Airedale Terrier vs Irish Terrier

An Airedale Terrier
Photo: Michail Jungierek
An Irish Terrier
Photo: Sini Merikallio

Side by side

Airedale Terrier
Irish Terrier
Adult weight
23–32 kg (50–70 lb) (breed club figure)1
Males 11–14 kg (24–30 lb); females 10–13 kg (22–28 lb) (estimated: ±10% around FCI 139's ideal weights of 27 lb (12.25 kg) for dogs and 25 lb (11.4 kg) for bitches)
Lifespan
Median 12 years2
Median 13.5 years2
Fully grown
11 months, both sexes3
10 months, both sexes3
Group
Terriers4
Terriers5
Coat
Wire or harsh coat4
Wire or harsh coat5
Shedding
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
Grooming
A brush once a week
Exercise
A moderate amount
Health
Mouth melanoma (more likely); Skin melanoma (more likely)6
Melanoma of the eye or eyelid (far more likely); Skin melanoma (much more likely)6
Class
Family
Companion

Which suits you

Size
The Airedale Terrier is much larger: about 27 kg (60 lb) as an adult, against 12 kg (26 lb) for the Irish Terrier.
Lifespan
In UK vet records the Irish Terrier lives longer: a median of 13.5 years, against 12 for the Airedale Terrier.
Temperament
They differ most on loyalty (Airedale Terrier: bonded to its family; Irish Terrier: sticks close to its people) and on intelligence (Airedale Terrier: needs daily brain work; Irish Terrier: learns readily, likes games).
Alike
Both are rated the same on independence: decides for itself.
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.

Irish Terrier
Terriers · Small

It is bold and spirited, loyal and affectionate with its own people, and can be quarrelsome with other dogs.

The Airedale Terrier page →The Irish Terrier page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Airedale Terrier
Irish 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
Irish Terrier
Affection
Affectionate on its own terms
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Differs
Bonded to its family
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Decides for itself
Decides for itself
Around the home
Airedale Terrier
Irish Terrier
Sensitivity
Hardy, takes a busy home in its stride
Hardy, takes a busy home in its stride
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 behaviour7. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home8,9.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Airedale Terrier grows to the heavier adult, about 27 kg against the Irish Terrier's 12 kg. The Irish Terrier's weight is not a published figure.
Airedale Terrier
Irish Terrier
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More comparisons

Compare the Airedale Terrier with
Airedale Terrier vs Standard SchnauzerAiredale Terrier vs Welsh TerrierIrish Terrier vs Welsh TerrierAiredale Terrier vs Giant SchnauzerBorder Terrier vs Irish TerrierAiredale Terrier vs American Staffordshire TerrierAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·