?Airedale Terrier

The Airedale Terrier originates from Airedale in Yorkshire. It traditionally was called the "King of Terriers" because until the birth of the Black Russian Terrier, it was the largest of the terrier breeds. The breed has also been called the Waterside Terrier, because it was bred originally to hunt otters in and around the valleys of the River Aire from whence it gets its name.

This breed has become an all-round sports dog, worker and guard dog. In England they have been used as police dogs to help find criminals, although not so much nowadays as the German Shepherd is now a favoured breed for this type of occupation; the Airedale is still widely used in Germany as a police dog.

They are lively, confident and outgoing, but not aggressive. They can be difficult to train and need firm handling. They are fun-loving animals and great as a family pets; good with children and ready to join in games. It is important to socialise them during the first months with other dogs as they tend not to be friendly in other dogs' company. Their lifespan is considered to be 13 years.

Make sure that you have adequate dog insurance to cover any health problems your four-legged pal may experience - veterinary treatment can be costly and accidents can happen at any time!