Airedale Terrier vs American Staffordshire Terrier

An Airedale Terrier
Photo: Michail Jungierek
An American Staffordshire Terrier
Photo: Oldwald4tler

Side by side

Airedale Terrier
American Staffordshire Terrier
Adult weight
23–32 kg (50–70 lb) (breed club figure)1
Males 25–32 kg (55–70 lb); females 18–25 kg (40–55 lb) (breed club figure)2
Lifespan
Median 12 years3
Median 12.5 years3
Fully grown
11 months, both sexes4
Group
Terriers5
Terriers6
Coat
Wire or harsh coat5
Short coat6
Shedding
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
Sheds through the year
Grooming
A brush once a week
Exercise
A moderate amount
Health
Mouth melanoma (more likely); Skin melanoma (more likely)7
No sourced figure
Class
Family
Companion

Which suits you

Shedding
Their coats shed differently: the Airedale Terrier holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out, the American Staffordshire Terrier sheds through the year.
Temperament
They differ most on affection (Airedale Terrier: affectionate on its own terms; American Staffordshire Terrier: a lap or leaning dog) and on independence (Airedale Terrier: decides for itself; American Staffordshire Terrier: cooperative, with its own ideas).
Alike
They are much the same size as adults, about 27 kg (60 lb) for the Airedale Terrier and 25 kg (55 lb) for the American Staffordshire Terrier.
Alike
Both are rated the same on handler demand: needs an experienced owner.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Airedale Terrier
Terriers · Large

In temperament the Airedale is confident, alert and lively, with the independent streak of a working terrier. It tends to stay playful well into adulthood and to be watchful with strangers.

American Staffordshire Terrier
Terriers · Medium

The breed is confident, alert and tenacious, and is usually affectionate and good-natured with people.

The Airedale Terrier page →The American Staffordshire Terrier page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Airedale Terrier
American Staffordshire Terrier
Activity
Differs
Needs lots of exercise
A good daily walk and play
Intelligence
Differs
Needs daily brain work
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Needs an experienced owner
Needs an experienced owner
With people
Airedale Terrier
American Staffordshire Terrier
Affection
Differs
Affectionate on its own terms
A lap or leaning dog
Loyalty
Bonded to its family
Bonded to its family
Independence
Differs
Decides for itself
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Around the home
Airedale Terrier
American Staffordshire Terrier
Sensitivity
Differs
Hardy, takes a busy home in its stride
Average
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Likely to chase small pets
Likely to chase small pets
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour8. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home9,10.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
Both grow to much the same adult weight, about 26 kg.
Airedale Terrier
American Staffordshire Terrier
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More comparisons

Compare the Airedale Terrier with
American Staffordshire Terrier vs Staffordshire Bull TerrierAmerican Pit Bull Terrier vs American Staffordshire TerrierAmerican Bully vs American Staffordshire TerrierAiredale Terrier vs Standard SchnauzerAiredale Terrier vs Welsh TerrierAmerican Bulldog vs American Staffordshire TerrierAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·