# The Airedale Terrier: From Scrappy Working Dog to Beloved Companion - Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/the-airedale-terrier-from-scrappy-working-dog-to-beloved-companion/ - Published: 2024-02-27 - Author: Savanna Read - Categories: [Dog](https://33rdsquare.com/category/dog/) --- As a lifelong dog lover and Airedale aficionado, I‘ve long been fascinated by this unique terrier breed. With their signature beard and eyebrows, rectangular head, and sturdy yet athletic build, Airedales are both handsome and humorous dogs. But there‘s so much more to these largest of the terrier breeds than meets the eye. The Airedale we know and love today looks quite different from the rough-and-tumble working dog developed in the mid-19th century in Yorkshire, England. These days, the Airedale is more likely to be a pampered pet than a professional ratter. But to truly understand the breed, we must look back at what these dogsâand the working-class people who created themâwere originally bred to do. ## Bred to Be a Versatile Hunter and Farm Hand In the 1800s in Yorkshire‘s Aire River Valley, factory workers and farmers needed a " do it all" dog to help them put food on the table and manage their land. They began crossing the Black and Tan Terrier, a small hunting terrier, with the Otterhound, a large, shaggy-coated hound used to hunt otters. The result was a medium-to-large dog with the strength and size to tackle bigger prey, but the tenacity and agility of a terrier. These proto-Airedale Terriers were tasked with a variety of jobs to earn their keep: - Hunting rats, rabbits, badgers, and other vermin - Retrieving game birds like ducks and geese - Herding cattle and sheep to market - Guarding homes and property - Providing companionship to their owners Bred to brave the rugged moors and frigid rivers of Yorkshire, the Airedale developed several key physical traits: - A muscular, athletic build for stamina - Webbed feet and a water-resistant coat for swimming - Powerful jaws for dispatching prey - A long neck for diving after quarry - A dense undercoat for insulation in cold weather - Folded ears to keep out dirt and moisture - A tapered tail for balance while running and turning These physical characteristics, combined with the Airedale‘s keen intelligence, courageous spirit, and strong work ethic, made it a highly functional and adaptable dog. For the poor factory workers who created the breed, the Airedale was a godsend. ## Ratting Competitions and the "King of Terriers" One of the Airedale‘s most important original functions was hunting vermin along Yorkshire‘s riverbanks. Factory workers often organized ratting contests on their days off, betting on whose dog could kill the most rodents in a set amount of time. The competitions worked like this: Handlers would locate an active rat den. They‘d send ferrets into the den to flush out the rats, then release their terriers to dispatch them as the rats took to the river to escape. With their superior scenting ability, powerful swimming skills, and tenacious prey drive, Airedales excelled at these contests. Soon, these skilled ratters from the Aire River Valley earned a reputation throughout England. Although the Kennel Club initially rejected the breed as a mere "working dog," Airedale enthusiasts campaigned for recognition. In 1886, the breed was officially recognized and named the Airedale Terrier after its place of origin. Thanks to their prowess in the ratting pits and their notable size compared to other terrier breeds, Airedales became known as the "King of Terriers." While most terriers were small enough to "go to ground" (pursue prey underground), Airedales were too large for this job. But their size allowed them to take on bigger quarry, like badgers and otters, that smaller terriers couldn‘t handle. According to breed historian Bryan Cummins, the phrase "King of Terriers" first appeared in an 1880 edition of The Field magazine. A reader wrote in describing a type of working terrier "commonly known in Yorkshire as the Waterside Terrier or the Bingley Terrier," stating it was "the king of all the Terriers for waterside work." ## From Poacher‘s Companion to Police Dog Airedales didn‘t just work on the right side of the law. Their keen noses and talent for hunting made them a favorite of poachers in Victorian England. At the time, only the wealthy were allowed to hunt game animals on their private estates. But many commoners poached to feed their families or sell the meat for profit. Poachers prized Airedales for their ability to track deer, rabbits, and birds while evading detection. Historian Neil Pemberton estimates that up to 1/3 of all Airedales in Yorkshire in the late 1800s were involved in poaching. For factory workers struggling to get by, an Airedale could mean the difference between eating and going hungry. But the Airedale‘s versatility extended beyond poaching. In 1899, the first Airedales were exported to Germany, where they began serving as police and military dogs. The Germans recognized the breed‘s athleticism, trainability, and