The Airedale Terrier traces its ancestry back to the Valley of Aire in England. It’s the largest of the terrier breeds. Although the ‘King of the Terriers’ was initially bred as a hunting dog, Airedale Terriers also make wonderful family companions. Confident, outgoing, and intelligent, the Airedale Terrier can be a playful, loving companion for the whole family.
As with any other breed, it’s natural to be concerned about shedding as a new Airedale Terrier owner. This article will explore how much Airedale Terriers shed and how much effort goes towards maintaining their coat, so you know what to expect.
So, do Airedale Terriers shed? Yes, Airedale Terriers shed. It’s a natural process of the hair growth cycle. But the good news is that Airedale Terriers are a moderate shedding breed. They don’t shed too much. Most of their shedding occurs during the periods of transition from winter to spring and summer to fall due to the changing temperatures.
At first glance, many people assume that Airedale Terriers shed a lot because of the dense, wiry outer coat they spot. But that’s not true. Airedale Terriers normally don’t shed a lot. You may notice some little tan hairs on your couch, mattress, or carpet now and then, but that’s just about it.
Obviously, your Airedale Terrier will shed more during a good petting session or while being brushed. As stated earlier, there will also be times in a year when your Airedale will shed a lot more because of seasonal changes. Read on to learn more on how to manage your Airedale’s shedding.
How Much Do Airedale Terriers Shed?
If you have a dog, you’re bound to deal with some level of fur on your furniture, surfaces, and clothes. However, the shedding will vary significantly from one breed to another. Some shed all year round while others barely shed at all. Some fall somewhere in between.
As we’ve already established in previous sections, Airedale Terriers are relatively moderate shedders and tend to ‘blow’ seasonally. The question is, how much do Airedale Terriers shed exactly?
The Airedale Terrier has dense and wiry fur on the outside and a soft, thick undercoat. Like most double-coated dogs, Airedales tend to shed their undercoat as the seasons change. Most of their shedding occurs during spring and fall.
That’s when you are most likely to notice some dog hair floating around your home. However, Airedales will not drop as much hair as the German Shepherd, Siberian husky, or other heavy shedding breeds, even during their shedding season. If you keep your Airedale well brushed, it’s barely noticeable.
Why do Airedale Terriers shed?
Airedales shed due to temperature changes. The shedding helps regulate the pup’s body temperature. That’s why most of their shedding occurs during the transition from winter to spring and summer to fall when the temperature is changing.
The shedding helps the pup rid itself of dead hair and make room for a new fur that’s more adapted to the upcoming season. Keep in mind that Airedale Terriers shed all year round, but because they are a moderately shedding breed, you are most likely to notice hairs around your house only during their seasonal shedding periods.
Shedding Seasons and Frequency
When do Airedale Terriers shed the most? The previous section states that Airedales shed more as seasons change due to temperature fluctuations. The shedding mostly occurs as spring and fall approach, meaning they shed most twice a year.
Normally, your Airedale Terrier should not be shedding much outside of the increased shedding seasons. And even during these times, the shedding is significantly less noticeable with regular brushing and other grooming habits.
Unhealthy Shedding
The Airedale Terrier is not known for extreme shedding, not even during the increased shedding seasons. If your Airedale is shedding too much, something could be wrong. If other visible body changes accompany the shedding, it’s time to take your puppy to the vet. Extreme or unusual shedding is a common symptom of underlying health issues.
Unhealthy shedding can be caused by several factors, including stress and anxiety, poor nutrition, skin infections, food allergies, parasitic infestation (fleas, mites, lice, scabies, etc.), mange, and hyperthyroidism.
How do you spot unhealthy shedding on your Airedale Terrier? Some of the signs to watch out for include missing patches, uneven fur, or brittle fur on your dog. Even during the increased shedding seasons, your canine friend should not be losing fur in lumps. A veterinarian can help you figure out if your Airedale’s hair loss is normal or the symptom of an underlying illness.
What Type of Coat Does an Airedale Terrier Have?
The Airedale Terrier has a double-layered coat. A double-layered fur comprises two layers, the outer layer (top coat) and the undercoat. The topcoat is hard, dense, and wiry, intended to serve as a protective barrier when hunting. The undercoat is soft and thick and keeps the dog warmer during the cold winter months and cooler in the summer.
