Did you know that in the mid-1800s, the Airedale Terrier went by several names?
One name was the “Bingley Terrier,” a reflection of its origin in Bingley, a market town in West Yorkshire set on the River Aire in West Yorkshire; the name was eventually rejected to avoid favoring a particular town;
Another moniker was the Rough Coated Terrier, an obvious name given the breed’s notably rough and wiry coat, a distinctive feature as compared to some other terriers of the time;
And then there was “Waterside Terrier,” a dual-nod to the breed’s origins in the dale (valley) of the River Aire, and its proficiency in hunting otters;
And finally, one source we came across mentioned “Warfedale Terrier,” but cautioned not to confuse “Warfedale” with “Wharfedale,” another valley in Yorkshire near the Aire Valley. The River Wharfe runs through Wharfedale, and it’s mentioned in the breed’s history as being close to the Aire Valley where the breed originated.
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When the breed was first exhibited at a championship dog show sponsored by the Airedale Agricultural Society, it was classified under the different names cited above. Ultimately, the Airedale Terrier got its present name in 1879 when breed enthusiasts chose a name that best reflected the area in which the breed originated. The name “Airedale Terrier” was officially accepted by the Kennel Club of England in 1886 which solidified the breed’s official name, and put an end to the debate over the “menu” of names by which it had been known.
Or did it?
Less than two decades after fanciers had come up with a name, there was debate about actually removing “terrier” from the Airedale Terrier’s name. The effort ultimately failed, of course, but why was this even considered?
The movement to delete the word, “terrier,” from the breed’s name came up in 1902, and was borne of a few observations: As the largest of the terrier breeds, the Airedale’s large size set it apart from other terriers, nor was itt lost on anyone that unlike smaller terriers that went to ground to hunt prey, the Airedale was too big to perform this typical terrier function.
In truth, it was hard to pigeonhole the Airedale Terrier. Suspected by cynologists to have been a cross between the the Otterhound, the Old English Terrier, and other various terriers, the Airedale was a robust “Jack of All Trades.” The versatile breed was even used as an all-around farm dog and was known to drive all manner of stock including cattle.
In the end, and despite debate, the breed kept “terrier” in its name because historically, various terriers (i.e., the old English rough-coated Black and Tan Terrier) had been part of the breed’s development. The Airedale retained many typical terrier characteristics regardless of its size, and like many terriers, Airedales were developed by working-class people in the 19th century for versatile hunting and working purposes – typical of terrier breed development.
By any name, the Airedale is one of dogdom’s greatest achievements. Companion and farmdog, Red Cross Ambulance dog and war dog, there isn’t much an Airedale can’t do.
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