photo (AI)
AI-generated photo

At a glance

Size
large — The Royal Kennel Club S547
Adult weight
males 18.1–27.2 kg, females 18.1–27.2 kg — PetMD S549
Daily exercise
up to 1 hour a day — The Royal Kennel Club S547
Brushing
every day — The Royal Kennel Club S547
Shedding
does not shed (not the same as hypoallergenic) — The Royal Kennel Club S547
Lifespan
more than 10 years — The Royal Kennel Club S547

Key facts from the sources at the bottom of the page. Where sources differ, each value is listed.

Who it suits

Good for:

  • family lifeS549
  • families with childrenS549
  • a large house and gardenS547
  • homes that prefer less sheddingS547

Keep in mind:

  • needs mental challengesS550
  • loves company — best with someone home most of the dayS549
  • needs brushing several times a weekS547S549

The same tags as in the app. Each tag is backed by the sources listed at the bottom of the page.

What it needs

From breed standards, kennel clubs, veterinary charities and studies. Where sources differ, each one is shown.

Exercise

  • Daily exercise: up to 1 hour a day — The Royal Kennel Club S547

Coat and grooming

  • Coat: medium length — The Royal Kennel Club S547
  • Brushing: every day — The Royal Kennel Club S547
  • Shedding: does not shed (not the same as hypoallergenic) — The Royal Kennel Club S547

Meals

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

  • 8–12 weeks: 4 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • 3–6 months: 3 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • 6–12 months: 2 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • Adult: at least 2 meals a day — VCA Animal Hospitals S19
  • Senior: 2–3 meals a day, smaller portions — Dogs Trust S14

Lifespan

  • Lifespan: more than 10 years — The Royal Kennel Club S547

Life stages

  • Reaches adult size at: about 12–15 months (guidance for its size class) — PetMD S10

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

  • Puppy: until about 6–9 months — AAHA S11
  • Young adult: until 3–4 years — AAHA S11
  • Senior: the last 25 % of the expected lifespan — AAHA S11

Size and weight

  • Size: large — The Royal Kennel Club S547
  • Height at the withers: males 58–61 cm, females 56–59 cm — FCI S546
  • Adult weight: males 18.1–27.2 kg, females 18.1–27.2 kg — PetMD S549

Training

  • No. 29 in Stanley Coren's ranking of working and obedience intelligence. — Wikipedia S35
  • FCI standard no. 7, group 3 (terriers); origin: Great Britain. — FCI S545

Questions and answers

Answered only from the sourced facts on this page; every answer names its sources.

How much exercise does an Airedale Terrier need?

According to our sources, the Airedale Terrier needs this much exercise: up to 1 hour a day — The Royal Kennel Club S547.

How long does an Airedale Terrier live?

According to our sources, the lifespan of the Airedale Terrier is: more than 10 years — The Royal Kennel Club S547.

How big does an Airedale Terrier get and how much does it weigh?

Size and adult weight of the Airedale Terrier, according to our sources: Size: large — The Royal Kennel Club S547; Adult weight: males 18.1–27.2 kg, females 18.1–27.2 kg — PetMD S549.

How much grooming does an Airedale Terrier need?

Coat and grooming of the Airedale Terrier, according to our sources: Brushing: every day — The Royal Kennel Club S547; Shedding: does not shed (not the same as hypoallergenic) — The Royal Kennel Club S547; Coat: medium length — The Royal Kennel Club S547.

Who is the Airedale Terrier a good fit for?

Our sources describe the Airedale Terrier as a good fit for: family life — PetMD S549; families with children — PetMD S549; a large house and garden — The Royal Kennel Club S547; homes that prefer less shedding — The Royal Kennel Club S547. Keep in mind: needs mental challenges — VCA Animal Hospitals S550; loves company — best with someone home most of the day — PetMD S549; needs brushing several times a week — The Royal Kennel Club, PetMD S547S549.

Game rules, not veterinary advice

How PetPrep simulates it

In PetPrep one real week is one month of the pet's life. These are the rules the game uses for this breed. PetPrep chose them from the sources on this page; they are not care instructions for a real animal.

Life stageStartsMeals a dayDaily step goal
Puppyarrives at 2 months4; from month 3: 3; from month 6: 21,000 steps per month of age (2,000 on arrival), up to 6,000 from month 6
Young dogmonth 926,000 steps
Adultmonth 36 (3 years)26,000 steps
Seniormonth 90 (7.5 years)24,500 steps
  • Step goal = minutes of daily exercise × 100 steps: an adult gets 1 hour, so 6,000 steps a day.
  • Learns commands 1.2× as fast as the mixed breed of the free plan.
  • Becomes a senior in month 90 (7.5 years) — the last quarter of the breed's expected lifespan.
  • Walks count real steps from Apple Health or Health Connect (with permission, read-only) and the phone's motion sensor — no GPS.
  • Combing 7 times a week.
  • Care: checking and cleaning the ears once a week — a task for the child.
  • Care: a visit to the groomer every 12 weeks — a reminder for the parent.

