Airedale Terrier Advices
[highlight align=”center” style=”different”]Mini guide with good advices to everyone who plans and wants to have an Airedale Terrier.
Owning a dog is a long term investment and a lot of problems could arise which, we hope, will be identified in advance, to evade expensive and stressful mistakes for the puppy and also his owner.
You should be aware that life span of an Airedale Terrier is about 11+ years and that the dog and his offsprings never end up on “the street”.
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Advices:
Before you decide to buy airedale terrier puppy
Can you afford a puppy?
Expenses of quality puppy raising will be significant. Starting price is yet just a start, vaccines, veterinary costs, feeding, gear, toys etc. are expenses which follow. If you plan exhibition career for your dog, you should have in mind that it also costs too. If it’s the time of holidays, and you plan to travel on a vacation, then an arrangement will be needed for your dog, and in that case you should take costs of kenneling into consideration. Ideal Dale kennel is available for this kind of accomodation for one to two dogs, for dogs from our kennel.
Do you have enough space?
Airedale Terrier doesn’t need a lot of space to live comfortable, but it wouldn’t be recommended for a dog to live in overpopulated home.
Every dog will need space for his own “bed”.
Fenced yard or a garden is ideal, but you will need a fence that goes deep in the ground, because some Airedale Terriers will try to dig under.
Ideally, someone should be home throughout the day, because a lonely puppy which is bored can be destructive.
Are you patient and persistent enough?
As mentioned before, a puppy can be very destructive and training period can be long.
Home training of Airedale Terriers usually isn’t hard, if you walk the dog after it finished eating or woke up.
Newspapers should be kept next to the door in case a puppy is not in sight.
Every time the puppy “goes to bathroom” and does it outside, it should be rewarded with caressing, encouraging words or a treat.
Training can be exhausting, but the main thing that you should remember is that you need to be careful and persistent, so the puppy doesn’t become sensitive, or on the contrary, to make it think that you only play with itself.
2) What kind of temper should you expect?
3) Did the breeder run into any genetic problems?
4) Does the breeder have X-Ray footage of the dogs parents for hip dysplasia?
5) Exhibition dog, breeding dog or a pet?
6) Are there additional expenses? If yes – what and why?
7) At what age can you take the puppy (8 weeks being the earliest)? It’s not a good idea to decide taking a puppy on your first visit to the kennel. You should go home and talk, and consider that the puppy is the one you really want. Responsible breeder will warn you of all nuisances that you can expect and he will understand and respect your decision.
8) What type of help and support can you expect after buying a puppy?
Feeding an adult Airedale Terrier is not expensive, the amount of food is individual and mostly it differs from dog to dog, some dogs require more foods from the others, some less, it depends on the way of life.
One meal throughout a day is enough for an adult dog. A puppy needs quality and more frequent food and your breeder should give you advice and list you of recommended food before you receive your puppy, so that way you are ready for puppy’s arrival home.
Quality food is important for puppy’s health and growth. Airedale Terrier grows fast for the first year.
Because of that, the first year will be expensive, if you tend to raise your puppy in a good way and with quality.
This is the second thing you should consider before deciding to buy a puppy.
All dogs need exercise for their physical and mental health. Like most terriers, the Airedale Terrier will accept as much or as little exercise as you are willing to provide, but it must be remembered that they are a large and intelligent breed and need at least one good walk a day and some playing time. Puppies should not go for long walks at once, and should gradually increase the trajectory until you are ready to walk! The puppy will not be ready for long walks until it has completed most of its growth. Short socialization walks will be enough. If you are in doubt, contact the kennel.
All dogs need exercise for their physical and mental health.
As many terriers, Airedale Terrier will accept that much or that little amount of exercise you are ready to provide to it, but it should not be forgot that they are a big and an intelligent breed and they need at least one good walk per day and some playing time.
Puppies shouldn’t just start going on long walks and you should gradually increase the walk distance.
Puppy will be ready for long walks, until it mostly fully grows.
Short socializing walks will be just enough. If you have any questions, contact your breeder.
Airedale terrier is known as a “hairy” breed which needs trimming, because of that you will need to spend some time on grooming its hair. Puppy will need to learn to stand on a table when you are grooming it. If that is possible to do, it is recommended to do grooming on a table for a few minutes a day, so the puppy can get comfortable and used to it. Trimming will be needed twice or thrice per year, depending on the dog, some need to be trimmed more, some less.
After about 4 to 6 months, a puppy will need it’s first serious trimming, which if possible, returning to the kennel would be the best solution. If you want to learn to trim by yourself, you will be given advices and shown how to do it in the kennel. Anyhow you should decide to do it on your own.
If you decide to go to a professional groomer, it’s important to state the fact that your dog needs to be slightly trimmed and NOT fully trimmed.
Be ready to wait, it’s always worth waiting on a healthy puppy from a respected breeder.
Also make sure to check if returning the puppy is possible if any problem occurs.
Airedale Terrier is a medium to large sized dog, with tan color and a black fade, it’s hair is composed of harsh topcoat and a soft undercoat, kinology standards define the height at the shoulder for a male dog at 58-61cm and for a female dog at 56-59cm.
Every value outside the ranges (defined by standards) means that a dog has a flaw.
Airedale Terrier shouldn’t be shy, neither aggressive towards other dogs.
It likes children and loves to be a part of a family. It has a good sense of humor, lots of energy and is very intelligent.
However, the dog could show his ability for independent thinking, stubbornness and dominance, if it’s allowed to behave that way.
The dog should have basic training and socialization training as soon as possible, right after vaccination.
Airedale Terrier has the best reaction to training through play and he responds with a lot of love for treating him right for proper behavior.
The best breeders from which you should buy a puppy are those who show their dogs, display them in exhibitions and put in the effort and work to produce the healthiest and best looking dogs.
Every dog litter should be sanitary protected, socialized, friendly with children and other dogs and that raising leads to potential winner at kinological manifestations, not only breeding puppies without any order.
Breeders should also be able to provide a proof of registration at Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) and comply to a regulation called International Breeding Rules of FCI.
An example of this regulation should be available to read for potential dog owners and the breeder should provide a copy to anyone who asks for it.
Also, breeder should be able to show documentation of breeding examination from the puppies parents (x-ray shot of elbows, hips, eyes…), as well as their pedigree books and proof of success at kinological competitions.
Responsible breeders should be ready to take back a dog if a customer wouldn’t be able to provide proper growth of a puppy or in some other case. This way PETA won’t have to take responsibility of the dog.
As stated, Airedale Terrier has a harsh topcoat and soft undercoat.
This breed doesn’t moult, but it should be brushed and groomed on a regular basis – technique should be demonstrated to the potential owner by the breeder – and in need for trimming, breeder should be available.
Old cover hair should be removed 2 or 3 times a year, with special care for the leg hair and a special treatment for head hair – specifically the head hair has to be tidy, the hair between paw pads should be cleaned and trimmed.
If a dog is living inside an apartment, it’s nails should be clipped.
Airedale Terrier puppies must not be exposed to physical training, including using a staircase or going on long walks, because it’s a lot of pressure for their young fast growing bones.
Adult dogs need about 20 minutes of fast walking 2 times a day, to maintain their fitness. They also love to run free in woods or in fields, if they have a chance for something like that.
They hunt, however, they need to be trained for it.
When Your puppy arrives at home
When you take your Ideal Dale puppy home give it a good bath, using either Ivory or some good dog soap, lather freely and rub well into the skin. Then cleanse with clear water and give “rub-dry” with a rough towel; and make very sure that the pup is not exposed to the cold before being thoroughly dry.
Ideal Dale pups are farm raised and they are all hearty and strong…
They are thoroughly wormed when six weeks old; but should be given another treatment at about the age of three months. Any signs of constipation should be remedied by giving a tablespoonful of castor-oil. Ideal Dale pups have been raised and kenneled outdoors, so do not be afraid to give plenty of exercise and fresh air. Cor¬respond with us at any time for any special information that you require or desire.