The two coats grow independently of each other and have different colors. The undercoat grows much faster than the topcoat, and it’s the one that sheds a lot. The Airedale’s tan, black, or grizzle topcoat is longer and grows slowly but can become quite scruffy if unchecked.
How to Manage and Reduce Airedale Terrier Shedding?
Maintaining a clean home can be tricky if you have a dog. During the increased shedding season, hairs are everywhere. While you can’t keep a healthy Airedale Terrier from normal shedding, there are steps that you can take to reduce the number of hairs in your home and help your pup maintain a healthy coat. Grooming, a healthy diet, and regular baths constitute some of the best ways to minimize your dog’s shedding and keep your home clean.
Airedale Terrier grooming
The Airedale Terrier is a low to moderate shedding breed. However, you may start noticing falling hairs during the spring and fall seasons as your pup sheds excessively to make room for new growth. The Airedale’s short, wiry topcoat requires regular brushing to keep the shedding to the absolute minimum.
Regular brushing removes dead hairs before they fall out and reduces the number of hairs in your house. You’ll be amazed at just how much less fur there will be on your couch, carpet, and furniture with frequent brushings. Regular brushing will also give your Airedale a more beautiful look.
Airedale Terrier Diet
Earlier in the article, we mentioned poor nutrition as one of the contributing factors to unhealthy Airedale shedding. That’s right; diet will affect your Airedale Terrier’s health and coat quality. If you want your pup to have fabulous fur, you must feed them quality food rich in vitamins and good fatty acids.
Giving your Airedale Terrier good and healthy food will reduce shedding on your dog and keep them strong and healthy. On the other hand, a poor diet will affect your dog’s health, as well as skin and fur.
Baths, Supplements…
Good hygiene can help prevent fur loss and protect your Airedale’s skin. Bathing your pup will get rid of dirt, dander, debris, and dead fur to keep it clean and healthy. However, bathing them too frequently can be counterproductive, and it’s not advised.
It weakens the skin and promotes fur loss. To prevent fur loss, consider bathing your Airedale Terrier just once a month. There are plenty of high-quality shampoos, such as FURMINATOR, that you can use to reduce hair loss.
In addition to regular baths, there are several ways to supplement your Airedale’s diet to keep shedding to a minimum. You can add omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and other nutrients to your pup’s regular diet in the form of supplements. Several special food supplements — such as rapeseed oil and salmon — will help your puppy maintain a healthy, beautiful coat.
Are Airedale Terriers Hypoallergenic?
Pet allergies are pretty common, especially among people with asthma or other allergies. Some breeds are more likely to trigger allergic symptoms than others when it comes to dogs. Breeds that are less likely to cause an allergic reaction are called hypoallergenic. The Airedale Terrier is one of the best breeds for owners that have allergies.
What causes pet allergies? Our immune system is tasked with finding foreign substances and getting rid of them to protect us from illness. If you are allergic to pups, you have an overzealous immune system that reacts to the proteins in your dog’s dander (dead skin cells), saliva, and urine.
Pet hair can collect dander, saliva, and urine, along with other allergens, including dust and pollen. That’s why coming into contact with fur can trigger your allergies. Your immune system sees the dander as a harmful substance and attempts to destroy or flush it out.
Hypoallergenic dogs, such as Airedale Terriers, produce less dander and don’t shed much, which is why they are less likely to trigger your allergies. It’s important to understand that it’s not the fur that’s the problem; it’s the flakes of dead skin as well as the urine and saliva. Therefore, any canine can potentially cause an allergic reaction, whether it has long or short fur.
Canine allergens are everywhere. Common household activities such as vacuuming and dusting can stir dander into the air where it settles. These flakes of dead cells can cause itching and swelling of the membranes that line the eyes and nose.
A stuffy nose, inflamed eyes, and sneezing are some of the most common symptoms of pet allergies. Direct contact, such as petting a puppy and then touching your face or eyes, can also trigger your allergies. Sometimes symptoms will not appear until after prolonged contact with the pet.
To reduce allergens in your home, regularly brush and bath your Airedale Terrier, invest in a HEPA vacuum cleaner and air filter, and keep your canine friend out of your sleeping areas. You can also ask your doctor for allergy medications to help manage symptoms.