Each game number is a PetPrep decision recorded with its sources. — PetMD, AAHA, Dogs Trust, ASPCA, VCA Animal Hospitals, The Royal Kennel Club, Purdue University Canine Welfare Science, Wikipedia, British Journal of Sports Medicine S10S11S14S18S19S21S24S35S45S547S549

Health

For information only, not vet-reviewed. Ask your vet about your own animal.

  • Hip dysplasia, a loose, poorly developed hip joint, occurs in the breed and can eventually lead to arthritis. — PetMD S549
  • Bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus), where the stomach twists, can occur in the breed — it is an emergency that needs a vet straight away. — PetMD S549
  • An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), which can affect weight, skin and energy levels, can occur in the breed. — PetMD S549

Before you buy: what to check with the breeder

Questions to settle before you take a puppy home. The points are advice from vets, welfare charities and kennel clubs; each cites its source.

For every breed

  • See the puppy with its mother, where it was born. — PDSA, RSPCA K1K2
  • The puppy should not leave its mother before 8 weeks of age. — PDSA K1
  • Ask for the pedigree. Under FCI rules a pedigree may be issued for correct parentage only. — FCI K7
  • Ask to see the health-test results of both parents. Which tests matter depends on the breed. — PDSA, British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K1K9K10
  • National kennel clubs can set breeding rules that go beyond the FCI's — ask the breed club which tests the parents need. — FCI K7
  • Ask for a written sale contract that records the puppy's background and health. — British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K9K10

Laws on the minimum age, microchipping and vaccination differ by country — check the rules where you live.

Health tests of the parents for this breed

Further tests for best practice

  • Elbow X-ray screening for elbow dysplasia (UK: BVA/KC scheme) — The Royal Kennel Club S547
  • Hip X-ray screening for hip dysplasia (UK: BVA/KC scheme) — The Royal Kennel Club S547

These lists come from the UK's Royal Kennel Club and are an orientation; national kennel clubs can set their own, stricter rules. Ask the breed club and the breeder which tests the parents have done.

Similar breeds

Other dogs in the register with similar needs — each with sourced facts.

Sources

Every fact on this page cites one of these sources.

  1. S10PetMD — S. C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP, 2025-05-20 — When Do Dogs Stop Growing?https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/when-do-dogs-stop-growing
  2. S11AAHA — 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines — Canine life stage definitionshttps://www.aaha.org/resources/life-stage-canine-2019/canine-life-stage-definitions/
  3. S14Dogs Trust (UK) — Caring for an older doghttps://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/at-home/looking-after-an-older-dog
  4. S18ASPCA — General Dog Carehttps://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/general-dog-care
  5. S19VCA Animal Hospitals (2025-02-21) — Feeding Times and Frequency for Your Doghttps://vcahospitals.com/pets-first/know-your-pet/feeding-times-and-frequency-for-your-dog
  6. S21The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Puppy feeding tipshttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/health-and-dog-care/health-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/puppy-feeding-tips
  7. S24Purdue University Canine Welfare Science (content: Pet Leadership Council 2019, bedogsmart.com) — Dog Fitness and Exercise (PDF)https://caninewelfare.centers.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Dog-Fitness-and-Exercise.pdf
  8. S35Wikipedia — The Intelligence of Dogshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intelligence_of_Dogs
  9. S45British Journal of Sports Medicine (2018) — Tudor-Locke C. et al. How fast is fast enough? Walking cadence (steps/min) as a practical estimate of intensity in adults. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097628https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6029645
  10. S545FCI — FCI breeds nomenclature — AIREDALE TERRIER (7)https://www.fci.be/EN/nomenclature/AIREDALE-TERRIER-7.html
  11. S546FCI — FCI-Standard N° 7 Airedale Terrier, English (PDF)https://fci.be/nomenclature/standards/007g03-en.pdf
  12. S547The Royal Kennel Club — Breeds A to Z — Airedale Terrierhttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/terrier/airedale-terrier
  13. S549PetMD — Elise Schmelzer, reviewed by Barri J. Morrison, DVM (updated May 1, 2023) — Airedale Terrierhttps://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/airedale-terrier
  14. S550VCA Animal Hospitals (LifeLearn, last updated August 28, 2026) — Airedale Terrier — dog breed pagehttps://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/airedale-terrier
  15. K1PDSA — Getting a puppyhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/getting-a-puppy
  16. K2RSPCA — Buying a puppyhttps://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy
  17. K7FCI (copy hosted by Norsk Kennel Klub) — International Breeding Rules of the FCIhttps://nkk2023.stage22.coretrek.no/getfile.php/131987377-1520848467/Dokumenter/Registrering/FCIs%20avlsregler%202013.pdf
  18. K9British Veterinary Association — What should you consider when buying a puppy?https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/blog-article/what-should-you-consider-when-buying-a-puppy/
  19. K10FOUR PAWS UK — Questions to ask when buying a puppyhttps://www.four-paws.org.uk/our-stories/publications-guides/questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-puppy

PetPrep is a simulation for families. This page is not veterinary advice — for a real animal, ask a vet or the breed club.

Ready for a pet?

Be among the first families to try PetPrep. We will email you when it is ready — nothing else.

By subscribing you agree to receive emails about PetPrep. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy