Airedale Terrier Vs. Welsh Terrier: Unveiling The Distinctions
Are you a Terrier fan? If so, this is going to be an article worth reading. This article will focus on two exceptional Terrier breeds: Airedale Terrier vs. Welsh Terrier; a comprehensive comparison of similarities and distinctions.
Terriers are interesting dogs full of character and long histories. Existing information shows that Terriers were first developed in the United Kingdom and were initially used for hunting purposes. Over the years, multiple versions of Terriers have been developed, and they soon become famous around the world.
When we compare Airedale Terriers vs. Welsh Terriers, there are significant similarities between these two Terrier breeds. To some extent, both breeds share resemblances regarding their appearances and personalities. Nonetheless, there are differences between these two breeds that distinguish them from one another.
What are the highlights of Airedale Terrier Vs. Welsh Terrier comparison? Both have similar appearances, while the Airedales are larger than the Welsh Terriers. Both dog breeds have similar facial features, including long-bearded faces and square noses. Also, both dogs have dense and wired coats in White, Black, and Brown colors. These dogs have Strong-willed, attentive, and outgoing temperaments with high intelligence levels.
Regardless of the breed, dogs share some similar characteristics. However, depending on the breed, there are evident changes that we can notice. These differences in looks and temperaments all help dogs to stand out in a unique manner.
So let’s try to understand how Airedale Terriers and Welsh Terriers are distinctive in their ways.
Airedale Terrier
Airedale Terrier, also known as the “King of the Terriers,” is the largest member of the Terrier family. As a combination of adorable looks and vibrant personalities, Airedale Terriers make ideal family pets.
If we look into the history of Airedale Terriers, this breed has its oldest roots tracing back to the 1800s. This breed was initially developed in the Aire River Valley in England and used as hunting dogs. This breed was particularly developed to hunt giant rats and rabbits; hence they have strong physiques.
Around the early 1900s, Airedale Terriers were used for military and guarding purposes, and later on, they were domesticated. At present, Airedale Terrier is a demanding Terrier breed in several countries.
Airedale Terriers are medium to large-sized dogs that usually have an approximate height of 20 to 25 inches and weigh around 50 to 70 pounds. Regarding their temperament, Airedale Terriers can be identified as versatile dogs.
This breed is intelligent, loyal and trustworthy. They can be a little assertive occasionally; however, they are very protective of the family. Moreover, Airedale Terriers are trainable dogs, making it easier for them to merge with kids and other pets.
Airedale Terrier is a good choice for anyone who needs a guard dog, a playful dog, and a relatively low-maintenance dog. If you are a first-time dog owner, you should ensure that you can dedicate time to training the dog because training is mandatory for Airedale Terriers.
Welsh Terrier
Welsh Terrier is yet another purebred Terrier descending from the Terrier group. This breed originally came from Wales around the 1800s. Some believe that the history of Welsh Terriers can be traced back further; however, they gained popularity in the 19th century.
Welsh Terriers were developed as hunting dogs and had an exceptional ability to hunt rodents. As time went by, Welsh Terriers also gained popularity as athletic and show dogs, and nowadays, they have become great family pets.
Welsh Terrier is typically a small to medium-sized dog with an average height of 12 to 15 inches and weight of 20 to 25 pounds. Welsh Terriers have enthusiastic and outgoing personalities.
They can be feisty and high-spirited but also friendly and fun-loving. Due to their intense energy levels and strong-willed temperaments, they are not the easiest Terrier breed to train.
Airedale Terrier Vs. Welsh Terrier – General comparison
If we generally compare the given breeds, changes can be seen in their appearances, temperaments, personalities, and upkeep. Let’s comprehensively have a look at each section.
Welsh Terrier Vs Airedale Terrier Appearance comparison
At first sight, both Airedale Terriers and Welsh Terriers have similar looks. They look somewhat similar in their appearances, yet there are pronounced differences in the size and build of the body.
As mentioned, Airedale Terrier is the largest dog in the Terrier group compared to Welsh Terriers; Airedale Terriers have more prominent physiques.
Airedale Terriers can grow up to 25 inches in height and 70 pounds in weight, but Welsh Terriers only grow up to approximately 15 inches in height and 25 pounds in weight, making their physiques clearly distinct.
Although Welsh Terriers are smaller in size, they still have athletic bodies. These dogs have similar facial features, including long-bearded muzzles and square noses.
