Cassidy - Airedale Terrier (aged 6 months)

Airedale Terrier Breed Standard
10-May-06

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General Appearance
Largest of the Terriers, a muscular, active, fairly cobby dog, without suspicion of legginess or undue length of body.

Characteristics
Keen of expression, quick of movement, on the tiptoe of expectation at any movement. Character denoted and shown by expression of eyes, and by carriage of ears and erect tail.

Temperament
Outgoing and confident, friendly, courageous and intelligent. Alert at all times, not aggressive but fearless.

Head and Skull
Skull long and flat, not too broad between ears, and narrowing slightly to eyes. Well balanced, with no apparent difference in length between skull and foreface. Free from wrinkles, with stop hardly visible; cheeks level and free from fullness. Foreface well filled up before eyes, not dish-faced or falling away quickly below eyes, but a delicate chiselling prevents appearance of wedginess or plainness. Upper and lower jaws deep, powerful, strong and muscular, as strength of foreface is greatly desired. No excess development of the jaws to give a rounded or bulging appearance to the cheeks, as ‘cheekiness’ is undesirable. Lips tight, nose black.

Eyes
Dark in colour, small, not prominent, full of terrier expression, keeness and intelligence. Light or bold eye highly undesirable.

Ears
V-shaped with a side carriage, small but not out of proportion to size of dog. Top line of folded ear slightly above level of skull. Pendulous ears or ears set too high undesirable.

Mouth
Teeth strong. Jaws strong. Scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws preferable, but vice-like bite acceptable. An overshot or undershot mouth undesirable.

Neck
Clean, muscular, of moderate length and thickness, gradually widening towards shoulders, and free from throatiness.

Forequarters
Shoulders long, well laid back, sloping obliquely, shoulder blades flat. Forelegs perfectly straight, with good bone. Elbows perpendicular to body, working free of sides.

Body
Back short, strong, straight and level, showing no slackness. Loins muscular. Ribs well sprung. In short-coupled and well ribbed-up dogs there is little space between ribs and hips. When dog is long in couplings some slackness will be shown here. Chest deep (i.e. approximately level with elbows) but not broad.

Hindquarters
Thighs long and powerful with muscular second thigh, stifles well bent, turned neither in nor out. Hocks well let down, parallel with each other when viewed from behind.

Feet
Small, round and compact, with a good depth of pad, well cushioned, and toes moderately arched, turning neither in nor out.

Tail
Previously customarily docked.
Docked: Set on high and carried gaily, not curled over back. Good strength and substance. Tip approximately at the same height as top of skull.
Undocked: Set on high and carried gaily. Not curled over back. Good strength and substance.

Gait/Movement
Legs carried straight forward. Forelegs move freely, parallel to the sides. When approaching, forelegs should form a continuation of the straight line of the front, feet being same distance apart as elbows. Propulsive power is furnished by hindlegs.

Coat
Hard, dense and wiry, not so long as to appear ragged. Lying straight and close, covering body and legs; outer coat hard, wiry and stiff, undercoat shorter and softer. Hardest coats are crinkling or just slightly waved; curly or soft coat highly undesirable.

Colour
Body saddle black or grizzle as is top of the neck and top surface of tail. All other parts tan. Ears often a darker tan, and shading may occur round neck and side of skull. A few white hairs between forelegs acceptable.

Size
Height about 58-61 cms (23-24 ins) for dogs, taken from top of shoulder, and bitches about 56-59 cms (22-23 ins).

Faults
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

Note
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

Last Updated - September 2007

Keep in mind that she is 6 months old so has some growing still to do. At the moment she is 21" to the withers and she is obviously undocked Also, I haven't stripped any hair off her face yet as I love her puppy fuzz. That's going tomorrow though as she's off to visit her brother and breeder's so they can help me do her face as her first show is at the beginning of May.

Awww she's lovely growing up so fast, shes a beautiful example of an airedale. Good Luck with her first show.

Nobody???

Its a hard one...shes looks to be at a very leggy stage.
No terrier person but imo she has a lovely head,good eyes and super ears.Could have a higher tail set but carried well.She appears slightly roached in the back in the first photo but could be the way shes stood.
Has the required long thigh and well let down hock.
IMO Overall a nice puppy although immature who with time will mature into a pretty young lady.

Thanks Archer.

Yes, she is very leggy. Hopefully she will even out as she matures. She is also quite sparse in leg furnishings which makes them look longer and skinnier.

She is standing badly on the table. Not her favourite place! Attached a couple where she is standing naturally.

Would you say wait and start showing her when she mature a little/if she becomes less leggy, or just have a go for fun and practice and risk getting laughed out of the ring?

They're much better topline....get in the ring!! Get the practice in and once shes bodied up you'll be away!!

I can't critique I'm afraid as I am clueless, which is why I posted the Cosmo thread...but your dog is just beautiful, that's all I can say!

Looking back at those earlier photos she looks like a really leggy lady! Now she's 9 months and has just about grown into her legs!

I can't critique either, but she seems to be maturing into a beautiful example of her breed Gorgeous!!

She is maturing well. You must be very proud.