courageâtraits that made them ideally suited for law enforcement and combat roles. ## Airedales in the Trenches of World War I When World War I broke out in 1914, Airedales truly proved their mettle on the battlefield. Although the British military was slow to recognize the breed‘s value, the Germans deployed thousands of Airedales on the front lines. These steadfast dogs served a variety of crucial roles: - **Sentries**: Airedales stood guard in the trenches, alerting soldiers to enemy attacks. Their keen senses could detect the presence of enemy troops long before humans could. - **Messengers**: Airedales carried messages between units, often navigating dangerous terrain under heavy fire. According to Airedale historian Bryan Cummins, one German Airedale named Rags reportedly delivered a message despite being shot in the jaw and leg. - **Ratters**: With their prodigious ratting skills, Airedales helped control vermin in the trenches. Rats posed a serious threat to soldiers‘ health and food supplies. - **Ambulance Dogs**: Airedales were trained to locate wounded soldiers on the battlefield and alert medics. Some even carried medical supplies to the injured. British Lieutenant Colonel Edwin Hautenville Richardson, a dog training expert, recognized the Airedale‘s potential as a military dog. He began breeding and training them for war work at his British War Dog School. By the end of the war, Richardson had provided over 2,000 Airedales to Allied forces. One of the most famous military Airedales was Jack, who served as a messenger dog. In 1918, Jack was tasked with delivering a critical message across a half-mile of heavy shellfire. Although he was hit in the jaw and leg, Jack successfully completed his mission before succumbing to his injuries. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration in the British armed forces. Records show that Airedales were among the most common breeds used in World War I. A 2011 study by the National Army Museum found that of 20,000 dogs deployed by Allied forces, Airedales were the third most populous breed after German Shepherds and crossbreeds. The study estimates that these dogs saved over 10,000 human lives during the war. ## From Working-Class Hero to Celebrity Pet After the war, public adoration for the Airedale soared. These four-legged heroes were celebrated in newspapers, books, and films. Returning soldiers sought out Airedale puppies as companions. And high society embraced the breed as the ultimate status symbol. One of the most famous post-war Airedales was Laddie Boy, owned by U.S. President Warren G. Harding. Laddie Boy was a celebrity in his own right, appearing in countless newspaper articles and newsreels. President Harding even commissioned 1,000 bronze statuettes of Laddie Boy to give to political allies and supporters. Other celebrity Airedale owners of the era included author John Steinbeck, actor and singer Bing Crosby, and the Fleischmann yeast fortune heiress. The once humble working dog had become a canine king. ## The Airedale Today Over a century after their development, Airedales remain popular companion dogs. In 2021, the breed ranked 60th out of 197 breeds in American Kennel Club registrations. While that‘s a drop from their peak popularity in the 1920s, it‘s still an impressive showing for a relatively rare breed. Today, few Airedales work as hunters or herders. But their heritage lives on in their independent spirit, high prey drive, and boundless energy. As Dorothy Miner, an Airedale breeder for over 50 years, puts it: "An Airedale is first and foremost a terrier. They‘re not for everyone. But for the right person, they‘re the best dog in the world." Airedales require active, engaged owners who can provide plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. Katrina Johnson, director of the Airedale Terrier Rescue and Adoption Network, recommends a minimum of 30-60 minutes of vigorous daily activity, such as hiking, fetching, or participating in dog sports like agility or barn hunt. "Airedales are not couch potatoes," Johnson warns. "A bored Airedale will find their own entertainment, and it probably won‘t be something you like." As with many terriers, Airedales have a strong prey drive and may not suit homes with small pets like rabbits or hamsters. They can also be territorial and aloof with strangers. Proper socialization from an early age is crucial for nurturing a well-adjusted Airedale. But for the right owner, the Airedale‘s loyalty, affection, and clownish sense of humor are incomparable. As Miner says, "An Airedale will make you laugh every day. They‘re the perfect blend of athlete and comedian." Perhaps that‘s the true legacy of the Airedale. For all their talents as hunters, herders, and heroes, their greatest gift is the joy and laughter they bring to our lives. Not bad for a dog originally bred to chase rats along the riverbanks of England. --- Source: [The Airedale Terrier: From Scrappy Working Dog to Beloved Companion](https://33rdsquare.com/the-airedale-terrier-from-scrappy-working-dog-to-beloved-companion/)