Both breeds have a dense wire textured coat; primarily, the coat combines brown and black colors, but slight differences can also exist.
Temperament and personality distinctions of Airedale Terrier and Welsh Terriers
Coming from the same category, Airedale Terriers and Welsh Terriers share similar temperaments but have different personality traits. Both dogs have outgoing characters, yet they can be strong-willed dogs.
In comparison, Airedale Terriers likely show more aggressive behavior if they lack control. These dogs are also active and alert. So they also make perfect watch dogs.
Due to their high intelligence level, Airedale Terriers can be trained well; Welsh Terriers are also smart but need more rigorous training. Despite the feistiness, Welsh Terriers tend to get along better with kids and other pets.
Maintenance and overall cost
The buying price of both Airedale Terriers and Welsh Terriers mainly depends on the parents’ bloodline and the breeder’s reputation. In general, these dogs cost around 500 to 3000 US dollars.
Both dogs are hypoallergenic; therefore, you will find it easy to deal with their grooming needs. Neither breeds require rigorous grooming, but following a proper grooming routine is vital.
Dietary, health, and exercise requirements are also different to some extent. Since Airedale Terriers are larger, they are relatively more costly regarding their grooming and nutritional needs.
However, it is hard to precisely say which breed is more expensive to have because it could vary depending on the context.
Key differences in caring Airedale Terrier and Welsh Terrier
Raising a dog comes with plenty of responsibilities. As you already know, not every dog breed has the exact requirements; therefore, when getting a dog, you must educate yourself on how to take care of the breed you are willing to have.
This section will examine the key differences in caring for an Airedale Terrier vs. Welsh Terrier.
Speaking of taking care of a dog, maintenance plays a huge role. As pointed out in the previous section, neither Airedale Terriers nor Welsh Terriers are high-maintenance dogs. However, there are some differences when it comes to their maintenance.
Both dogs are hypoallergenic; therefore, they shed and drool in minimal amounts, which makes the grooming process much more manageable. If you own an Airedale Terrier, make sure to brush them a few times a week to maintain its coat.
For Welsh Terriers, weekly brushing would be sufficient. Both dogs have coats with the same textures, yet due to size differences, you have to put a little more effort into keeping Airedale Terrier’s coat neat and nice.
Diet is also a crucial element in your dog’s well-being. Both dogs require high-quality, balanced food due to their high stamina.
However, the quantities will vary. Suppose you feed your dog with dog food; for Airedale Terriers, you have to give around 1 and a ½ to 3 cups of dog food per day, split into three meals.
On the other hand, if you have a Welsh Terrier, they require ¾ to 1 cup of dog food regularly divided into two meals. As much as you care about the quality, you also should be aware of the quantity, so it is important not to overfeed the dog.
When it comes to health care, both breeds are generally considered healthy; still, they are prone to certain health complications like any other dog. Some of the typical health problems among Airedale Terriers are hip dysplasia, umbilical hernia, bloating, and digestive issues.
Some of these issues are genetically inherited; therefore, you cannot avoid the dog getting affected by them. However, if you act soon, you can reduce the risk and help the dog recover.
As this breed often faces digestive issues, you must be cautious about what you feed the dog. Welsh Terriers usually get affected by glaucoma, lens luxation, and atopy. It is important to do occasional eye checkups on your Welsh Terrier as they are vulnerable to eye-related issues.
Final thoughts about Welsh Terrier Vs. Airedale Terrier comparison
This article brought you a comparison of Airedale Terriers vs. Welsh Terriers. Airedale Terriers and Welsh Terriers are renowned dogs belonging to the Terrier group, and these two breeds share some similarities in their looks, personalities, and so forth.
However, when we study these breeds closely, it is evident that they have several differences. Appearance-wise, Airedale Terriers have bigger and more muscular bodies, whereas Welsh Terriers have small yet athletic bodies.
Both dogs have dynamic personalities still; their assertive behavior, trainability, and overall personalities may vary from time to time.
Furthermore, if you want to have either of these breeds, it is crucial to be aware of their maintenance, food, exercise requirements, and general health status because these requirements are also different for these two breeds.
The bottom line is these two breeds have both similarities and differences, so we cannot favor one dog over the other. It is up to you to go through the comparison and decide which breed fits you the most.