Do not expect of puppy to look like a matured Airedale. He will not. Airedales change more with maturity than almost any other breed. The pup’s coat will be short; and his head will be broad and short. As he grows older, his coat will become longer and more wiry, and the tan coloring will begin to extend upward until finally the head, ears and legs become nearly all tan; and the shoulders and thighs will also become tan color up to the point of joining the body. As the pup’s head becomes more pro¬portioned with maturity his fore face will lengthen and straighten, and should also become whiskered by the time the pup is around eight months of age.
When your pup arrives, it is possible that he or she will show timidity to strangers and new place. However, since it is just separated from its mother, siblings and the existing world, this phenomenon should not frighten you, and this phenomenon should soon disappear as the puppy becomes familiar with the environment. There is a possibility that the puppy will cry when left alone during the night, which is quite understandable in the circumstances in which it is found. However, this occurrence is possible for a maximum of three nights until the puppy accepts the new environment. Our advice is to maximally ignore this puppy behavior.
Patiently and carefully work towards helping your puppy develop confidence in himself and in his surroundings. Should he become frightened, do not abuse him, but patiently encourage him and show him that his fears are unfounded and unnecessary. It will be bad for your pup if you confine him too much; likewise it will be equally bad if you allow him too much liberty, as the latter may encourage him in the habit of becoming a tramp.
Puppy should have a clean, warm, dry and sanitary place to sleep, isolated from the center events, where the puppy will be able to sleep undisturbed or withdraw when he needs rest. Crate or cage are very welcome.
One thing to which you should give special attention is the feeding of your puppy; and we have found that, where there are but one or two puppies to a household, the best food for them is the prepared food. Meat is the basis and it is necessary to include in the diet as much as possible raw meat and meat products. Do not feed your pup chicken bones, as these are so small, brittle and treacherous for a young dog to handle, that they are very likely to pierce the walls of the intestines. Also do not feed a young pup potatoes, as potatoes are a food not easily digested by a dog’s stomach. However, all other forms of vegetables, soups, gravies, etc., are good for your puppy. Rice is very good, oatmeal is good. The Soy bean is good. Mush and carrots are good for him.
An especially good puppy food is to make a raw meat with cooked rice. It is well to give the pup butter milk and sour milk or others milk products like yogurt or young cheese. Of course, we want all of our patrons to feel free to call upon us at any time for any special information that they may feel necessary in order to help them raise their pups into that splendid mature specimen that is our hope and theirs for him to become.
When you feed your pup soups, rice, mush or broth from boiled meat and mutton, be sure to let it cool before giving it to the pup. Never give a pup too much milk to drink.
If you decide to feed your puppy with dry food, follow the instructions on the bag of the manufacturer. Do not buy cheap food, consult the seller and ask for foods that contain proteins exclusively of animal (meat) origin … Be sure to soak dry foods with cooked meat soup or yogurt or at least with water.
Always bear in mind that one; of the worst things you can do is to give the puppy too much to eat. This is a common fault with owners of only one or two pups. Of course, you must always feed a sufficient amount but it is better to always have your pup willing and even anxious to eat more than you give him. If he ever leaves uneaten food in the pan, the chances are you have fed him entirely too much a dangerous thing to do.
A puppy from two to four months of age had better be fed about five times a day but not too much at any one time instead of overloading him in a fewer number of meals. This plan gives him a longer time to develop smaller quantities of food as they are given. Between the age of four to seven months, it may be well to feed four times a day; and from seven months to maturity feed three times a day. Be sure and feed at regular hoursand do not give the pup any food between his meals. Some persons feed a fully mature dog twice a day, morning and evening; but a great many authorities feel that a full grown dog, particularly if he has much freedom, and is thus able to forage for himself to some extent, needs but one regular meal a day, preferably in the evening.
The puppy should have his toys so as not to be destructive to household items such as furniture, shoes and the like …
The best toy is a fresh big bone, which is a great toy for both the development of a puppy’s teeth as well as a psychic occupation and interest in the puppy. However, as it is a fresh bone of organic origin, it can, in a short time, bring odors into the house or attract flies, ants and other undesirable bugs. Therefore, it is best to take a few different toys and treats for your puppy to enjoy.